How to Choose Most Comfortable Bike Saddle for YOU
How to Choose Most Comfortable Bike Saddle for YOU
You feel like you’ve tried everything, but it seems like no matter what you do, you just can’t get your rear end to be comfortable on your bike. The saddle is the MOST important component to get right, and it can make or break how much you enjoy riding your bike. Here’s how to choose the most comfortable bike saddle for YOU.
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Highly recommended, comfortable bike saddles (your comfort may vary):
1. Charge Spoon: https://amzn.to/2wMWQWD
2. Selle Italia Turbo: https://amzn.to/2wRtned
3. Brooks C17 Cambium: https://amzn.to/2NiuMVr
My C17 Cambium 2 Year Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58OYfUstHTc
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I have a C17 carved and its quite comfortable although the rubber material gave me pretty back saddle sores after a month or two of use. Had to shelf it 🙁 Currently looking for something just like it but with a less tacky material and not made from leather
I’m stilling looking for a comfortable long distance saddle, and I’ve tried about 6 so far. I keep coming back to the stock Fuji that came on the bike. Some felt good to start and later through the ride would become painful. Some would just hurt after 10 miles. The Brooks B17 was probably the most painful; by the end of the ride it felt like my weight was going to split my hips in two with that seat as a wedge. I guess I have a wider than normal pelvis.
Could u review/compare the Specialized Langster and the Cinelli Tipo Pista, i’m considering getting my first fixed gear and I dont know what to pick between these two, I was thinking down the line to upgrade the crankset and wheels with the miche primato and pistard wheels
Q & A: Which of these bikes worth it(depending on the price and performance)? Leader 725, Black Label v2 or Unknown Singularity?
Or just try it on
Fabric spoon
I think the Specialized Power deserves a mention. It’s technically a triathlon saddle (whatever the fuk that means), but it’s very popular amongst both road and and mtb riders. Personally it is my go-to saddle on the road bike, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t be a great option for my fixed riding as well. Its a very unique saddle, and the odds are good that if your ass just can’t find the right saddle, this one will do the trick.
If you haven’t ridden a bike in a couple of years even the best saddles in the world will hurt for a couple of days. 1 week of riding is enough to make your butt into a cycling machine on almost any saddle. It’s long rides that require fancy saddles like these.
Can you make a revirew of the Selle Italia Storica? or the new leather lineup of the Selle Italia
I use a specialized sitero a TT saddle on my fixed gear it’s a nose less saddle
I’ve tried a lot of saddles over the years, but I finally got a C17 Cambium with the cutaway, and I love it. It’s comfortable with or without padded shorts. I did a century on it a few weeks ago, and my butt was just fine. I’m really looking forward to trying it out on my pedicab, because my current saddle on there is the Velo Orange Microfiber touring saddle, and it’s just not doing it for me.
My Cambium started cracking and breaking down after 8 months (1600 miles) of riding in Michigan. Most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden, although it really tore up any pants I rode in regularly.
I am getting several opinions. As a 66 year old man, my doctor is recommending a tractor style saddle to prevent pressure on the soft tissue and organ in that area. If my stock saddle does not cause discomfort, is a change necessary?
I had a Brooks British racing Green Swift with Ti rails. Then I sold it. Aaaarrrrrrgggghhhhhhhh!
thanks
I can vouche for the brooks C model saddle. I have also described it as a hammock and I have to say that it does take many miles to brake in.
I get really numb in the area behind my balls, also my ballsack shrink up after a ride, need that cutout asap
I’ve been riding a brooks b17 Imperial, for years. 175mm. Great saddle for city riding a even a bit of light touring.
Selle Italia SLS on my road bike, which has an agressive riding position. Cinelli Scatto on my single speed, because I sit more upright and usually wear jeans when cycling on that. If you mash more than spin, then your legs will hold more of your weight. If you spin at 90rpm or higher, then the saddle will support more of your body weight. Almost any seat is okay for 30 minutes, but when you cycle for longer time a good saddle makes a huge difference in comfort.
I really like my charge saddle 👍🏼
Very useful thank you, my “cooch” hurt so much after biking 😀
hello
Zach Gallardo i got a question. I have a cruiser bike and i really like the brook flyer model spring for the look i will be using it for the bike to get around the town would the brook be worth the investment? My idea would be riding laid back style, so would brooks flyer be ideal?
Turns out I’ve got a cheap butt, despite following all the recommendations, and buying some pretty fancy (read expensive) saddles, I’m always most comfortable on the own brand, or no brand saddles that come with the bike, although one of them was a spoon.
What’s your riding position/riding style? What has been the most comfortable saddle for you?
C17 All Day! 😎
Just bought an Aventon Cordoba because of your help in the top 3 best bikes under 500 dollars, could not be happier with my purchase, thank you so much for your help you really helped me on a lot of doubts I had. I am from Chile by the way and love the channel one of the few good fixed bike channels on youtube, great content.
ISM Adamo Road for me. Split nose saddle is the best way of preventing a sore bum to me. A lot of people think it’s a triathlete thing, but I use these on my road bike and couldn’t care less about the odd look, I prefer to ride my bike ☺
Hey Zach , love all the videos. I wanted to ask what specific cargo net are you running for your wald 137?
I feel like choosing a saddle is like finding the right wand at Ollivanders.
I remember reading that if you’re flexible (can reach past your toes) that you should go for something that’s pretty flat from the nose to the tail and go with something more cup shaped if you aren’t that flexible.
I ride a lo pro with wide bars and my fav saddle has been a Concor Supercorsa (leather, not suede). I’ve got big thighs and I haven’t had issues with tight pinching with the long dropping sides (I can see why pro trackies still like these things). I’ll start to feel it after about 70 miles (a numb tingling feeling) but if I balance in/out of saddle riding then it’s fine. Nothing sore or aching afterwards.
I dont understand your bike taste at all, you say your bikes are "nice" ie expensive but they feel like cheap oldschool touring bikes for old geezers but with fixed gear 😛 I find this very interesting as I prefer oldschool mtb or high tech but very simple looking bikes and your taste is very different compared to mine own. It makes life so interesting that people like different things, would be so boring if we liked the same thing.
About saddles well, just use a bike specific "diper" and you are set, even a bare carbon fiber saddle feels good then 🙂 But the charge saddle looked stylish and racy. I like 🙂
selle smp extra…. def my fav
I’m riding on the saddle that came with my old pure fix and I have to say I quite like it. I even took it over to my new bike because I didn’t have any issues. I have to say though that I only very rarely ride long distances without padded shorts so that might be the reason I haven’t had any issues…
SQLab 612 Ergowave (made by a German company) is the best saddle I’ve had so far. Saw a youtube video where even the inventor of the Specialized Romin saddle praised SQLab’s research on pressure relief. No discomfort ever once I found the proper saddle height. I tried the Specialized Power just to compare, but the spots where the sit bones rest seem to angle down slightly more, and I felt pressure that I didn’t feel with the SQLabs saddle (not too painful, just felt uncomfortable by comparison). I also tried the Brooks Cadmium (no cutout), and felt more perineum pressure than with the SQLab or Power saddles. Sit bones felt a bit more comfortable on the Cadmium because of the rubber’s shock absorbing feel, but wasn’t worth the extra perineum pressure (although can’t speak for the cutout version of the Cadmium). SQLab saddles used to be hard to find the US until recently, but some places sell them online and the few reviews I’ve seen by others have been overwhelmingly positive as well.
Blah blah blah blah blah blah blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Anyone else strongly disagree with Zach about squishy seats? I’ve never felt comfortable on a hard seat. Soft seats are heaven to my butt.
fizik arione works best for me !
The proper terminology is Perineal pain.
End of discussion get a sellia italia flite or slr
OT:
I’m buying my first fixed, I really wanted to buy the Aventon Mataro but I live in Italy and it’s not delivered in here by them, only with their "partner" who asks +280€ on the listing price of the bike itself and that is way more over my budget (if someone can help me, or give me tips to get the Mataro I’ll gladly get it) so right now I have two picks, Santafixie Raval and Poloandbike CMNDR, which I should get? And if you guys have other suggestions, I’m really glad to hear them out, keep in mind I live in Italy and my budget is around 400/500€
Thanks anyways 🙂
Get a narrow firm saddle and ride a lot, it will fit to your body type after a while. Spend the money and don’t buy used. It’s like a pair of shoes, after someone wore them for a while it conforms to their foot, not yours. Unless you can score a good used low mile saddle. If you’re not comfortable you won’t ride. So ride more, eat good! Side note, don’t point your saddle down, ever.
**Just my opinion.
Zack could talk anyone into riding fixed.
I Wish U Can Give Me A Bike
After after 8 years on various saddle I’ve settled on SQLab active saddles permanently! They have all kinds a models for styles and even weight weenie non active ones. 611-612 are my preferences.
60 miles? My ass hurts in the first 20 feet
ISM Adama Attack, it’s pretty awesome for longer rides.
Love this vids. I wish I will meet him someday.
Zach, I’d love to see video on hubs!
Brooks C17 for the win! I’ve got two on different bikes and they are "the sause"…….Primo that is….
My advice on buying a saddle would be go expensive. Anything under a hundred bucks won’t do. Just don’t spend blindly, you gotta have some fit understanding.
I personally love the Selle Italia slr, nose down. Ti rails, I’m afraid I could break a full carbon one. No cut out, never had any gooch problems…
… also, I’m I’m afraid I could break one of those cut out saddles.
I once had one of those full carbon cut out thingies and heard this cracky sound coming from where my ass is, but that ain’t was not no fart!