If you are reading this, then high chances are that your bike seat is getting pretty uncomfortable. Or it was uncomfortable from the time you bought it and you are now tired of it. It is slowly draining your love for cycling. Before you let it suck you dry, it is best that you get yourself a new bike seat or is it saddle? Most comfortable bike seats are way to go!!!
There is a host of misconceptions surrounding this part of the bike. Many have, for a long time been learning the wrong thing that it is now the new truth. But this, however, does not change the fact that it is not really true – even if you are ignorant of the facts. What are these misconceptions?
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Saddle Misconceptions
Well for starters, thinking of the bike saddle as a seat. There is a major difference between a seat and a saddle. A seat is usually designed to support the whole of your weight. Saddles, on the other hand, are meant to carry you but not support the entirety of your weight. If you are to get the best saddle, you should understand this fact. However, some still insist on calling them bike seats. Today, however, for the sake of picking out the most comfortable bike seats, we will use the two (saddle and bike seat) as one.
The second misconception is that softer is always better. Now this cannot be further from the truth. Replacing your old and uncomfortable bike seat for a new one might not do anything to ease up the unsettling pressure on the bum. Just like soft mattresses do not exactly equal comfort, soft bike seats are not necessarily the best to pick out. Comfort goes beyond the firmness or softness of the saddle. It is about the design and the materials used. All these coupled together will provide the best bike seat in the world.
But before you go out and get a new bike seat, you should do some troubleshooting first. If there is a chance that you could improve the comfort level of your saddle foregoing the purchase of a new one, it is best that you look into it.
Tips to improve seat comfort
Saddle height
Check to see if the saddle is too high for you. If the bike seat is too high, you will find yourself shifting from left to right. With every shift, you will irritate the perineal area, a very sensitive part of the body.
Bike seat angle
Most bike seats are adjustable. There is a screw right under the saddle that tilts back and forth changing the angle it is inclined to. A small tilt and change in the angle can greatly relieve the pressure on your bum. Flat bike seats are a source of great discomfort.
Adjust your riding style
When you are on a rough road, your perineal area will experience a whole lot of pressure even when you have the most comfortable bike seat in the world. Standing up for about 10 minutes on your bike will help to relieve this pressure as will using your legs to absorb all the shock and switching to a full suspension bike will.
Also, it is very important to note that being overweight, hypertension, smoking, and diabetes can cause perineal numbness resulting in discomfort even when a small amount of pressure is applied to the area.
If these tips do not work for you, then you know you definitely must get yourself a new bike seat. And not just any bike seat but the very best in the industry. Below are some of the considerations you should make when choosing your new saddle.
Know your type of riding
The most comfortable bike seats come in a variety of types depending on the kind of bike that you ride. Bikes are classified depending on the area and terrain they have been designed for. As such, there are recreational saddles, road, touring and mountain saddles. In addition to this, there are also women-specific saddles. These are designed for women only since they have a much different pelvic bone structure than that of men.
If you take up an upright position while riding through town on your city/urban bike, and have much shorter riding sessions, a cushioning bike seat will prove to be of great benefit. If the open road is your friend, then a performance bike seat is for you. These are usually narrow and long featuring minimal cushioning. For the mountaineer, mountain specific bike seats are best. If you are into touring, taking long distance rides, then performance bike seats will come in handy. These or leather saddles with lots of cushioning for the sit bone will be more than perfect.
Cushioning types
All bike seats are cushioned for the support and comfort of the sit bones. Cushioning comes in two materials affecting their reaction under the rider’s weight. The two types of cushioning include gel cushioning and foam cushioning.
Gel cushions will conform to your body’s shape providing the best comfort known to man. Their comfort, needless to say, is superior though it gets compressed and compact faster than foam. Speaking of which, they provide a more pliable feel. They spring back to shape when they are needed too. So while they may not be better than the gel cushioning in terms of comfort, they do last longer.
Why do some bike seats feature slits?
Bike seats come in different designs and forms. In your search for the most comfortable bike seats, you will come across some saddles with slits right down the middle. Some will be complete slits and others may just be groves that save the same purpose, protection of the perineum.
When cycling, this part is most irritated. Moreover, given that it contains a plethora of arteries and nerves, you can understand why it gets irritated fast. The grooves and slits keep the perineal area from being rubbed and provide room for air circulation which works to soothe the discomfort.
Both groves and complete slits are effective. However, the one you choose will depend on your anatomy and preference.
Bike seats shopping tips
The moment you have your riding style and material covered, you can proceed to narrow down further.
When in the shop, and if they allow for it, you should test out the saddle. Sit on it. With the many varieties in the store, you are bound to find a product that feels perfect under you. As you test them out, vary your sitting position, ride fast and slow and if possible go over several bumps.
Check out the rails. Rails? Yes, rails. These are two bars that help support the saddle/bike seat on the seat post. Most are made from Chromoly, which is affordable and most suitable. If you are a performance rider, however, you might prefer titanium rails. They are far stronger, more flexible and best of all long lasting.
Price
Just like they vary in type, design, and material, their price also varies greatly. As their weight drop and the quality of material increases, the price will also rise. A difference in these factors will affect the performance of the saddle or bike seat. Moreover, since you get what you pay for, it is best that you seek to strike a balance of the price and quality.
Best Bike Seat Reviews
Selle Italia Gel Flow
A quick look at this bike seat and you can almost imagine the comfort it will provide. It is a perfect saddle for both professional and beginner cyclists. It comes with a women’s tag to it, but honestly, men too can use enjoy the comfort it brings.
It is designed for both durability and comfort. Its designers clearly spent sleepless nights to make it a reality. It is not only attractive in design but also very strong. Its strength makes it perfect for road bike use. Heck, even mountain bikers will find great comfort in it.
It features manganese rails which are very light, but also surprisingly strong. Now you probably are used to aluminum and steel and once in a while titanium metals being used in bike pieces, so this might have caught you slightly off guard. But the fact that it is not as widely used does not negate the fact that it is effective in supporting your weight.
The Selle Italia Gel Flow comes in two colors, black and white matching your color preferences. This particular model, the manganese model comes with leather finishing, as does the nylon model. Indeed, it is one of the premium products available.
You might think its price may keep many from purchasing it since it is one of the expensive pieces in the market, but those who have used it say that it is worth every penny. Its durability will most definitely soothe you after forking out the lump sum of money.
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ISM Typhoon Bicycle Saddle Bike Seat Al Black
Style and design are not the only things this modern day saddle has going for it. Its durability, functionality, and comfort have a place in the list of selling points. It is designed for use on road bikes. Sitting on this saddle will feel like sitting in a comfortable armchair. The comfort will last for a long time thereby providing you with more time to enjoy your sport.
Purchase this saddle and you will wave bye bye to the discomfort, pain, and numbness in your perineal area. Which as you might have experienced or are experiencing has the ability to cause you to quit riding altogether.
It has been designed to be perfect for both sexes. It can accommodate the difference in anatomy perfectly. The cushioned part is soft and very thick. The thickness sees to it that you use it for a very long time as well as for extended hours before it gets compressed to a point of discomfort. The cushioning will absorb most of the vibrations and shocks on your way. Comfort will be a normal thing for you with this bike saddle – one of the most comfortable bike seats in the market.
With all the above features and its thick cushioning, you might be tempted to think it weighs a ton. Well, far from it. It weighs a surprisingly 0.9 pounds only!
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Generic Outdoor Men’s Anatomic Relief Bicycle Mountain Bike Saddle VD-104
If you enjoy riding up the steep and rocky slopes of mountains and hills, then you should get this saddle. If you find comfort and fun riding through muddy roads, it will also prove to be a worthy companion. It falls under the performance category. And boy does it perform!
It is well thought out and designed. So much so that it is very hard for anyone to forget about it. With this product, you will be able to take your bike riding to the extremes, much to your enjoyment.
It provides great sit bone protection relieving unnecessary pressure and pain. Its nose is thin providing you with more peddling room with minimal friction. It split right at its core helps to ease the pressure on the perineal region. The slit also provides room for the wind to soothe the pressure and pain in the area.
You get the VD-104 at an affordable price – one that only a fool can disregard. If you are thinking of getting it for a while and then replacing it after you have enough money to get a more expensive one, you are in for a rude shock. It will be there to stay. You will have no complaints with regards to its performance.
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Serfas RX-922L Road Women’s Saddle
Women often feel left out by manufacturers especially on sports that men dominate. If you are a woman and have been looking for the most comfortable bike seat with no success, this will prove to be the best one yet. But men too can take advantage of this product.
It is a road bike saddle. But be it as it may, it performs great as a mountain bike saddle as well. The comfort is out of this world as is its ergonomic design. It features a cut out right at its core to relieve the pressure ad numbness on the sit bone. This makes it perfect for long periods of cycling.
The fact that it is made from lycra makes it waterproof. With this feature, you will be able to ride through the mud and rain. So while your friends are putting their cycling on hold because of the rainy season, you can weather it out.
Its design is great and it will go on almost any road or mountain bike.
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Conclusion
Armed with the knowledge, you can now make an informed decision and get yourself the most comfortable bike seat in the sea of bike seats in the market. However, it will be best to remember that your body position, flexibility, and width of your sit bone will largely affect the saddle shape you get.
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