It doesn't get much more crucial than your saddle when it gets to bike comfort. Sure, sticky grips and the correct pedals help, but nothing has a more complex and long influence on your ultimate comfort of the ride than selecting the ideal bike seat. A fitting one is one that goes undetected. A poor one, on the other hand, is a pain in the butt.
The issue is that, unlike other elements that may be easily compared and chosen, saddles are highly personal. What works well for a riding mate may not work for you. When it comes to choosing a suitable saddle, numerous elements come into play, including width, form, length, amount of cushioning, flex, and cut-outs. This makes knowing if a seat would work for you without riding on it difficult, but with so many alternatives on the market, it's crucial to know what approximate features you're looking for before going into a bike store and sitting on 70 different saddles.
Bike Seat Shapes
source: cyclingweekly.com
First and foremost, before you go on and buy bike seats consider the type of riding you'll be performing on this saddle. The design and length of your saddle will be determined by your riding style.
Saddles bend in two ways, front to rear and side-to-side, and there are several curve combinations to select from. A saddles "wave" is a front-to-back curve.
Saddles which are flatter front to back and have less of a "wave" are appropriate for riders who want to ride upright yet want to be able to move around on the saddle and find several comfortable positions. A less waved seat will be more enjoyable if you spend most of your time climbing while sitting up, or if you ride a drop-bar bike and prefer to slide backwards onto the hoods before forwards onto the drops.
Curvature
The second curvature direction is side to side. Flatter saddles are generally more comfortable; if the saddle isn't precisely the same width as your sit bones, a flat saddle will provide you with more wiggle area to be comfortable on. A more curved saddle that fits you well, on the other hand, will maintain you balanced on the bike and offer you a bit more control.
Finally, there's the saddle's form. Most seats are either "T" or "Pear" shaped when viewed from the top. "T" saddles feature a thin snout and a pronounced flair at the back. The "Pear" saddles transition seamlessly from narrow to broad.
T-shape vs Pear Shape
source: welovecycling.com
A pear-shaped saddle allows you to change riding positions more easily, but if you occasionally get thigh rubbing on your seat, a T saddle will stay out of the way and help you prevent it.
Finally, a few manufacturers are now producing shorter, snub-nosed "power saddles." These are intended to provide a larger range of riding postures without rubbing or standing in the way as you move about.
Seat Padding
People sometimes confuse the amount of cushioning in a saddle with its comfort. That is incorrect. Padding helps, but the form is far more crucial - a well-fitting bike saddle is more pleasant than a cushioned bike seat. If you ride in padded bike shorts, keep in mind that they provide the majority of the cushioning across your saddle, so you can probably get away with a somewhat padded saddle. Too much cushioning can cause chafing and pain on lengthier rides.
If you do not ride in padded shorts, you must ensure that your saddle fits perfectly. Even so, if you're pedalling a hardtail or rigid bike, seek something with a bit more cushioning.
Why do Bike Saddles Have Cut-outs?
source: roadbikereview.com
A cutout down the centre is common on many bike saddles. These are intended to aid with circulation. Pressure on the perineum during prolonged rides might cause a lack of circulation to important portions of your body. However, not everyone benefits from cutouts. If you can sit comfortably for more than five minutes on a hard, unpadded seat or bench, you'll probably be alright without a channel.
However, if you experience any pain or stiffness, a saddle with a cutaway is an excellent choice. If you can avoid a cutout, go for it; saddles without cutouts are often more pleasant on longer rides, as long as you don't have circulation problems.
How to Try out Bike Seats
Now that you've narrowed down the exact features you should seek in a seat, it's time to put them to the test. If your local bike store doesn't have a decent variety when you buy bike seats, you may easily get a couple online, test them all out in your home, and return those that aren’t working for you.
It's critical to simulate how a bike saddle will feel while riding while evaluating it. Use your regular riding shorts, as well as padded shorts if you normally wear them, and try to simulate a riding style on the saddle. Pressure spots and inappropriate cushioning will frequently become obvious after only a few minutes of sitting on the seat. If it remains pleasant and you do not have numbness or hurting, you may have found a keeper. Remember that while shopping for a new seat might be frightening, it's worth your time to discover one that fits just for you.
