When we think of comfortable seats, grandpa's recliner shoots to mind: huge, cozy and plush, it seems to be the peak of comfort. When it comes to bicycle seats, though, going for the biggest, softest model may turn out to be highly uncomfortable and cause numbness or pain. Even worse, a badly chosen seat--or saddles, as they are known by serious riders--can impact your health: Boils, sores, even infertility have been blamed on poorly fitted saddles. Depending on you cycling style and frequency as well as your body type and, yes, buttocks shape, the firmest, slimmest seat could be your derriere's perfect match.
Picking a Seat
Step 1
Be honest about your body type, weight and bone structure. The further apart your sit-bones, or ischial tuberosities, are positioned, the more comfortable you will be with a wider seat. Sit-bone width can be measured at many specialized bicycle stores. As pointed out by author Joshua Cohen in his e-book "Finding the Perfect Bicycle Seat", the rear of your bike saddle should be as least as wide as the center to center distance between your sit bones. Overall, the saddle needs to match your anatomy--not the other way round.
Step 2
Know your preferred riding style, your riding position and frequency. A serious road cyclist who puts lots of weight on his hands, for example, will go for a narrow, racing-style saddle, while a rider preferring an upright position that puts more weight on his gluteus, will probably be happiest with a wider, more cushioned seat, according to Jim Langley, former chief technical editor for "Bicycling Magazine". If you can accurately identify your riding style you are taking a large step toward finding the ideal seat.
Step 3
Educate yourself about available materials and seat features. Saddles come with and without springs, gel-filled or padding, and not all of these features work for everyone. Most importantly, do not confuse hardness with discomfort. Soft and padded seats tend to cause chafing against your upper thighs during pedaling and well up in the crotch area, which can prove extremely uncomfortable. Especially, when you are an avid cyclist who likes to go on extended rides, you want as little friction from your saddle as possible, and firmer seats tend to cause less irritation particularly in cyclist with a low riding position. Seat shapes also vary greatly. Cut-outs and nose-less seats can take pressure off your groin area, but the can also hurt your balance.
Step 4
Try lots of seats and pick the saddle that fits your overall needs best. Do not let trends, fancy colors or patterns or somebody else's opinion mislead you. Ideally, take every seat for a test ride on your own bike or on a bike that resembles your bike's specifications before you commit to the purchase. Wear clothes you're typically wearing for cycling during the test rides.
Positioning the Seat
Step 1
Choose the ideal height for your saddle. If your seat is too high, you will find your pelvis sliding from side to side with each pedal stroke, which will cause you to put pressure on your perineum--the area between your sit-bones. The nerves and arteries that are regulating bowel and sexual functions traverse through the perineum, so pressuring this delicate area may cause health problems such as incontinence, impotence and numbness, according to Gregory Broderick's abstract "Bicycle Seats and Penile Blood Flow: Does the Type of Saddle Matter?" published in "The Journal of Urology."
Step 2
Adjust the seat nose. A severely down-tilted nose causes you to slide forward, thereby destabilizing your overall riding position and balance. An up-tilted nose, on the other hand, adds pressure to the perineum. For most riders the nose should ideally be horizontal or tilt down just a few notches.
Step 3
Position yourself in accordance to your current riding style and move your posterior around a little during a ride: Sliding a few inches to the rear from your standard position when going downhill and moving a little bit toward the nose when going uphill, is more comfortable, and you increase your efficiency and stability. Occasionally lifting your cheeks off of the saddle for a few seconds will also help riding comfort during extended trips.
Tips and Warnings
- Break in your new seat. Most saddles, just like shoes, need a few uses to adapt to your derriere's shape before you can fully enjoy them. Therefore, do not go on an extended ride with a brand new saddle, but extend your rides gradually to avoid sores. If your previously comfortable saddle seems stiff after a longer period of not riding your bike, don't just go and get a new seat. Chances are that you have become unaccustomed to cycling. Give it a few weeks before considering a new saddle.
- Be aware that your seat position may change over time. Sometimes it takes as little as a serious road bump to slightly tilt your saddle nose. Check your seat position regularly to ensure ideal settings.
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