One of the biggest deterrents to picking up cycling is the discomfort and soreness often associated with bike saddles or seats. If you are thinking about picking up cycling, you should spend some time researching the variety of bicycle saddles available in order to select the one that will be the best fit for you.
A common mistake made by novice bike riders is using the original saddle instead of replacing it with one that has been customized to his or her individual needs.
There are three popular materials from which bike saddles are currently being made: leather, plastic, and gel. Of course, each material has its benefits and drawbacks. Leather models are the traditional versions. They need to be broken in, which takes about 100 miles of riding, but are very comfortable once this process is complete.
Plastic cycling saddles weigh less than the leather models, are weatherproof, and are usually cheaper then the leather ones. Finally, gel saddles, the most recent arrival in the market, mold to the cyclist’s body and provide the most customized fit.
The width of the bike seat is another important element that will make or break your cycling experience. It is important to note that just because a saddle is narrower, it does not mean it will be more comfortable. The comfort of a thinner versus wider saddle will depend on the particular cyclist’s body shape and riding position.
There are also extra features that can be added to a bike saddle and many of these help with comfort. Some of these features include strategically placed cutouts in the saddle, gel inserts to provide support, and extra padding to relieve pressure.
In addition to selecting the right saddle, there are some other things that you can do to minimize the soreness associated with cycling. First of all, make sure the height and angle of the saddle are correct. Even if you have the best saddle on the market, if the height and angle are not correct, you will probably have some discomfort.
Next, make sure you’re getting out there and riding. A bike seat is one of those things that you have to break in and get used to, so it’s not going to get any more comfortable sitting in your garage.
When you’re riding, move around a little and adjust your position every so often. This will alternate the pressure points. Finally, make sure you have some good cycling clothes. Bike shorts are specially designed to have seamless and padded crotch areas to help ease the discomfort associated with bike saddles.
The most important thing to remember when selecting your new bike saddle is that there is no hard and fast rule as to which is best. Some cyclists will prefer one type of material and width, while another will have a different set of preferences. Find the one that is best for you.
