Choosing the perfect bicycle seat is largely a matter of great fit in two regards: Your bike seat needs to fit both your riding style and your anatomy. What is most comfortable for your riding buddy may not suit you at all.
Bicycle Seat Parts
A bicycle seat, also commonly referred to as a saddle, is connected to the seat tube of the bicycle frame by the adjustable seat post. At the top, the seat post connects with the saddle rails. These are tubes made from carbon-fiber or metal--usually 7 mm in diameter--that run along the seat's underside and allow for the fore and aft movement of the saddle. The seat shape is created by the so-called shell. The slim yet rounded front part of the shell is the nose. The shell may come with some sort of padding or a cover. Other seat specifications may include suspension components like springs.
Important Aspects
Your ischial tuberisoties--the bottom part of the pelvic bones--are the single most determining factor of what bicycle saddle will fit you comfortably. Your saddle should be wide enough to support these so-called "sit bones" so they can pick up most of your weight while your legs pedal away freely, according to Jim Langley, a former professor of bicycle maintenance at University of California at Santa Cruz. Your seat is also having an impact on how well you can handle and steer your bike. Despite common belief, most steering isn't done by turning the handlebar but by shifting your weight. The saddle nose helps you keep your balance, controlling your bike with your thighs and staying on the seat while shifting your weight to the side.
Saddle Types and Shapes
Saddles come in a broad variety of types, shapes and sizes, but most seats fit in one or more of these categories: Race saddles are lightweight, stiff and slim and have no or very little padding. They cause only little friction in low riding positions. Mountain bike saddles weigh little, come with some padding and a downward-shaped nose. Their rears are also more rounded to allow easy exiting in case of a crash. Wide-cushioned seats are most commonly used by casual riders that prefer an upright riding position and feature lots of padding. These saddles are the heaviest. Suspension seats soften bumps due to springs or elastomers between the rail and the shell. The modern-looking cutaway seats eliminate pressure points, but the cutaway edges may add discomfort. There are also noseless saddles, saddles with seatbacks for recumbant bicycles, hammock-style seats and banana-shaped seats that are usually found on 1970s-style cruisers. Due to their different anatomy and a wider pelvis, women's bike saddles are in general a little wider as well as shorter to cater to female ergonomics.
Materials
You basically have the choice between leather seats and plastic seats. Leather saddles are more expensive, but they are the saddle of choice for ambitious and for long-distance cyclists. Because they are able to breathe, leather saddles are superior in warm conditions. Leather also molds to the rider's rear end over time, making a well broken-in leather saddle very comfortable. On the downside, leather requires regular care. Plastic seats will not adjust their shape to the rider's anatomy, but they are preferable in wet riding conditions, they weigh less, and they don't need any maintenance. Plastic seats come with leather, Lycra or vinyl covers and may have gel padding.
Adjusting Your Seat
Finding the proper seat height is as important as finding the ideal seat shape. A too-high seat will have you rocking your hips from side to side with every downstroke, adding friction and pressure to your perineal area. If your seat is too low, you add unwanted strain to your knees. Also, a tilted seat may add or relieve discomfort. You want your seat to allow a slightly bent knee in the lowest pedal position. Your leg should never fully extend. Instead, you should aim for a seat height that will allow you to straighten your legs to 80 percent to 90 percent of full extension to maximize your power. Finally, you want to make sure that you can comfortably reach the handlebar with slightly bent arms.
Injuries
Cycling is a gentle, joint-friendly endurance sport that may provide you with many health benefits. But the wrong saddle or an improper seat position may impact your health negatively. Your perineum--the area between your sit bones--is highly delicate, because nerves and arteries responsible for bladder and anus regulation as well as sexual function run through this area, so you don't want extra pressure on this part of your body. Among the problems reported or suspected to be caused by bad seat choices are boils, infections, chaffing of the thighs, numbness, incontinence and impotence, according to a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The study called "Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2000-0305-2848" indicates the pressure on the perineum that is created by the seat nose impairs bicycle officers' erectile function.
Tips
Pick a bicycle store that is specialized in the area of your preferred riding style when you're looking for a new bike seat. The sales associates will be knowledgeable and you will be able to choose from a large selection of seat models, thereby increasing your chances to find the ideal seat for your needs and body type. Stand on your pedals and lift your buttocks off your seat occasionally to relieve pressure from your backside and improve your riding comfort. This is especially important during extended rides. Changing your seat position from time to time and moving a little forward or sliding to the rear also helps.
References
- Sheldon Brown: Glossary: Saddle
- Sheldon Brown: A Comfortable Saddle
- Jim Langley: Bicycle Seats Explained
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Workplace Safety & Health Topics: Bicycle Saddles and Reproductive Health
- CDC--The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 2000-0305-2848 (PDF)
Member Comments