How do you choose a saddle?
Discussion
After 16 miles last night my no mans land area is very sore. I think i need a new seat.
But i think my arse has become acustom to the rather comfy saddle i have on my bus bike.
On my mtb i have a SDG Bel Air that came with the bike.
Now i have my bike set up with a high front end so to minamise learning as it hurts my back as shown here
I went to my local bike shop today and saw this priced at 40€. Its a Sportour FLx gel flow. it looks far more comfy than my current saddle and is a good price.
.
Now on the companies website they say that this saddle is a "moderate" for cruising and rambling. I dont want it to be to restrictive but am i right in thinking that its more to do with your sitting angle rather than anythign else?
So as i sit quite upright on my mtb will this saddle be ok..
I hope i have made sence in that ramble...
But i think my arse has become acustom to the rather comfy saddle i have on my bus bike.
On my mtb i have a SDG Bel Air that came with the bike.
Now i have my bike set up with a high front end so to minamise learning as it hurts my back as shown here
I went to my local bike shop today and saw this priced at 40€. Its a Sportour FLx gel flow. it looks far more comfy than my current saddle and is a good price.
.Now on the companies website they say that this saddle is a "moderate" for cruising and rambling. I dont want it to be to restrictive but am i right in thinking that its more to do with your sitting angle rather than anythign else?
So as i sit quite upright on my mtb will this saddle be ok..
I hope i have made sence in that ramble...
Marcellus said:
cue the "I have a xxxxx xxxxx and it's soooo comfortable" replies....
what part of your nether regions hurt soo much?
Is it hurt or numbness or pins and needles when riding?
How soon after riding doe s the pain start?
Hi Marcellus, what part of your nether regions hurt soo much?
Is it hurt or numbness or pins and needles when riding?
How soon after riding doe s the pain start?
firsty, sorry for not replying to the double tripple thread, i completly forgot.
id say as a guess its area between my balls and about 2" back from them. I have to sit to one side to relive it during the ride.
Its a hurt pain, last night i had to start shifting my weight around after about an hour
Unfortunately saddles are such a personal thing that it tends to be down to trial and error.
I've never been a fan of the various 'sofa' type saddles as you've pictured above. Lots of padding is not what makes a saddle comfortable, the right amount in the right place is.
I also don't get on with the SDG ones like you have at the moment. Both my bikes have WTB saddles on them, they have a 'comfort zone' cut out in roughly the area you're describing. This is like a small pocket of squidgy gel stuff which supposedly relieves the pressure.
I'm not going to be silly and suggest that this saddle will cure your woes, but personally I get on well with them. They do a cheap version which you could see if you liked prior to splashing for a higher end one, the shape is pretty much the same, difference is in the quality of the materials (ti rails for example).
Ever tried something like a Brooks? Take a while to get comfy, but mould to the shape of your arse over time and pretty much last forever. If you can still get Selle Flites they work for a lot of people too.
I've never been a fan of the various 'sofa' type saddles as you've pictured above. Lots of padding is not what makes a saddle comfortable, the right amount in the right place is.
I also don't get on with the SDG ones like you have at the moment. Both my bikes have WTB saddles on them, they have a 'comfort zone' cut out in roughly the area you're describing. This is like a small pocket of squidgy gel stuff which supposedly relieves the pressure.
I'm not going to be silly and suggest that this saddle will cure your woes, but personally I get on well with them. They do a cheap version which you could see if you liked prior to splashing for a higher end one, the shape is pretty much the same, difference is in the quality of the materials (ti rails for example).
Ever tried something like a Brooks? Take a while to get comfy, but mould to the shape of your arse over time and pretty much last forever. If you can still get Selle Flites they work for a lot of people too.
TBH at this stage I'd say tough it out..... you're not use to it see how it goes... it's not surprising that after an hour on a saddle your arse hurts....
I know a lot of people think "oooo nice wide saddle = nice comfy saddle .... but my view is how wide is the gap where you're shoving the saddle?
That said a friend had an issue with saddle discomfort....... a serious issue..... medically serious... caused mishappening and loss of performance
..... so now uses a saddle like the one you've posted and his prostate sits in the gap nicely and he's getting his "performance" back 
(which is pleasing his girlfried no end) so it can be a serious problem........
I know a lot of people think "oooo nice wide saddle = nice comfy saddle .... but my view is how wide is the gap where you're shoving the saddle?
That said a friend had an issue with saddle discomfort....... a serious issue..... medically serious... caused mishappening and loss of performance
..... so now uses a saddle like the one you've posted and his prostate sits in the gap nicely and he's getting his "performance" back (which is pleasing his girlfried no end) so it can be a serious problem........Thanks for all the comments.
just a couple more queries. I took a photo of the saddle so i could find it on the net when i got back to work. It shows the profile quite well.
To me the general shape is similar to my sbg and most other mtb saddle but the gell is quite soft all over and the gap for my softer bits to sit in.
Am i right in thinking that because it is softer al over this should spread my quite large weight a bit better over my arse bones?
just a couple more queries. I took a photo of the saddle so i could find it on the net when i got back to work. It shows the profile quite well.
To me the general shape is similar to my sbg and most other mtb saddle but the gell is quite soft all over and the gap for my softer bits to sit in.
Am i right in thinking that because it is softer al over this should spread my quite large weight a bit better over my arse bones?
Marcellus said:
TBH at this stage I'd say tough it out..... you're not use to it see how it goes... it's not surprising that after an hour on a saddle your arse hurts....
I know a lot of people think "oooo nice wide saddle = nice comfy saddle .... but my view is how wide is the gap where you're shoving the saddle?
That said a friend had an issue with saddle discomfort....... a serious issue..... medically serious... caused mishappening and loss of performance ..... so now uses a saddle like the one you've posted and his prostate sits in the gap nicely and he's getting his "performance" back (which is pleasing his girlfried no end) so it can be a serious problem........
Some good advice above. You will get used to it as your arse muscles develop - hence why some people can ride carbon saddles with no padding at all. For me the best saddleI';ve ever had is my current one which I stumbled upon. It's a Bontrager X-lite. I know a lot of people think "oooo nice wide saddle = nice comfy saddle .... but my view is how wide is the gap where you're shoving the saddle?
That said a friend had an issue with saddle discomfort....... a serious issue..... medically serious... caused mishappening and loss of performance
..... so now uses a saddle like the one you've posted and his prostate sits in the gap nicely and he's getting his "performance" back (which is pleasing his girlfried no end) so it can be a serious problem........Many people swear by Brooks too.
As i have always said, it doesn't matter what saddle you have if you have crap shorts on.
Buy a decent pair of bibs (wear them under baggies if you are too cool for school) and see how you get on.
If you get a sore bum after 2-3 hours, use some chamois creme, if it gets sore after an hour, a new saddle is in order.
Buy a decent pair of bibs (wear them under baggies if you are too cool for school) and see how you get on.
If you get a sore bum after 2-3 hours, use some chamois creme, if it gets sore after an hour, a new saddle is in order.
Everyone has there own way it bought some good shorts which helped a lot, removable padded inner shorts with baggy outers so you don't end up walking into work in your tighties...
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
And I bought one of these on ebay which dampens the bumps on my otherwise rigid frame don't know if it's needed but have full perineal feeling now!
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/use/sumo-xcr-c...
It was less than half this price on ebay and as new.
Also think things do improve with time.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?Mod...
And I bought one of these on ebay which dampens the bumps on my otherwise rigid frame don't know if it's needed but have full perineal feeling now!
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/use/sumo-xcr-c...
It was less than half this price on ebay and as new.
Also think things do improve with time.
Rolls said:
I've always used Specialised BG saddles, but as has been said if you're not used to riding, then its no suprise you hurt a bit...
If I'm off the bike for a week or so, will normally take me a days commuting to get used to the saddle again...
Surely you should use Rolls saddles?If I'm off the bike for a week or so, will normally take me a days commuting to get used to the saddle again...
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