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How To Choose Cycling Saddles

By Jessie SwiftLast update: 2023-01-28

Cycling is known to be a fairly popular sport not only in daily life but also appearing in famous bicycle racing tournaments. Every part of the bike is important for increasing cycling ability and performance.

The saddle is the key to comfort even on rough roads during cycling. In general, bicycle saddles are similar to running shoes. There are many types and styles on the market designed to suit every individual and type of cyclist.

As mentioned above, there are now many brands producing with all different shapes, models and prices. So this problem still makes you confused when choosing which type of bicycle saddle is best for you. Besides, there is nothing random about the design of the saddle. Because they are associated with the structure and shape while designing the vehicle and the styling of the vehicle.

Along with the narrow long design helps cyclists exert force on their feet at high rpm; combined with a back that is wide enough to support the pelvis and minimally thick padding to absorb shocks when riding on rough roads. Since this issue is still confusing for you, we offer guidelines for identifying and understanding the construction and functionality of a cycling saddle, and information on how to choose a cycling saddle.

1. Types of cycling saddles

Racing of cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The racing saddle is designed for freedom of movement and the outer construction is easy to remove stains. This type is usually thinner, stiffer and lighter than other types. During cycling, the riders will stoop low to limit wind resistance, most riders will sit with weight on the front part and shift to the feet and hands without having to put on the top saddle.

In addition, this racing saddle will have no nose or cutouts, which will help reduce pressure on sensitive tissues. Plus, they feature titanium or carbon rails to reduce weight. In particular, they are specially designed to allow you to move freely, without distortion.

Cruiser cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The cruiser cycling saddle is built with the help of two ends and has extra amp padding. For this type of saddle, it feels comfortable when pedaling, and it is easy to control the pedal gently. In addition, they also provide multiple layers of cushioning, so it will create a smoothness when the cyclist moves.

In general, they have a vertical design of the handlebars, which means that most of the rider's weight is directly on the seat. Since you don't have to pedal as fast, you can have a wide saddle and padding to support your weight. With a banana saddle shape, combined with a long shell and high quality padding commonly used on children's cruisers and bicycles.

Comfort cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The comfort cycling saddle features a wide, comfortable seat with thick cushions, especially designed for long-distance cycling with moderate pedal attachments. Best of all, thanks to the cushioning, it reduces shock when cycling through rough positions. This type of saddle is suitable for women because they have a wide seat, a shorter nose, and a lighter center.

Mountain cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

Depending on individual needs and desired type of cycling, there are many combinations to create comfort and meet the needs of the rider. As for choosing a mountain bike because they are very suitable and really necessary when traveling on rough terrain, this forces the rider and the whole body to move a lot to the back of the saddle when downhill or move forward when climbing.

Therefore, the mountain cycling saddle design is quite narrow with medium cushions for damping and blowing. The rear seat is shaped for easy backing and the nose has a downward slope to support forward movement. In addition, a hard saddle helps limit injuries when cycling in different types, notably pinching nerves.

Gender specific cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

Any bike gear or apparel is designed for all ages, men and women. In fact, women's hips will be wide and so are ischial bones, so women use wider saddles to support their many limbs. When choosing saddles for the male gender, use longer and narrower saddle models.

However, it is not necessarily so, because depending on the body of each person will choose the appropriate saddle. Sometimes some women will be comfortable in a slightly wider saddle with more pelvic support features, while others prefer a men's saddle, mainly for racers. Likewise, some men still have wider hips. Therefore, becoming in tune with your body is very important.

Gel cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The gel cycling saddle is constructed with a gel layer that helps cushion the rider's bones and distributes weight evenly while sitting. The position of the saddle is designed in a vertical direction, so it is easy for you to see the beautiful scenery.

On the market, cushioned seats are often easy to irritate sensitive areas, and cause foot numbness when pedaling for long distances. Equipped with a gel saddle that has a shock-absorbing effect, shaping the contours more closely to the body. Although the gel material is heavier, the saddle can be designed in both light and heavy styles. The gel cycling saddle is great for weekend cyclists and short-distance cyclists.

Suspension cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling SaddlesThe suspension cycling saddle is a saddle with a suspension mechanism built into the underside of the saddle. They have the function of pausing the bike and the rider at the same time, when riding on uneven terrain. In particular, the saddle has a narrow structure and lightweight, so it is very suitable for use in mountain bikes and hybrid bikes.

Cutaway cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The cutaway cycling saddle is a cutaway saddle, the main function of which is to reduce discomfort when the user sits up to avoid points related to itching, pain, and numbness. It is noteworthy that they are designed with the nose of the saddle deep into the groin area, so it can cause the above symptoms.

But to fix it you can remove the material from the top of the saddle, even the pressure points should be removed. Besides, there are still a few spots with cuts or holes. On the other hand, the cutaway cycling saddle is for mountain bikes, gels,...

In addition, the central grooves or cuts on the saddle not only help relieve soft tissue pressure in sensitive areas, but also reduce pressure on the perineum area for men or the pubic arch for women. However, choosing the right saddle also takes less time, and the number of tries to find the right saddle.

Wide / Cushion cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

Most of the time, using a wide saddle or adding cushions easily, affecting the process of light or heavy pedaling is partly from choosing the type of bike. The cushion cycling saddle will usually sit in an upright position, the handlebars are level with the saddle or a little higher, but mostly still put the entire body weight on the saddle. The saddle surfaces are designed to be evenly spaced on all sides, with spring support built into the underside of the saddle. Moreover, this is the heaviest saddle of its kind.

Leather cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The leather cycling saddle is a saddle made of leather, with high aesthetics, the market price is more expensive than other types, the time of use is based on the protection process. This type is also prone to damage when exposed to wet weather so you should wrap them with plastic cover to increase their longer shelf life.

In general, the saddle weight is normal, the rear structure is wide. Moreover, the saddle is mounted on a metal frame and the leather seat has two functions of medium cushion and cover. Once fitted with a few bikes, they create contours that fit your body, which you can easily adjust.

Noseless cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The noseless cycling saddle is usually designed to be lightweight, and has a gap in the middle, without a saddle nose because the bike has a mid-thigh saddle to help cyclists steer more conveniently.

The manufacturer has put a lot of pressure on the nose of the car, because this will not slide out of the bottom when going through corners, so the nose part in this type is quite important. However, the use of a noseless saddle requires the cyclist to know how to adjust the height and angle of the saddle differently. Saddle adjustments can be viewed through the manufacturer's instructions. Note, remove the saddle when feeling numb, tingling.

2. Materials cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

The selection of materials on the surface of the saddle should also be considered and considered. Because this affects the intended use and durability of the saddle. Leather material is also considered a beautiful and malleable material, but is not resistant to water.

In contrast, synthetic materials are more resistant to weathering; but in terms of aesthetics, it will not be very beautiful and may limit the breathability. Moreover, usually carbon saddle shells will be light and easy to absorb vibration and but are more expensive, quite hard construction. Saddles made of plastic or nylon shells are usually easy to use and cheap.

3. Padding of cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

Often riders think that more padding will create a more comfortable feeling, but in fact, the more cushions they have, the easier they will be to deform and create more points of contact, so for long trips, it will feel better. less comfortable.

You can imagine that a thick and soft cushion looks comfortable at first glance, but for small saddles it will compress under the seat bone and push up in the middle, which will then transfer pressure from the seat bone to the soft tissue in the middle.

On the other hand, performance saddles will have less padding to save weight, which riders should pay attention to. For comfortable seats there will be thick foam or extra gel. As for normal rides, the padding has extra layers to prevent the seat bones from rubbing after hours of riding. But spending many hours in a saddle with extra padding can cut off circulation. So, to maximize comfort, you should choose a saddle that is shaped to match your riding style and sitting posture.

4. Rail of cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

Most of the saddle rails are made below the seating area to fit into the clip at the top of the safety post. All modern bicycles today follow a certain standard. So any saddle is suitable for a bicycle. For example, the Fizik Arione saddle with carbon rails.

Knowing that, this rail is one of the points that can affect the saddle price. For entry-level saddles with steel rails and bars, the higher the price tag, the more manganese, titanium, and carbon you'll encounter. However, very expensive and light carbon rails are the most expensive and lightest.

But carbon and titanium still bring comfort to you. Note that the steel normal rail models will have the same shape as the terminal carbon rail. In addition, carbon rails are the lightest, but may not last long with the seat post clamps because of the oval shape. Titanium rails are also lighter and more expensive, but using steel rails will provide optimal durability for your saddle.

5. Cutout of bike cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

Depending on the type of bike, there will be appropriate accessories to go with them, for road bike saddles, if the quality is good, there are often cutouts or pressure relief channels running along the length of the saddle. This will accelerate soft tissue pressure by removing material that could mistakenly push your sitting bones. So in case you feel uncomfortable, you can adjust it yourself later.

6. Ensure the width of cycling saddle

How To Choose Cycling Saddles

Pay attention to the gap between the width of the saddle. Because the width of your seat bone will determine the selection of the right saddle. The way to measure the width of a saddle is to use a piece of cardboard, then place the cardboard on a hard bench and hold it firmly on it.

Next, you kick slightly forward similar to a bicycle position and raise your legs to press the saddle down on the cardboard, to create an indentation. Then you mark two indentations and measure the distance between the two points.

This can provide the correct width of your sitting bones. In general, the width of the sitting bones is narrow from 100 mm down, and on average from 100 - 130 mm and over 130 mm wide. It is known that the saddle width is measured from edge to edge on the top of the saddle. However, the flexibility to work from your position to the bike also depends on the type of bike you choose.

Conclusion

Knowing that the cycling saddle is very diverse in width, depending on the rider on the pedal to have a more diverse design, the saddle has a quality structure and design that will support the rider's sitting bones. bicycle, the skeleton part of the vehicle. Moreover, the pelvis where the connection between the buttocks and the legs is very much. Therefore, each manufacturer will have its own instrument to measure the width of the seat bones. Therefore, the choice of size is also more reasonable When preparing to make decisions about bicycle accessories, you should pay attention to some information from the manufacturer, to ensure high performance when cycling. Especially for your safety and health. From the information that we have provided above, hopefully it will bring you a product and information you need.

"I'm Jessie, being an author for gearinstant, an office job? No, with internet, I can be a digital nomad everywhere, I enjoyed cycling, running whenever I can. I'd love to share my experience from the gears, useful tips and learned for everybody who have the same passion like me."


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