Choosing a Saddle
The most important part of deciding what saddle you need is to determine what kind of riding you will be doing. A beginner or casual rider will sit more upright, while an experienced road cyclist will be positioned much flatter on the bike. It makes a big difference how your weight is distributed on the saddle to determine how comfortable your riding is.
City bikes or shopping bikes are used in a more upright position. This bike commonly has a wider, more padded saddle, not intended for use with padded shorts. On a road bike, the comfortable rider is positioned in a much more aggressive position. The saddle is much thinner and has less padding. The bike geometry and how you are set on it as a rider will decide how you choose a saddle. You might even have the right saddle, but it is not comfortable because of the way it is set up for your body. A good bike fitter can help with this. |
Pressure mapping is a way to determine how your weight is distributed on a saddle. It might find that you put a lot of weight on the nose, so your soft tissue gets a lot of pressure. You should put weight on the sit bones to be in a proper position to sit comfortably into the saddle.
The width of the saddle is also important. People have different widths of sit bones. There are various ways to determine this width. Saddles come in various widths, from wide to narrow, to accommodate different body types. You may want to determine your sit bone width and choose an appropriate size. The shape, size and profile of the saddle is also important. It matters more than the padding that covers the saddle. There are many shapes and sizes as saddles have evolved over the years. A shorter saddle may encourage the rider to sit back more properly on the sit bones. A flat profile may work for a more aggressive rider, while a curved saddle may encourage riders to sit properly on their sit bones. A lot is personal preference. Cut outs on saddles have become very common. It can be important to improve comfort because it relieves pressure on the soft tissue. If you experience numbness or tingling, it can make a big difference. Not all riders prefer cut outs. A person’s flexibility and position on the bike makes the difference. |
The materials and padding that cover the saddle is highly important for comfort and performance. The same shape and profile saddle can be covered with different materials. A bare carbon seat is very light and a favorite of minimalists. It is great for hill climbing. But for longer rides, you might prefer a bit of foam padding under the cover. Even gel inserts and more padding work well for endurance or gravel rides, adding a level of comfort. The newest in covering for saddles is a 3D printed saddle. They can be designed to have different densities through the saddle, providing more dense material at the sit bones and less at the nose. The rails that attach the saddle to the bike are also important. Steel is heavier and also cheaper. Manganese and carbon can also be used. Carbon is the lightest and most expensive, but also can be less comfortable because it offers a stiffer and less forgiving ride. Remember, in choosing a saddle, the most important factor is the position of you on the bike! |
The three videos that follow will give you more details on choosing a bike saddle. |
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