ISM PL Series Noseless Bike Seat - Split Nose Bicycle Saddle for Road Bikes, Mountain Bikes, Gravel, and Triathlon Bikes - Unisex Anatomic Relief Bicycle Saddle for Optimized Blood Flow

Okay, gave it a 5 star rating but if I could it would be 4.5 total. This is a saddle more than likely not for every cyclist for sure. Different design and setup as well as how it rides. I went from a Selle Italia Max and looked at many options. The ISM is a unique beast for sure and you have to pay careful attention to their setup instructions. I mounted my saddle to a EC90 carbon seat post (non-setback). It needs to set back further than a traditional saddle so you personally may also have to purchase a set back seat post if you run out of adjustment room. The main thing you will see is the front (nose) will not be visible while you are seated in a normal riding posture/position. You will also never really sit back far enough to be on the back edge of the saddle either. It just takes a few miles and testing to setup properly then your sit bones have to get use to the new dynamics. As to firmness, the 30 is firm, more firm than my Selle. I also put the very slight downward angle on the nose as suggested by ISM of maybe 1-2 degrees. But really one should start from a perfectly level saddle position to start the setup feel. The result for me to date has been a great feeling ride and mounting and dismounting from a seated riding position is seamless. I was worried the open nose would catch my bibs from a standing back to seated but not one bit. The saddle new is rather slick and you slide a bit until it gets a bit worn I suspect. Overall, if you just need a fine upgraded saddle you may want to consider this funny looking saddle. These are also designed for posture related issues too and may eliminate back issues you experience after long ride days. Like I said, probably not for everyone, but worth a look.

In recent years I've been relegated to shorter rides as a means to spare my rear from saddle sores and numbness. I've gone through many a saddle in order to find something that works. Brooks, specialized, you name it. This was the final one i've tried. Now, it's not perfect, and I would ask ISM to make the tailbones a tad wider, but overall it's cured me of any numbness. The saddle is also a bit on the long side, so not only is there comfort in the additional blood circulation this saddle provides, but there's comfort in being able to adjust and readjust seat position as you ride.Now, I didnt take a star away for this because I doubt many would care, but it is an issue to me: I am still struggling to really get comfortable with fast corners on this saddle. I think it has to do with the saddle not having as much contact with your butt and therefore there's a bit more weight on your hands, and that translates to more unwanted input into the handlebars. The comfort more than makes up for this issue tho. And the other issue is that the nose of the saddle is a bit wider than you're used to. You'll get used to it, and you can always adjust your cleats to position your feet a bit wider, but there is a small adjustment there too.

When I bought my first ISM saddle quite a number of years ago, it turned out to be the saddle for which I'd been waiting. If this is your first Adamo saddle, you must adjust it well or you will probably detest it: Follow the directions, especially lowering it compared to the height of your conventional saddle. This saddle plays differently on your body than the old ordinary ones, and especially if you used to sit forward on your conventional saddle nose you will have to adjust to being centered on the seat. (When I installed my first Adamo, I had hip pain for a week because the saddle was too high and I was sitting off to the side.) It can take a while to find the right height, angle, and fore/after position, but once found, this saddle is a delight. No more pain, no more constant shifting around to try to reduce discomfort, no problems after a ride. The newer Adamo's have more padding than the older ones, which can require lowering the saddle even a little more than with the originals. While anatomy can vary somewhat between people, I would guess that the majority of us can find this saddle accommodating with a little trial and error in positioning it. I don't know if it still exists, but there used to be a loaner program with some bike shops whereby you'd have a week to try this admittedly pricey saddle out. Hopefully the shop will know how to adjust it. Finally, the manufacturer says there are now a number of counterfeit Adamo saddles, so there is a scratch-off registration tag on the bottom of the saddle that you feed into the company's website to authenticate it.So if you have never had a truly comfortable saddle, I would suggest giving this one a chance.

This is a performance saddle and not for the casual rider. It cured the numbness I was getting with conventional saddles and long rides. The ISM is very sensitive to position and will cause pain if you are not sitting in the correct place but once you find the correct location it is great. It is also not the lightest saddle but worth the extra weight.

I recently purchased a PL 1.1 from ISM because I have previously owned 3 ISM Adamo Breakaway saddles. After thousands of miles one of them is finally worn out. I was crushed when I learned that model was no longer in production. I began to research and learned that the closest made now was the PL 1.1. That information was accurate and I am thoroughly pleased with my purchase. It’s just like my breakaway except MAYBE a little more cushion (although that may be because it is new).

This was my second ISM saddle. The first one started making noises after one year of use (about 3,000 miles). I bought a second one; however, this one started making noises after three weeks of use. I returned it. Not buying ISM again.

Great price and fast delivery

Ultimately I found myself buying the plusher version of this ISM saddle. However, I kept this one because I understand that (over time) cyclists tend to prefer something with a bit less cushioning. My only complaint about this was the relative firmness. The fit, design, and quality are superb.