Mountain Biking - Mtn bike seat suggestions?

I just purchased a 2004 Gary Fisher Marlin (will be in Friday - can't wait!) and am looking to replace the stock seat, as I heard it wasn't too comfortable. Couldn't tell much from my short test ride; love how the bike handled though.

I will be riding the bike mainly on moderate trails and on 20-25 mile road juants during the week to keep active. What's a good seat that's in a range of $50 at max? I'd like it to look cool and be slender-ish. I sometimes have problems with crotch numbness when I sit in the saddle a lot, which happens when riding on the road. I do have padded biking shorts I wear under mesh shorts.

Thanks!

d.

I love my wtb laser.

But seats are personal. Gotta try em first :)

I would first give the stock saddle a little time. Maybe it'll be just fine for you. If not then start looking around. Also, it will give you a good basis for which to make profile comparisons. It's not about the softness as much as shape. Use the current saddle to determine if you should go with something wider or narrower to support your sitbones. Figure out if you want something longer or shorter to facilitate your various fore/aft positioning when riding. Maybe the current saddle has enough side-cutout or maybe it doesn't and your legs are rubbing as you pedal. If you pick a different saddle then you'll know what to look for based on your current one so use that as a benchmark.

Ageed, ride the stock saddle for awhile. Regardless of which you use, your butt will be sore until you build up some butt cauloses. Actually it's your gluteous maximus muscle tone that you need to develop.

Don't get your new bike and go ride for 3 hrs. the first time out. Do shorter rides around the neighborhood for the first couple days until you get used to supporting your weight on a bike seat.

L8R

BTW, I have a WTB as Maelstrom mentioned and I like it a lot. I think my model is the Speed V.

I also have a Salsa Zona Tres that is a great saddle.

L8R

i prefer a much harder seat for some of the above mentioned reason.
your butt will callous a bit but if a seat is not a big old cushy motor cycle saddle that it should be designed to

1) fit you ischial tuberosities (basically...but bones) which tend to be more wide apart in women (to allow the passage of a child...thus the need for a wider seat often)

2)clear your prostate b/c continued and prolonged pressure on the prostate can lead to prostate and urinary tract infections (generally a problem for older riders b/c they have bigger prostates)

i find that if a seat fits my butt bones than no matter how hard i get used to it in time

my$0.02

I have a $20 schwinn gel seat, it has the little hole in the middle for air circulating and etc. It's pretty comfortable, but not for more than like 1 1/2 hr of riding.

i prefer a much harder seat for some of the above mentioned reason.


i do too but the weird thing is that when i first started riding, i used soft cushioned seats and i found that comfortable. A couple months after, i moved onto a harder seat and at first, it hurt a lot but i began to like it a lot. Just the other day, I went back to the cushiony seat, and it hurt like a mofo! just a ride around the neighbourhood result in pain!

Weird?

I got my new bike and the guy recommended I put on a Rocket V or sumthing. Its really hard and he told me it will feel pretty bad for the first while... It did - it felt like I had been pounded up my bumhole lol.. (to put it bluntly) - but after a month or so its really comfy to ride on, and prevents anyone else (who doesnt cycle as much) from stealing it without being punished :P I Love my baby lol