Saddles....

[Sprocket Dog]

I appreciate that this topic has probably been done to death but unfortunately the search function doesn't work on my work pc.I commute by bicycle 2/3 days a week, 25 miles each way. Without trying to be a dunce, how do I go about finding a saddle which is comfortable for that sort of mileage?Are saddles with a lower surface area generally comfortable? Are those "thin-slice-through-the-air" ones any good?Obviously I'd like to avoid buying a trolley full of saddles just to try and test.Thanks.

 

[arallsopp]

Its a tricky one, because IMHO even the best saddle will feel pretty bad until you've been on it for a week. Best bet is probably to head out on a few community rides and ask people who have saddles you like the look of. 100~150 miles a week isn't particularly high usage, so I should think you'll find something that'll work.

What kind of bike is it? What's the geometry like? What kind of speeds are you going for?

 

[Farky]

I prefer a thinner saddle and have a full carbon (no padding at all) for my weekend riding and with padded shorts, 100+ miles is never a problem.

With my commuting bike, I have a standard specialized saddle and it rubs on my inner thighs so am thinking about changing it.

IMO, the right size and fit is more important than padding!!

 

[Greenbank]

There's no single "best" saddle, otherwise there'd just be lots of copies of the same design. Everyone is different and so different saddles suit different arses/people.

In general it's all about getting time in the saddle getting your sit bones used to the pressure put on them.

Soft/padded saddles doesn't always mean comfort. An untrained arse will sit on a saddle and support its owner's weight by the gluteus maximus muscles. Once these tire out (anything between 30 minutes and a few hours) you'll end up sitting on your sit bones. If you're not used to this, it hurts. A harder saddle gets you sitting on your sit bones quicker, which means it hurts quicker, but you just get used to it quicker. Once you're used to it you're fine.

For 25 miles, pick anything really. Don't splash out hundreds on a saddle, pick something cheapish and get used to it. Err towards the hard end of the scale rather than overly soft. It'll take anything between a few weeks and a few months, but you'll soon get to the point where you can ride 25 miles without a care in the world.

 

[Scoosh]

I think most Selle Italia dealers have a 'saddle bank' where you can try a variety of different SI saddles and decide which suits best.

Seek them out !

 

[MacB]

for longer rides you also have to factor in core fitness, ie how much yoyur posture slumps as you get tired.

I own 4 bikes and 9 saddles, 7 of which are comfortable to varying degrees. My commute is 20 miles each way and that bike is now equipped with a standard Brooks B17 saddle. I found it comfy from the off though it was a bit slippy for the first 50 miles or so. With a Brooks you can re-sell easily if you don't get on with it.

 

[Globalti]

I'm beginning to think that fitness and muscle tone has a lot to do with it. I use a classic Selle Italia Flite, which is a saddle that many riders seem to like; they certainly come up often on Ebay in well-used condition. When you first sit on it it doesn't feel brilliant but even after 6 hours last Sunday I simply didn't notice it. However I did make the mistake of carrying a small backpack with a heavyish waterproof, multitool and spare tube, levers and phone. The extra weight of this was noticeable though my bum; I wish I'd left the waterproof and used a small saddle bag instead. What I mean by this is that I believe that as you get fitter and lose weight you can tolerate a smaller harder saddle better, while lack of body fat means the weight is more likely to be taken correctly by your sit bones, which do get accustomed to the pressure. After you've reached this point I believe saddle shape may actually diminish in importance.

Saddle height, position on the rails and posture are as important as shape; once you've made your choice do a short ride with padded shorts and carrying an allen key. Stop frequently and experiment with the position until you are happy.

 

[grimpeur]

If you buy a popular saddle and don't get on with it you will always get a good price for it if you sell it on. Look at the San Marco Rolls saddle. A favourite of mine which sells for nearly new money on ebay ,even a well used one.

 

[yello]

I'm beginning to think that fitness and muscle tone has a lot to do with it.

So do I. As your legs become tired, you start taking less of your weight in them and begin to slump on the saddle. So I reckon the stronger and fitter you are, the longer you can ride before this happens. Core strength too I reckon.

 

[yello]

Look at the San Marco Rolls saddle. A favourite of mine which sells for nearly new money on ebay ,even a well used one.

Really? I wasn't aware of that. I reckon I'll put mine on Ebay then, I was thinking of more-or-less giving it away!

 

[Chuffy]

Brooks B17N.

Next!

 

[Davidc]

Brooks B17N.

Next!

Only if you have a narrow backside, otherwise a standard B17

BUT

only if you're one of the people who fit them (not the other way around).

 

[D4VOW]

I must be lucky because I've never had a problem with any saddle I've used. Each time I've had a new one I've just had to ride it a few times and then I'm fine with it.

 

[yello]

Each time I've had a new one I've just had to ride it a few times and then I'm fine with it.

By and large, that's been my experience. I reckon more-or-less any saddle, if positioned correctly, is good for up to a couple of hours. It's once you start spending hours riding that it finds you out!

 

[Davidc]

By and large, that's been my experience. I reckon more-or-less any saddle, if positioned correctly, is good for up to a couple of hours. It's once you start spending hours riding that it finds you out!

+1

Ignoring the rubbish on my childrens early 'proper' bikes I haven't come across any which start to cause me problems in much less than 2 hours.

Any which are soft or gel become unbearable for me after about 2 hours, and the only saddles I've ever been comfortable on for more than about 4 hours have been Brooks (B15 and B17).

That's all assuming the position is adjusted for best comfort. The easiest ways to make any saddle feel awful for me are to have it too low or too far forward, and that applies to my preferred Brooks ones as much as to any other.