Buying a Saddle

[NeilWalker]

Does anyone have any tips about buying a saddle?

2 years ago i bought a hybrid. I was getting a bit soreness after riding for 1/2 hour so tried a softer one but that caused a lot of chafing so I went back to the original saddle.

Recently I went to a local cycle shop who had a device you sat one to measure your .....behind. On that basis I chose another saddle but this one turned out to be equally hard. How do I get a comfortable saddle? Is there something in the set up of the bike I need to?

As an aside, is there a fashion for really hard saddles. I've hired bikes in recent years and they've been really hard. I used to have a mountain bike and had no problems with the saddle at all.

 

[biggs682]

saddles are a hard choice its almost a matter of just keep trying till you find the right one .

lots of people rave about Brooks or a Rolls saddle .

if you are local to me i have a few you could try for a while others more local might volunteer same

 

[rollinstok]

imho the so called "comfort" saddles are useless for anything other than a ride to the shops
Most long distance cyclists will swear by a Brooks saddle which is hard leather but forms into the shape of your a**e after a few hundred miles
I,ve never had a Brooks but swear by the " Charge Spoon" which is light and very comfortable for me
Its very difficult to advise anyone on a saddle type because as individuals we all differ
If you dont do a lot of cycling you will hurt with any saddle, it can take some time before your bum becomes immune !!
Good luck in finding something suitable

 

[Salad Dodger]

+1 for the Charge Spoon
or the Madison Flux which is a virtual clone of the Spoon and just as comfy. I have a Flux on my mountain bike and I wouldn't swap it for any other seat.

 

[MattHB]

Spoons are nice. But it's a black art. Don't change anything any sooner than 300+ miles. I've found that I take ages to get used to saddle changes, even tilts.

 

[vickster]

I assume you are wearing padded shorts between your saddle and behind? If not, I'd try that first

 

[numbnuts]

After 27,000 miles on a Brooks, I still found it uncomfortable after 50+ miles so I'm trying out this one, so far so good, but only time will tell.

 

[xpc316e]

I reckon that there is no such thing as a comfortable saddle: some are merely less uncomfortable than others. I have an old Brooks on my tandem, and it's the best saddle I own, but for comfort nothing beats a recumbent.

 

[albion]

I'm fine with mine but if I wear my bib shorts I get uncomfortable far sooner.
It seems as if padded shorts are designed for solid or skinnier saddles.

 

[sidevalve]

I had a Brookes thirty years ago and it was great but [idiot !] I let it go with my old bike. I've bought another now and even though it's nowhere near "broke in" yet it's still pretty good even at this early stage.
PS- I've noticed Evans seem to be cheapest if you do decide to get one.

 

[screenman]

I use Bontranger, they do a 30 day unconditional warranty if for any reason you do not like then return for a refund. I have not found the limit as too how long it takes before my saddle gets uncomfortable as 3 hours is the longest rides I do.

 

[Ethan]

Ill give the Madison Flux another vote. Its very comfy, I've never had a problem with it. It looks pretty good too, I use it on my road bike and even though its a MTB bike it doesn't look out of place.

 

[al-fresco]

Last year I put a Madison Flux on my Surly and found it to be a big improvement. This year I put my original Surly saddle on a singlespeed conversion that I'd cobbled together and found it feels fine now I think it's just a case of 'the more you ride the less your arse hurts.' Stay away from wide 'gel' saddles though - in my experience these are never comfortable on a long ride.

 

[screenman]

I forgot to say, pushing harder on the pedals makes the saddle more comfortable.

 

[gavintc]

I have a hard saddle and find it extremely comfortable. Good quality bibs are essential for comfort though.