How to choose a bike saddle

The saddle is the part of the bike that comes the most noticeably into contact with the body. That's why you need to pay close attention to the saddle you choose, because the wrong saddle will not only significantly reduce your riding comfort and ruin your cycling experience, but it can also have significant negative effects on your health.

This article will help you to get a basic understanding of how to choose a bike saddle. If you want to ask for further details or consult your choice, we will be happy to advise you directly in our brick-and-mortar shop Ski and Bike Radotín. Our test centre is also available for you to try out some of the saddles you have chosen.

There are a few basic criteria to consider when choosing a saddle. First and foremost, it should fit the anatomical structure of your pelvis with the right width. Next, you need to choose a saddle with regard to where you ride, whether off-road or on the road. The frequency of your riding and the distances you normally cover on your bike are also important.

You can find suitable saddle models in the saddle section .

Cycle saddle in the correct width

The width of the saddle is a very important attribute, because even the best and softest saddle won't keep you comfortable if it doesn't match the width of your sit bones. We will measure this width for you at the shop with a special gauge. This is actually a stool equipped with a shape memory cushion that you sit on and your sit bones push out dimples in the cushion. You can then use their spacing to determine how wide you need the saddle to be. Saddles are available in 130, 140, 143, 150, 155, 160 mm widths and you can also find downright recreational models in 175 and 190 mm widths. The most common saddle width for men is 143 mm, while for women it is usually 155 mm. Don't be fooled by body proportions, a person with a sturdy body sometimes needs a 130 mm wide saddle, or conversely a thin person may have saddle bumps far apart and the correct saddle width for them may be 150 mm.

Road and MTB saddles

You already know the right saddle width and can continue with your selection. Now focus on the terrain you ride. If you ride on the road, you need to choose between road saddles. These saddles are longer, narrower, lighter, and generally a bit harder than mountain bike saddles. You are expected to cover longer distances on these saddles and ride frequently and intensively.



If you mainly ride off-road, you're more likely to choose a saddle designed for mountain biking. MTB saddles differ in particular from road saddles in their resistance to the shocks generated when crossing rough terrain, and they are also designed for a slightly different way of riding. For all-mountain and downhill riding, saddles are a bit wider, softer, more robust and also heavier.

Trekking and cross-country saddles are generally wider and softer, with more padding, primarily designed for lower mileage and less time in the saddle.

Bike saddle and frequency of riding

When choosing a saddle, however, don't strictly go by the terrain you ride on. Many amateur riders on gravel or even mountain bikes use road saddles because of their lighter weight and greater hardness. Don't be afraid of the hardness of the saddle, experience shows that frequent and prolonged riding causes more back strain, paradoxically on softer and more padded saddles. It is certainly not true that the softer saddle, the more comfortable you will be. So soft saddles are more suited for shorter and less frequent rides.

They are differentiated according to the frequency of the ride and the number of kilometres covered:

Recreational saddles - fewer kilometres, more upright riding position, comfortable with a large pad.

Sport saddles - a compromise between recreational and racing saddles, more kilometres are expected, but the saddle is still very comfortable.

Racing saddles - all subordinated to performance, low weight and high kilometres, for a recreational cyclist it will be less comfortable.

Men's x Women's saddles

Women's saddles differ from men's saddles in way that they are softer, shorter, but most importantly, they are wider at the back, so they are better adapted to women's buttocks. For example, Specialized women's saddles use Women's Body Geometry technology and have a different anatomical cutout from the men's models, with bevelled sides in the middle of the saddle to maintain blood flow to the soft tissues in front of the ischiopubic symphysis. Of course, women's saddles are offered in road, gravel, mountain and trekking versions.

Gel bike saddles

Some types of saddles are made with a gel padding, the purpose of which is to reduce blisters on the seat part of the body. Gel saddles are actually more comfortable, with the disadvantage of being slightly heavier. Manufacturers often offer the same type of saddle with and without gel. An example is the Specialized Phenom saddle, which comes in Phenom, Phenom Gel (with gel) and Phenom Gel Ti (with gel and titanium rails).

Cycling and blood flow

Saddle manufacturers are well aware of the fact that sitting on a conventional saddle restricts blood flow to the soft tissues in front of the ischiopubic symphysis. This is a very risky issue from a health point of view, especially for men, as prolonged under-fatigue of these areas and especially the penis can lead to erection problems. The danger of this phenomenon lies mainly in the fact that the cyclist usually does not feel the restricted blood flow while riding. For ladies, this problem is more likely to be associated with discomfort and pain in the soft areas in front of the ischiopubic symphysis during and after the ride, but ladies may also have health problems caused by insufficient blood flow to the tissues in front of the ischiopubic symphysis.

Saddle manufacturers naturally try to prevent this unfortunate phenomenon. Specialized was one of the first to address this problem, and as part of its Body Geometry concept, the company fitted its saddles with an anatomical cut-out in the middle section. These are the places where the arteries that supply blood to incriminated parts of the body pass through when sitting on the saddle. The cut-out prevents pressure on these arteries and thus interruption of the blood supply, which has been proven by tests that measure blood flow to these areas. Another positive feature of the cut-out is its venting function. Today, however, saddles with an anatomical cut-out in the middle section can be found in other manufacturers such as Fizik or Bontrager.

Skeleton

The seddle skeleton plays an important role, or the material from which it is made. The best saddles have a carbon skeleton, which guarantees low weight with high stiffness and partial shock absorption. Lower models combine carbon with plastic and basic saddle models have all-plastic frames. For better shock absorption, the side parts of the saddle are sometimes soft, so that they spring, and sometimes they can be bent by hand.

Cover

The cover of a bike saddle is usually made of natural or synthetic leather, and some saddles have the cover protected in exposed parts by another abrasion-resistant material, such as Kevlar. However, with newer and more expensive saddles, it is increasingly common to see a padding made by 3D printing, which no longer comes with any additional cover.

Saddle rails

The material of the saddle rails is also very important. Again, carbon reigns supreme, being light, strong and well sprung. Carbon saddle rails are usually 7x9.6 mm oval in shape for strength. Hollow titanium lyžiny are a close second, while filled titanium saddle rails would take the bronze spot and the potato medal among saddle rails materials goes to chrome-molybdenum.

Integrated flasher and under-saddle panniers

There aren't many accessories you could retrofit your saddle with. These include a flasher, for which the saddle may have a built-in clip to 'snap on', or the saddle may already have an integrated flasher.

Another accessory may be a foam lined saddle pad for more comfort, but this is not recommended. It is only suitable for shorter rides and on a longer trip it does exactly the opposite, if it bunches up it can easily cause bruising and won't help your comfort much.

Most cyclists, however, get very practical under-saddle panniers for spare inner tubes, tools and possibly other things. There are a lot of under-saddle panniers on the market and you can find them in our under-saddle panniers section.

Try before you buy!

Even if you measure the pitch of the points of buttocks and take care before you buy a saddle, you may not find that the saddle is suitable for you. Every saddle takes some time to accustomed to and become one wiht it, and only then will you know for sure if it's the right saddle for you. That's why it's a good idea to try out the saddle before you buy it. In our shop you can rent a saddle and take it home to test it on your own. Only after this test can you be 100% sure that you are buying the right saddle and you will have many pleasant and undisturbed moments on your new saddle. For more information about this service, please visit the test centre.



If you are not sure about the right choice of a bike saddle, we will be happy to welcome you in our Ski and Bike Radotín shop where our trained sale staff will help and advise you. Alternatively, you can also use our BG FIT / Retul Studio service, where we will professionally adjust the saddle and help you choose the right saddle.

Bike saddle Joyseat | 3D customized saddle

Czech technology start-up Posedla produces customized bike saddles using 3D printing, with respect for human individuality and the health of each rider.

Fizik cycling saddle | One-to-One program

The One-to-One program allows you to create customized saddles based on individual rider biometrics. By recording the pressure a cyclist exerts on the saddle, dynamically captured while riding, it maps a unique pressure profile and uses this data to create a bespoke 3D printed saddle pad that offers unrivalled improvements in both comfort and performance.
As a result, Fizik is taking its line of 3D printed Adaptive Saddles to the next level, and the One-to-One program represents the pinnacle of personal design and data-driven engineering.