How to Pick the Right Bike Saddle: Your Ultimate Fitting Guide

The best way to increase comfort on your bike ride is by choosing a high quality ebike saddle.

The saddle has caused me a lot of pain, from painful skin chafing through to sore seat bones and recurring saddles sores to lower-back pain. These issues may be the main reason you are here.

How do you find the best bike saddle? Great question.

Over the years, as an avid cyclist myself, I have tried out and evaluated a variety of bicycle saddles. I have liked some (and loved others!) Some have even been torture.

This post will help you to find the perfect bike seat.

What is the importance of saddle fit?

Most riders, if not everyone, know that saddle fit is very important.

The clear reasons :

• Eliminate painful chafing
• Prevent recurring saddle sores
• Avoid sore thighs and sitbones
• Enjoy your ride more!

There are also some less obvious reasons for choosing the right saddle.

• Maintaining a proper riding position will improve your performance. The right riding position will optimize the power transfer between your legs and pedals, so that you can achieve those new personal records.
• Supporting your pelvis better can help reduce lower-back pain.
• Spread the weight evenly over your sit bones to prevent nerve compression.

The saddle shouldn't cause you pain or despair while riding. (That never-ending mountain is a different story ...). A well-fitted saddle will make riding easier and more enjoyable.

Understanding Saddle shape

The bike saddles are available in a variety of shapes, sizes and thicknesses.

Your bike's saddle shape will affect a variety of factors, including comfort, support, and performance.

There isn't a perfect shape that fits every rider. However, certain shapes tend to be more popular with different riders.

Road bicycle saddles: These saddles tend to be long, thin, and light. These saddles are designed to be fast and efficient. They have minimal padding, which reduces the chance of you chafing during long rides.

Mountain Bike Saddles: Mountain Bike saddles tend to be wider, flatter and padded more than road bikes. Mountain bike saddles are made for riders who change their riding positions frequently. They also have durable covers to handle the rough terrain of mountain biking.

Travel saddles: Travel saddles were designed specifically for cycling long distances. The padding is usually moderate, but still comfortable. Most touring saddles have large cuts to reduce pressure on the nerves and relieve pain.

Comfort Saddles: These saddles are for cyclists that prioritize comfort and performance over speed. These seats are usually wider and more cushioned than others. Many have gel or springs to absorb shock and some even come with extra cushioning.

We also have to consider the shape and roundness of the seat.

Roundness

The roundness of the saddle is measured from one side to another. Others are curved while some saddles have an obvious curve.

Your hip rotation is determined by the curve of the bike seat:

• Flat Saddlescan result in less pressure on the pubic region, but may cause side to side shifting that could lead to chafing.
• Curved Saddlescan keep your body more balanced, but they may put more pressure in the pubic region.

Which is the better bike? It really depends on your personal preferences and how you ride the bike.

Personal, I prefer a saddle that is moderately curvy with a small cutout. It keeps the hips in place, while relieving pressure on my pubic region.

Wave

Another saddle shape is the way a saddle appears from front to back. The wave is what we call this.

• The no wave saddle is essentially flat, from the rear to the tip. Flat saddles are ideal for people who like to ride upright and have a flexible body. Flat saddles allow you to change your position more quickly, but they also reduce stability.
• A waved seat has a raised back, and the nose is slightly lowered. The shape can provide a little more stability, and relieve some pressure in the front. These saddles are also more suitable for riders who have less flexibility. A curved-profile saddle can make you feel more locked in and less comfortable.
• Some saddles are just lightly waved. This offers a good balance between stability and seat position.

Nose length

On a saddle, the nose is positioned forward. You can shift your weight to the front when you climb steep hills, or place your weight on the handlebass for an aerodynamic position.

Saddles are becoming shorter, or with a snub-nose design. This is due to the fact that a longer nose does not offer much benefit. You can still shift your weight in front without it.

• Long Noses:Allows you to shift your weight more forward in the saddle. This is useful on steep climbs
• Shorter Noses: Reduces pressure in the perineal region and doesn't interfere when riding off.

Note on saddle pads

More padding does not always equal more comfort. This is especially true for longer rides.

Too much padding over the long term can lead to pressure points and irritation. As you sit down, the padding pushes into your soft tissue.

How you ride will determine how much padding is needed.

Most casual riders are able to get by with more padding, while serious riders may want something that has a more firm surface.

The two types of padding that a saddle has are:

The foam padding is available in different densities. Higher-density is more firm and won't collapse as quickly, so it is better for long rides. Lower-density is more comfortable and suitable for short rides.

Gel padding is a great option for padded seats. It conforms to the shape of your body and offers a lot of comfort.

What is a Saddle Cut-out?

Many saddles are designed with a groove or hole in the center, especially women's.

The perineal (aka vagina, scrotum) area is relieved of pressure by this channel. This region can bear the most weight when you are sitting on your bicycle seat.

If you have numbness or soft tissue pain and pressure, as well as chafing in the labia, then cut-out saddles may be a great choice for you.

Selecting a Saddle Width

Saddles support the hips when you ride. The saddle should be large enough to accommodate your sit bone, without being so wide as to cause chafing.

To find the perfect saddle you will need to know your seat bone size.

How do I measure my sit bones?

• Grab a big piece of foil, or thin cardboard.
• Sit down on a step covered in carpet and place the cardboard or foil under your butt.
• You can mimic pedaling by lifting your feet.
• Measure the distance between two depressions.
• To find the saddle size, add 2cm onto your seat bone's width. If your seat bone width is 13 cm, then you will want to find a 15cm wide saddle.
• Remember to add two centimeters! Once you have determined the saddle shape that you want, it's time to start looking.
• The product description of most bike saddles will list the width.

What is the best saddle for you?

The journey to find the perfect ebike saddle is personal. This post contains a wealth of information and tips to assist you in choosing the right saddle for your riding style. However, it may take some time to find one that works.

Here are five steps that will help you choose the right bike saddle:

1. Decide your riding position and style.
2. Do you prefer a flat or round saddle? What about a wave or not?
3. Decide whether or not you would like a -cutout.
4. Measure your sit bones
5. Select a Budget. Saddles can range anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars.
6. If you have the opportunity, try out as many saddles as possible. If you don't like the saddle, you can return it within a specified time frame.

Adjusting your saddle

You'll have to adjust and break in your bike seat once you get it. These are some tips to help you:

Saddle Heights:The initial step to adjusting the saddle height is to set it at the correct height. Your leg should extend fully at the end of your pedal stroke when you are sitting in the saddle and have one heel on it.

Angle of the Saddle:At first, set your saddle at a level position. Then adjust it to suit comfort. The most common position to start with is flat, or slightly down. Avoid tilting your saddle down too much, since it could put excessive pressure on the hands and wrists.

Fore/Aft Saddle Position: The position of the saddle along the rails is from the front to the back. When your pedal is in the 3 o’clock position, you should be able to drop a line from your bony point below your kneecap and have it intersect with the pedal axle.

Last thoughts

Spending some time testing and researching different saddles will improve your experience if comfort is important to you, you have experienced saddle sores or chafing while riding, or you are experiencing discomfort.

Bear in mind that there cannot be a single perfectly fitting saddle. As with all such tips, one needs to remember that what may be good for one person may not necessarily be ideal for another. You can filter your search for the right one in relation to riding style, comfort, and bodies. Then try out different methods to see which one will suit you best.