SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
- schroeds
- Posts: 879
- Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:58 pm
SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby schroeds » Fri Sep 01, 2017 10:13 pm
But after a little over a year the shell broke on both sides at the thinnest spot next to cutout. Epic sag resulted.
Freak occurrence thinks I, so I'll get another, and this time I pick up a carbon rail version.
Yep - shell cracked in the exact same spot.
This is an expensive saddle we're talking about, and I'm 70kg and ride under 200km per week - hardly outside normal operating conditions.
I'm really disappointed. I simply don't want to buy another Toupe knowing it's going to fail, but I'm yet to another that suits me as much.
Grrr, can't they make a product that doesn't snap in half for goodness sake.. would that be too much to ask for?
- trailgumby
- Posts: 15469
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:30 pm
- Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney
- Contact:
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby trailgumby » Fri Sep 01, 2017 11:29 pm
What I think happens is the Ti rails sag slightly with use, bringing the bend in the rails into contact with the saddle base which causes a localised bend in the base that it's not designed to handle, causing stresses and ultimately failure. It's happened to two Fizik saddles and a Prologo.
A carbon-railed saddle will probably be less prone to this kind of failure due to improved stiffness, but they can be prone to creaks, especially after wet rides. Buy earplugs.
- schroeds
- Posts: 879
- Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:58 pm
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby schroeds » Sat Sep 02, 2017 1:11 pm
And it's happened with a Ti rails model first, and now a carbon railed model.
Just very very poor design. Pathetic.
- trailgumby
- Posts: 15469
- Joined: Sat Jan 03, 2009 5:30 pm
- Location: Northern Beaches, Sydney
- Contact:
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby trailgumby » Sat Sep 02, 2017 4:42 pm
- queequeg
- Posts: 6483
- Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:09 am
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby queequeg » Sun Sep 03, 2017 12:31 am
-
- Posts: 3459
- Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:23 am
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby CKinnard » Sun Sep 03, 2017 6:25 pm
Never had an issue with it, ride 4-8 hours a week, and I weigh 85kg.
Either the quality has dropped on later models, or maybe it is your set up and how you sit.
Your weight shouldn't be in the middle of the saddle, but towards the rear even when in the drops.
- Duck!
- Expert
- Posts: 9876
- Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 8:21 pm
- Location: On The Tools
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby Duck! » Mon Sep 04, 2017 1:26 am
If you do tend to sit forward, I'd suggest hunting out something with a bit more robustness in that area that your bum will agree with.
- schroeds
- Posts: 879
- Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:58 pm
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby schroeds » Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:42 am
The hassle is, I've been through so many saddles to find the toupe is right for me - a time consuming and expensive process!
- ValleyForge
- Posts: 1831
- Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2009 5:37 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby ValleyForge » Mon Sep 04, 2017 4:50 pm
Me, I have a San Marco from 1980 still going strong and three Brooks saddles - all of which I would happily spill blood for.
- biker jk
- Posts: 7010
- Joined: Tue Nov 17, 2009 6:18 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby biker jk » Mon Sep 04, 2017 5:14 pm
Indeed, I've owned probably a dozen saddles over the past decade or so and the only one to have broken was a Specialized. The right rail broke and Specialized wouldn't warranty it, neither would the shop, so I went to Fair Trading and won a refund.ValleyForge wrote:I have a mate who has everything S-works and he has the same story. After the fifth one broke, he finally stopped paying the "Specialized Tax" as we called it and bought a Prologo. He whinged for about a month, but it is the longest lasting saddle I can remember him on.
Me, I have a San Marco from 1980 still going strong and three Brooks saddles - all of which I would happily spill blood for.
-
- Posts: 3459
- Joined: Mon Jun 30, 2014 10:23 am
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby CKinnard » Mon Sep 04, 2017 9:18 pm
Glad to hear it. The bike industry is full of dubious characters ime.biker jk wrote:Indeed, I've owned probably a dozen saddles over the past decade or so and the only one to have broken was a Specialized. The right rail broke and Specialized wouldn't warranty it, neither would the shop, so I went to Fair Trading and won a refund.ValleyForge wrote:I have a mate who has everything S-works and he has the same story. After the fifth one broke, he finally stopped paying the "Specialized Tax" as we called it and bought a Prologo. He whinged for about a month, but it is the longest lasting saddle I can remember him on.
Me, I have a San Marco from 1980 still going strong and three Brooks saddles - all of which I would happily spill blood for.
The only saddles I've broken are Bontrager - two within 3 months of owning...5 years ago.
The saddles I'd recommend based on personal experience - Selle, Fizik...and my one Specialized Toupe Team. I also have an endurance Speclaized saddle which has been bullet proof.
For anyone less than 70kg, I'd suggest sourcing a Chinese full carbon saddle similar in design to your favorite fragile Euro/US model. Don't pay more than $120 and you should get something under 100g that suits. A few young guys I know have been happy going this path.
- schroeds
- Posts: 879
- Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:58 pm
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby schroeds » Fri Apr 27, 2018 10:22 pm
Guess what?
That one broke too.
They've replaced that too.
Jeez no wonder they don't make em anymore!
-
- Posts: 17
- Joined: Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:42 pm
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby mav » Sat Apr 28, 2018 12:05 am
-
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 10:21 pm
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby thamete » Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:16 am
-
- Posts: 1284
- Joined: Sat Jul 20, 2013 1:57 am
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby AndrewCowley » Sat Apr 28, 2018 3:29 pm
- singlespeedscott
- Posts: 5510
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:35 pm
- Location: Elimbah, Queensland
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby singlespeedscott » Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:42 pm
- Ross
- Posts: 5742
- Joined: Sat Nov 07, 2009 8:53 pm
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby Ross » Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:46 pm
I've ridden over 80,000km on my Arione CX and it's still going strong. I used to have a Toupe on another bike but found it too harsh for my precious posterior and swapped it out for the Arione.AndrewCowley wrote:I have broken a Toupe and a Fizik Arione in the same spot.
- schroeds
- Posts: 879
- Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:58 pm
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby schroeds » Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:33 am
Yeah, I reckon if there's a next time i might do thatsinglespeedscott wrote:Have you thought about buying the cheapest version of the saddle. They are usually more durable, ie crmo rails and thicker plastic base. The weight difference is naff all. I’m sure I’d rather an extra couple hundred grams for peace of mind.
- queequeg
- Posts: 6483
- Joined: Thu Dec 17, 2009 10:09 am
Re: SECOND broken Toupe, so pissed off - venting
Postby queequeg » Mon Apr 30, 2018 11:12 am
That's the version I have on my commuter bike. I think it cost me all of $50 new. It shows no signs of impending doom, but I currently have it on my Kickr bike as I was doing a rebuild of my commuter when the frame cracked, so I borrowed it's saddle and have since ended up with a SMP saddle that I am trialling.schroeds wrote:Yeah, I reckon if there's a next time i might do thatsinglespeedscott wrote:Have you thought about buying the cheapest version of the saddle. They are usually more durable, ie crmo rails and thicker plastic base. The weight difference is naff all. I’m sure I’d rather an extra couple hundred grams for peace of mind.
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross and Gravel Grinding
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Cargo Bikes and Utility Cycling
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The Australian Cycling Forums is a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.
Bicycles Network Australia
Forum Information
Connect with BNA
This website uses affiliate links to retail platforms including ebay, amazon, proviz and ribble.