Everything You Need to Know About Picking Bike Saddles

The bike saddle is one of the most vital parts of a bicycle. You’ll be sitting on them the entire time that you’re out riding your bike. This is why it’s a major problem when the saddle that you use is causing you major discomfort while you’re out riding your bike, whether because it’s too big or doesn’t stay in its place.

Now, there are many factors that affect your bike-riding experience, especially when it comes to comfort. To make sure that you’re as comfortable as possible while riding, we’ve prepared a short article about everything you need to know when picking the right bike saddle.

How Do Bike Saddles Work?

A common misconception about bike saddles is that you can make them comfortable by adding padding like you would with normal chairs. But this just isn’t the case. Bike saddles also have to offer stability and support while you’re riding them, which is why it’s not just about padding and cushions.

Bike saddles have to help you balance equally on the three main points of contact, which is your hands, butt, and feet––that’s the main function of the bike saddle. Now, the tricky part is doing this all while providing the person riding the bicycle with a comfortable riding experience. Good saddles achieve this by correctly positioning your bones when you sit on them and by designing the saddle in a way that protects the sensitive soft tissue while a person is riding.

Ways to Deal with the Discomfort?

Now, what are your options if you feel discomfort while riding but don’t want to swap out your saddle? Well, wearing the right shorts will make riding significantly more comfortable. The right shorts can prevent you from chafing while cycling. If you still feel discomfort, you can opt to wear padded shorts that will protect your pelvic area while you’re riding your bike. 

How to Go About Choosing a Saddle?

Now, keep in mind that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for this. Some saddles may feel comfortable for some people and completely unbearable for others. This is because people have unique riding positions that strain their bones and pelvic area differently. 

In essence, your first choice would be to choose between a hard bike saddle and a soft saddle. Contrary to what you may think, soft saddles don’t necessarily make the riding more comfortable. This is because too much cushioning can also cause your body to sink, which will only cause chafing. On the other hand, saddles that are on the firm side provide riders with more support. Yet, firm saddles may start feeling uncomfortable the longer you’re on your bike.

Lastly, the width of the saddle is also a significant factor when it comes to comfort. In this case, you can measure your pelvic area to determine the width of the saddle. If you can’t do this, try riding your bike for a couple of hours to see how you fit on it and purchase a saddle that you think will best suit you.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this information shared above proves to be useful on your journey to find the perfect saddle for you. Remember that choosing the right saddle doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep the information that we’ve listed in this article in mind the next time you go shopping for a bike saddle so that you will have the best experience on your bike!

If you’re looking for high-quality bike saddles, then Cushbike is the way to go. We make bike seat cushions that are geared towards providing you with maximising comfort to enhance your riding experience. For more information on our products, visit our site today!