Finding a More Comfortable Bike Saddle

In many ways this search for a better bike saddle is a do-over. About a year ago I walked into a local bike shop looking for a more comfortable bike saddle. The bike shop guy saw me checking out his selection of bike saddles then he came over and asked me, “well what do you like in a saddle?” So then wide or narrow, firm or cushioned, flat or curved, cutout or no cutout, leather or synthetic leather or Lycra, then there’s saddle shape. I had no idea.

Between the sea of choices that were short circuiting my brain and my reluctance to spend $100 to $200 on a saddle that might actually be less comfortable than mine, I punted. This year I’m hoping to complete a metric century, which at the speed I ride is going to take a long time. So I’m taking another crack at the bike saddle problem.

Timmy at Rocky Top Bicycles checking Fore/Aft Saddle Position.
Timmy at Rocky Top Bicycles checking fore/aft saddle position with a plumb bob.

I did some research on the web. I looked at YouTube videos, checked out some blogs and read some forums. The consensus seemed to be everyone is different or as one forum poster put it: “One person’s dream saddle is another person’s a** hatchet.” Colorful but hardly optimistic. I decided that my best bet was to try out some saddles and basically answer the LBS guy’s question: well what do I like in a saddle?

My current saddle is a 143 mm Selle Royal Seta saddle. It came on the Masi road bike I bought used last year and was more comfortable than the Planet Bike Men’s A.R.S. saddle I had been trying on my old Trek 470. The first contender in this year’s search for a more comfortable bike saddle is a 143 mm Specialized Toupe Expert loaned to me by a friend. Thanks Vic. I plan to test this saddle for a couple weeks, and then I am considering trying the Cobb Plus. It’s supposed to be good for 200 plus pound riders like me. I’m also considering the Performance Bike Forté Pro SL saddle. It gets a lot of good reviews and is reasonably priced. I’ll keep you posted on my progress.

Selle Royal Seta vs Specialized Toupe Expert
Selle Royal Seta vs Specialized Toupe Expert

The Cobb Plus

www.cobbcycling.com/shop/roadsaddles/plus

Performance Bike Forté Pro SL

www.performancebike.com/bikes/Product_10052_10551_1086512_-1_400195__400195

Rocky Top Bicycles, Morristown, TN

http://www.rockytopbicycles.com/

 

Two Pretty Good YouTube Series on Picking Bike Saddles

Part 1 – How to Choose a Bike Saddle – Cover Material (Koobi)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoyojhI2NSM

Bicycle Saddle – Good discussion of anatomy and bike saddles (BicycleLab)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-wdfEcedq8

 

 PDF on How to Perfect Your Riding Position & Technique

http://bikecan.nationalmssociety.org/site/DocServer/HowtoPerfectYourRidingPosition.pdf?docID=28665

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