What's a comfortable saddle?
 

edited to clarify: I'm not really looking for saddle recommendations. While I do appreciate the recommendations, I'm primarily interested in what I can expect from a saddle in terms of comfort. I realize now I should've been more clear in my subject line, sorry about that.

If a mod would like to edit the subject line to something more fitting, that would be fantastic. Perhaps something like "What are realistic expectations in terms of saddle comfort?"

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I'm pretty new to frequent cycling and I'm not sure what realistic expectations are in terms of saddle comfort.

This is my current situation:

I can do about 20k/12 miles with zero comfort problems. At about that mark I start feeling some discomfort and numbness on my sit bones, but no major pain.

The longest distance I've covered with my current saddle is 56k/35 miles and towards that ride I found myself wanting to stand up every 15-20 minutes or so, to relieve some pressure on my sit bones, but there was no excruciating pain or anything. More of an uncomfortable numbness.

I never have any soft tissue pain or discomfort, all my discomfort is centered around my sit bones.

Also, the next day I can sometimes find myself a little sore in my sit bones. Oh, and I always wear padded bike shorts.

So... based on your experience do I already have a comfortable saddle? Meaning, is this about what I can expect out of a saddle, and all I need is more experience? Or are there saddles out there that should allow for longer time in the saddle with no discomfort?

I realize everyone's different, just looking for some input from more experienced riders.

Thanks!

Brooks B17

Only for some. For others (like me) it's an ass hatchet.

It's a question that honestly can't be answered. Between differences physically and each individuals idea of comfort saddles are a very personal thing. I'd suggest seeing if your local LBS has a liberal return policy on saddles. Performance Bike definitely does although in ON it might be a mail order proposition there. .

I don't think that you have a problem for the type of riding that you are doing. I would expect to stand a bit to take some pressure off the seat. I was told that my saddle didn't fit me if I couldn't stand sitting after a 30 mile ride. But this all depends on how much riding you have been doing. It takes some time to have your bum acclimate to being on a bike saddle for long periods of time.

It will get better with time in the saddle but to answer your question I personally like Serfas saddles. I have two different ones on my two bikes. Also, you might rethink your shorts. Maybe your shorts don't have the right kind of padding for you. There are as many different padded shorts as there are saddles.

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's much appreciated. Although I have added a brief clarification to the top of my original post. I wasn't so much wanting to know about saddle recommendations, but rather about what reasonable expectations are when it comes to saddle comfort.

When I wrote my subject line was thinking more philosophically than practically I suppose. :) Sorry about that. And as I added in my note above, if a mod would like to change the subject title to something more fitting, I'd be grateful.

Thanks again! :)

A comfortable saddle is one that allows you to stay in it for any period of time, that doesn't cause numbness, loss of feeling, deep tissue bruising, bone bruising and general feelings of " I want off the %$#@&*@ thing and never want to get on one again."

You know, things you already knew before you asked.

How a saddle feels will change based on your fitness, bicycle fit and riding position.

Everybody always complains about saddles if they have'nt ridden a bike in a long time. Their level of fitness is poor and lets face it, sit bones do have to just get used to riding again. Beyond this though comes your riding position which will help you determine what saddle to use. A more upright position will require, typically, a wider saddle to support the sit bones correctly. As your riding position becomes more aerodynamic, your saddle will typically become narrower. Saddle tilt is very important for numbness and hand feeling. A big deal is made about sit bone width now but IMHO saddle width is more determined by your position on the bike than the width of your bones, at least for the general public. There are always exceptions to the rules however.

Saddle position affect everything physical on your body and you saddle comfort effects your mental ability as well as your physical ability.

Judging by your post, no, you either don't have a comfortable saddle for your body and riding position, or your saddle isn't positioned correctly for the riding that you do. Your level of fitness may also need some work. You don't say how long you have been riding, your size, weight, type of riding, etc.

You may want to look at a fitting at an LBS in your area then work on your saddle choices.

I didn't, actually. I was hoping that that was the answer, but I wasn't sure if I was perhaps expecting too much. I thought that perhaps experienced bikers would tell me that any saddle would get uncomfortable after a full day in the saddle. Glad to hear I was wrong. Even if it does mean I'm now on the hunt for a way to make my riding more comfortable, be that from new shorts, a new saddle, a new riding style, or simply more time in the saddle. Or all or some of the above. :)

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

Shorts don't make a big enough difference in comfort (Although some are more comfortable than others and can cause numbness, in me at least, because of the amount of padding in the nose, but that is only after mile 50 or so). If your uncomfortable in the saddle with $50 dollar shorts after 15 miles, $250 ones aren't going to help. The padding in the shorts is not there to make up for a poor fitting saddle. It is to help with chaffing.

Oh, so pad technology is pure marketing, eh?

http://shop.pearlizumi.com/cms/uploads/chamoisgrid.pdf

Please put things into context and read what I wrote, I never said that. My point was that if you can't ride 12 miles comfortably then no pad by any manufacturer is going to help with the pain. But yeah, a lot, not all, but a lot of pad technology is bull crap IMHO.

i'm a man about 5'10" 185lbs and i find this women's dual density saddle by serfas to be perfect. i can ride all day over bumpy nyc streets and my bum feels great the whole time

http://www.amazon.com/Serfas-Density.../dp/B000MT0GP8

I don't believe you told us what kind of bike you are riding. That makes a difference as well. A saddle that feels great on a road bike migh not feel as great on a Flat bar hybrid or a MTB. Even after getting a goot fit and comfortable saddle you will find yourself standing up now and then to get the blood flowing. If the only tenderness you are experiencing is sit bone related you are a fortunate person and many saddles will work just fine for you.

I'm not going to read all these posts so I apologize if this has already been said.

I have the same problem when riding stock, heavily padded saddles. Moving to a minimal padded saddle with good quality bike shorts with a good quality padding. Having the padding in the shorts verses the seat makes a huge difference.

One of my bikes has a Brooks Swift saddle which is a leather saddle with no padding. After it's broken in, it is by far the most comfortable saddle I own. I can ride this bike with gym shorts if I wanted. I don't use it on my race bike because it's a little heavy and look weird on the bike. But for casual riding, I'd highly recommend it.

Well, I just put in a 24k/15 mile test ride on my brand new Brooks B17. No problems really, with about the same comfort level as my old saddle. Meaning, a little bit of sit bone numbness the last few miles, but no soft tissue pain at all. From what everyone's saying, it should only get better the more I ride it, so I'm looking forward to that.

Doing a 64km/40 mile ride tomorrow. Crossing my fingers that it'll be alright past the 15 mile mark and won't turn into the "ass hatchet" CCrew spoke of. :)

Let us know how you do.

A comfortable saddle is one you don't think about when you ride. You might think about leg fatigue, or about your heart rate, or about the scenery you're riding past ... but when you can complete a ride and not think about your saddle (and surrounding butt area), you've got a comfortable saddle.

With my limited experience I think that the saddle does play a part in comfort but time in the saddle is the most important. When I first started road biking this year I could only go about 10 miles before my ass hurt so bad I had to stand or get off the bike. After riding about 500 miles I can ride for 35 miles straight without any problems at all. That is with the same saddle (Specialized Avitar BG) and the same shorts (Pear Izumi Elite) that I started with.

Alrighty, yesterday's ride went great. Stopped after 20k to do an adjustment (kept sliding forward on the saddle) but the rest was smooth sailing. Took it for a super-quick spin today (5k only) with no bike shorts on, and felt zero discomfort. That was unheard of on the old seat, where the first 5-10 minutes the day after a long ride would hurt a fair bit, even with padded shorts. So, all in all I'm pretty happy with this saddle so far. I'm curious what it'll feel like once it's broken in.

Someone wondered about my bike. It's a Rocky Mountain Whistler 30, which is a hybrid. Prior to the Brooks I was riding the stock saddle, which is a Freedom Greenbelt.

Sounds like you are one of the lucky few who find a B17 comfortable from the start. I had tried one, but like CCrew could not hack it. I had read how comfortable Brooks were after being broken in, so decided to try a different one. I got a slightly used B72, and was amazed at the difference! It was immediately comfortable. I have since acquired B67's, B68's, and a couple more B72's for different bikes.

One of the big lures of a leather saddle is the 'butt hammock' effect when it is broken in. I have found it in about half, so far. I'm still getting the other half broken in. Yours should only get better with riding time. I use Proofide to help, and protect the leather.:thumb:

And remember cycling shorts with padding aren't made for the padding to make the saddle feel better, even if sometimes it feels like it. They are to help avoid chafing and sweat. Many other shorts and pants have a seam right in a place where you don't need a seam. It is a bit like a good jersey that wicks moisture.