The correct term is "saddle," and it is manufactured either from a composite material or leather stretched over a frame, which sits on a pair of rails that attach to your bike's seat post. The nose of the saddle stops your body from sliding off. Once you have chosen a bike with dimensions that fit you, the next most important feature to consider is the saddle. It should treat your body right rather than make you hate the day anyone suggested cycling as an activity. Saddles are made in a huge variety of shapes so there undoubtedly are a few that match up with your anatomy. Some saddles are made with a gel material built in for extra comfort. Some have an oval cut-out section in the middle to help protect tender parts. Any saddle will feel more comfortable when you wear stretch bike shorts, because they are padded and eliminate seams that might rub you in the wrong places.
What to Look for
Try a variety of saddles wearing bike shorts to judge those that are the right shape for you. Good fit usually means that the saddle is level, rather than tilted down or up. Your sit-bones, those in your rear that lurk beneath your personal padding, should ride evenly on the top of the saddle. Saddles are designed to fit either a man's or woman's shape. However, some narrow-hipped women feel more comfortable on a men's saddle, and broad-beamed men feel better on a saddle technically built for a woman. For fitness riding, a harder saddle gives you better support and balance than a soft one. A good saddle can cost from $25 up to $300. The most expensive saddles are often the least padded and are made with titanium or chrom-moly rails to save weight.
Common Pitfalls
Many major company bikes are outfitted with cheap saddles, so don't hesitate to switch to a higher-end model. At the start of a riding season, any saddle may hurt or numb you because your legs get tired quickly and the result is that you are putting more body weight on the seat, rather than distributing your weight among the handlebars, pedals and saddle, says Sheldon Brown, who writes knowledgeable advice for the Harris Cyclery Web site. So start with short rides. Too wide a seat, or riding in jeans or regular shorts, can cause chafing. It may take a few weeks of regular riding to eliminate seat discomfort completely. It is smart to replace a seat that kills the fun of cycling. But it is better to keep test-riding different seats rather than buy a heavy, foam-filled seat cover that won't really improve comfort very much.
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