Looking for opinions on Specialized Toupe/ Romin saddles

I went through 2 specialized Toupe Expert saddles, size 143.  They felt great.  One broke in a crash, one I replaced two weeks ago because the plastic undercarriage was cracked - winter beef stew, yo.  
I replaced it with a newer Toupe Expert Gel which is taking a bit to get used to, but is working well and we'll be friends soon, though it has pads that create a dip in the saddle you can see - I haven't decided yet if it's an issue.
I tried a Romin and didn't like it.  They said to size up and that didn't work for me.
Any specialized dealer with have a butt measuring pad you can sit on to measure your ischium and figure out which of the 3 sizes is best for you. 
Keep in mind Specialized has 2 rail sizes, 7mm and 9mm.  Carbon rails are larger, and the saddles are more expensive.  
If you happen to be a 143, you might also want to consider the Selle Italia Flite Flow, which is about the same size, and is going on sale - I think there's a newer version so I'm seeing this saddle discounted.
I continue to look on ebay for a new, older version of the Toupe Expert, as a backup, I like the saddle so much.
Also, and on a personal note, being able to SIT on a toupe instead of wear it on my head gives me great, subtle pleasure on each ride.  Every day is courage.

Mark Taylor said:

Looking for opinions on Specialized Toupe/ Romin saddles

I've heard there are some breakage issues, but haven't seen any proof of this.

Well that doesn't look right pic.twitter.com/ljdKx3j0bF

— Ryan Trebon (@ryantrebon) May 4, 2015

Probably a Challenge tube...or do they all do that?

My tubes would do that too....I think it's just a thing when they are not in a tire where they are being evenly squeezed.  

Hold my calls this weekend....I'll be busy KICKING ASS on these new wheels !!!!

I knew it! Back to carbon wheels again!!!

Carbon is a wiley temptress...and Vlad made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

twoyacks said:

Carbon is a wiley temptress...and Vlad made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

He might be from Romania, but he knows how to deploy concrete overshoes like few.

eloy said:

Well that doesn't look right pic.twitter.com/ljdKx3j0bF

— Ryan Trebon (@ryantrebon) May 4, 2015

looks about right.  Just know it doesn't do that inside your tire.

twoyacks said:

Carbon is a wiley temptress...and Vlad made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

That Spooky of yours looks so dope, I can't stand it.

Stages has a firmware update.  Just installed the new app on the iphone and updated the meter...all told a 3 minute job = the white HOTNESS !!!

twoyacks said:

Stages has a firmware update.  Just installed the new app on the iphone and updated the meter...all told a 3 minute job = the white HOTNESS !!!

What kind of goodies can we expect from the new firmware? I just checked the other day and nothing new.

Anyone have thoughts on the best do it all wheelset?  Preferably something I could ride/race on the rode and for cyclocross.  I believe I can get away with that?  No tubulars, carbons fine, but not crazy expensive.  Thanks, my knowledge on equipment is a bit out of date...

Dale,
     The spoke count for such a wheel probably needs to be 18 or 20 in the front and 20 or 24 in the rear.  A big part of wheel aerodynamics is minimizing the eggbeater effect.  

     Then, the next question is carbon.  If you want a single do-it-all wheelset in carbon, I'd stick with the tech leaders, mostly because they've worked more on durability and braking.  Enve and Zipp come to mind.  Possibly Hed or Reynolds (I'm leery on Reynolds because in their earlier carbon clinchers, a number of people overheated the rims by dragging brakes on long descents in the west, though I've heard nothing of this happening around here).  Depth should be 50mm or shallower.  

    If not carbon, then the aerodynamic rims are limited, but the choices increase.  There are lots of 24-31mm depth rims that are light and durable.  I'd go with a wider rim, like 22-26mm in width, as it seems to offer many advantages over the older 19mm wide rims.

     Ritchey has the WCS Zeta, which I think a few Kissena folks got last year.  Looks good and the report I got from one (perlberg has 'em) was they rode pretty well.  Neugent Cycling has some choices that could be alright (several kisses members have wheels from Neugent). Mavic has just debuted a wider Kysrium aluminum rimmed wheelset.  Looks interesting.  There is Hed with their various Ardennes wheels, Shimano has a number of wide-ish rimmed wheels.  Zipp's 30 could be an option.  You could also work with Redbeard to fashion something out of Hed, Pacenti or H Plus Son rims and high-quality hubs.  

     If you think you might be interested in dabbling with tubeless, many of these are either tubeless-ready or can be converted to tubeless.  


edit: For any race wheels, get bladed spokes.  It's a marginal improvement, but it's always on.  It will add up.  Steel blades are better than aluminum--fat aluminum blades are not nearly as aero.  Sapim CX-Ray seem to be the fastest.  

Hey, if the goal is road and cx (and no tubulars) then any alloy wheelset from neugent will be solid.

As a note, my next purchase will be a set of alloy tubulars from Neugent, goal is to use them for CX, but eventually may use them on the road -- Yacks has been riding with some stan's sealant in them with great success.

Eloy make me an offer on my aluminum tubs...Vlad sold me some Enve wheels

Neugent clinchers with the 2 year no questions asked warranty are the way to go...especially if you are going to be doing cross

Dura Ace C24.  Can't go wrong.  Have had a pair since 2009 and still use them as my go-to race wheels.

Dale,
These would be the hot ticket IMO
http://www.boydcycling.com/products/altamont-alloy-clincher.html
They're 24mm wide 20/24 and can be set up tubeless supposedly. They're pretty light  coming in at 1550 grams for the set. They cost $650. Boyd makes great stuff and has great customer service

how can boyd be any better than Neugent?

Boyd is like twice as much...as in like twice...dura ace would be 3x's as much as in 3x's

Indeed, you are right Yacktopher.  Dura Ace will set you back about $700 for the pair.  But they're Dura Ace.  Not Boyd.  Not Nugget.  Simples.

http://www.probikekit.com/bicycle-wheels/shimano-dura-ace-wh-9000-c24-cl-clincher-wheelset/10781801.html?&affil=thgppc&gclid=CPad3--rs8UCFQqDfgodSKgAig&gclsrc=aw.ds

Check out the reviews ^

I've owned a set of Neuvations and they felt like garbage next to my Boyds. They seemed cheap and didn't roll half as fast. I sold them fast. Boyds feel about as nice as upper tier MAvics

The Dura Aces are too skinny for cross and don't have enough spokes

Well...they've been good to me for the $$$  I'm now off my aluminum tubular Neuvations (which are great...I just got a slammin deal on some Enve rims with Alchemy hubs).  My training wheels are $1K aluminum clinchers (alchemy hubs on american classic 2218 rims with CX-Rays...1300 grams and wide).  I still use my Neuvation R28's from 2009 on my computrainer and rollers...original bearings still going...My carbon Neuvation tubulars developed cracks in the brake track after 4 years of Prospect and Floyd Bennet pot holes.

I've had good luck with my Altamonts so far. Had to replace two rear bearings after about 1000 miles of New York winter and spring grime which was a bummer. But bearings are pretty cheap so no biggie. They're defintely not slow and I will probably still race them at places like prospect and Floyd when I get some nice carbon rims in the next month or so. 

I've been riding a used (3rd hand) set of the Neuvation aluminum clinchers for the past year and a half, they've been great. Have only had to replace bearings, no other maintenance. I'm also using a set of the Neugent aluminum tubulars, which are great. Crashed pretty hard at Battenkill and needed a minor rear wheel true, that's it. Flatted that wheel today at Prospect Park...bummed.

after todays double tubular blast off...I'm rethinking the tubular option....last year I double flatted a pair of tubulars as well.  Too much hassle for me...and I'm in the pack most of the race = no real benefit to deep aero wheels