Road Cycling - saddles

I've heard how the factory saddles on new bikes are often uncomfortable hunks of crap. I'm new here, just started trying bikes out and am quite surprised how awful they can be. The question I have is, what mitigates this problem the best:
- new saddle?
- good shorts?
- ride a lot and get used to it?

depends on the saddle.

experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation experimentation

get busy :)

positioning of saddle

figure out where it hurts and adjust accordingly ... pain in the frontal region can usually be by a quick tilt of the saddle... also change fore/aft and stem so that youre not stretched out as much

experimentation...

That's what I thought. This sport is going to cost me a fortune, isn't it?

That's what I thought. This sport is going to cost me a fortune, isn't it?


It can be done on the cheap, but I'm afraid I'm spending more than I wanted to lately. I'm also looking for a saddle that I like. I'll try anything that they'll let me try and send it back if I don't like it. I'm working EBay pretty hard too. So far my favorite is a WTB Stealth. Don't underestimate a position change. A little nose up or down and front to back can make a lot of difference.

Mike

That's what I thought. This sport is going to cost me a fortune, isn't it?

Hey cydisc. Welcome to road riding and to bikeforums! This sport doesn't need to cost you a fortune... but sometimes we do get to where bike catalogs and websites occupy our brains :D . Just be glad you're not hooked on yacht racing $$$!

Back to your question- my suggestion: do a search on saddle recommendations in these forums; there's lots of helpful advice. Obviously saddle choice is a very individual matter butt, there are some saddles that lots more people feel comfortable on than others. I'd say the general rule is the stock saddle on most bikes, unless they're high $ bikes, are pretty much torture devices. If there's one component on a bike that I wouldn't skimp on, it's your saddle. Be willing to spend some $ there and you won't regret it. When you read reviews and think you've got some choices that may work, see if you can try them out if you know friends that have them or if your LBS (local bike shop) can let you test some on a bike trainer, etc.

Good riding shorts also make a difference, but not as much as your saddle. Just make sure you don't wear underwear inside your shorts.

Like others have stated, saddle position is very important. A good starting point is to use a bubble level and set your saddle level.

It's definitely possible to get to where you can ride for hours with no pain. FWIW, I ride a Fizik Aliante and ride centuries and back-to-back centuries with NO PAIN.

Cheers! - RJ

It can be done on the cheap, but I'm afraid I'm spending more than I wanted to lately. I'm also looking for a saddle that I like. I'll try anything that they'll let me try and send it back if I don't like it. I'm working EBay pretty hard too. So far my favorite is a WTB Stealth. Don't underestimate a position change. A little nose up or down and front to back can make a lot of difference.

Mike
A little forward or backwards also can make a big difference. I changed the saddle on the MTB and didn't realize how far back I moved it. Well, a few rides later and more back pain than I have ever had before, I started looking at my positioning on the bike and realized what I had done! Doh!:o

...Just make sure you don't wear underwear inside your shorts....

Or, for that matter, outside. :) :p :D :o ;)

Or, for that matter, outside. :) :p :D :o ;)

ROFL!!! :roflmao:

imo every saddle hurts when you start cycling. some feel good soon after, some never feel good.

- ride a lot and get used to it?

You asked what "mitigates it the most." Riding a lot is the answer. But still you can't make a poorly designed saddle as comfortable as a well designed saddle. I ride Brooks saddles and they have a tremendous following. Search the web for Brooks B17.

Others will suggest their favorites, but yes riding a LOT will overcome the initial discomfort of most saddles. Also most will admit that a more firm saddle is a preferred saddle, that is why so many OEM saddles are so awful, they are spongey butt jabbers.

spongey butt jabbers.

Thanks for the info, but please, don't ever string those 3 words together again.

I'm new here, just started trying bikes out and am quite surprised how awful they can be.

Road saddles take some getting used to. None of them feel like a lazy boy.

Once you realize that, if you still want a different saddle, you really have to experiment.

Bike shops should have a saddle loan program. They take one of every saddle they stock, and check them out to people for a few days, maybe charge a small fee. That way you could test a few out without having to buy them.

I was lucky to find a saddle that worked on my first try. After riding on the stock seat, my friend's father gave me a a Selle Italia Max Flite Trans Am when he realized I was pretty into cycling. It worked incredibly well, and I finished my first double century this last month with hardly a twinge in the nads. Heh.

I liked it so much, I picked up another one in very used condition for $13 to use with my commuter (joy). See sig.

http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/fa/bb/pr-Bike_Parts_Accessories-Selle_Italia_Max_Flite_Trans_Am_Seat-resized200.jpg

I bought one of these when I first got my mtn bike...

http://www.rower.com/images/bb_l/5633.jpg

Much Older Model....

I bought one of these because it was cool and new

http://www.profirad.de/images/fizik_arione.jpg

One season of my backside hurting and looking cool is all it took, I sold the seat to a friend and he loves it. I went back to the new model of the Body Geometry, very impressed with it still....

The moral of the story....

Experimentation and Luck......both said in the above posts :)