I have tried literally dozens of saddles in my 45 year cycling career. I have always been an advocate of Brooks B17 for comfort as they have been sold for over 100 years because people keep re-buying them, including me as I have owned about eight on them. After an initial break in period they are the most comfortable saddle for my large male posterior. However, on the recommendation of a friend and some great feedbacķ by Amazon purchasers (hundreds of 5 star reviews) I changed one of my bikes to the funky looking SMP TRK saddle which much to my surprise has proved slightly more comfortable than a Brooks. It has a large cut out in the centre to help reduce perineal pressure/numbness and a drooped nose which makes life easier on the man bits. I have been so pleased with it that I just ordered another.
Ah yes, saddles... I understand why you avoided this for such a long time. Probably the most person specific thing on the bike. When people ask me I will ask if they want it sorted quickly or are they prepared to work it out... quickly... get a bike fit form a reputable bike fitter, that will head you in the right direction. If they want to work it out, there are some good youtube resources including Bikefitadvisor. I like the recommendation of riding without padded shorts. If you get a seat you are comfortable on without padding typically when you add the shorts (which help with other issues you just don't get over a short ride...) then it should only be better... :). My short advice, price doesn't mean a better fit. Shape is important first, then position, then maybe cushioning... price is the last (and the least) important thing.
Since a spinal infection destroyed the base disc in my spine (L5/S1) I found I could no longer ride my ancient 1973 Holdsworth Equipe with drop handlebars at all. So, with mountain bike or crossover (with straight handlebars) I found the biggest book was putting a Kane Creek Thudbuster (also from CAaa) saddle post suspension. It made cycling over rough terrain possible again with a non-suspension bike (the earliest Kona Explosif 1989 with Project Two forks, which I still ride (I’m not in the super downhill racer league so it does me fine. So I recommend that Kane Creek to anyone with spinal injuries - made a huge difference! (No, I don’t work for them - I am a graphic arrtist).
I have Brooks B17 on all my bikes. After my first good experience with one, the other bikes got the Brooks treatment. The “road” bikes with drop handlebars have the “narrow” version, as this seems to suit the leaning forward stance nicely. The more upright riding stance on the mountain bike and M6L Brompton have the “standard” one. In each case, for me, they are comfortable on any ride length I have done (e.g. 60 miles, no problem). One key thing I find is that because they are leather, the bum does not get uncomfortably sweaty or stick to the saddle. Although all mine have been good “out of the box”, the leather does soften and mould to the individual with use, so comfort improves as they age. I have found that fine-tuning of saddle fore/aft position and angle can make subtle but important differences to all-round comfort, so it is indeed worth persevering, and when a good setting is achieved, make a record of the setting for future reference. One thing I would say, by way of example, the standard fit Brompton saddle I found to be generally very comfortable to ride, and really suits the bike well. For short rides, perfect. For longer rides, the primary comfort remained, but because they are plastic, they do not breathe, so the sweatiness can become a nuisance over a longer time in the saddle. Which is why I upgraded :-)
Saddles are personal but finding your sit bone width puts you in the right neighbourhood. Early 2019 I was looking at a more npadded version of my saddle as I was happy but thought with a PBP in August it might be an idea. Bloke in the shop recommends the Women's Mimic by Specialized, instructed me on its correct installation and said I could bring it back if it did not work. I'm a bloke but from the moment I used it, it was an amazing improvement the shorter size just suited me. If you are having a saddle search just have a look at this one because it went through a SR and a PBP really well.
After treatment for prostate cancer, I found most conventional saddles too uncomfortable. I was then advised to try the Rido R2 which immediately solved the problem. The saddle is specifically designed to take the pressure off the perineum and ensures pretty much all your weight is carried on the sit bones where it should be. This made a world of difference for me and enabled me to continue cycling when I thought I would have give up. Hope my experience helps someone else out there.
I learned for long rides sometimes it's better to look for new shorts than a new saddle. Old one hurt after ~50 miles, after new shorts with a thicker pad can do 100 miles + just fine.
Way back when I took up cycle-touring, on the advice of a cycling friend, I made sure that I bought a cycle with a Brooks B17 saddle. I was warned that it would take 500 miles to bed in. This proved to be correct. After much pain, in the end I had no trouble doing long distance touring. In later years I bought recumbent cycles and Trikes which are much more forgiving on spine, wrists and one’s rear end.
I just bought a BiSaddle and while I grudged paying the $300 for it, it's proven to be very comfortable and easy to hop on and off. I use my bike largely for commuting/errands around town and it's proven to be worth the money.
It's hare to spend that much not knowing if it will work, a bit of a shot in the dark sometimes with saddles but when you find the ONE it's worth every penny!
Here's a bit of a bigger picture which begins on the saddle. Cycling is about knowing your self. Especially when more than 50 km per day become your riding habit. Two years ago I used to have a hidden infection which I didn't know about. It was a silent process ready to get activated. One night I jumped on the trainer and rode hard for the session. All good. The next day began to notice not being well, slowly I wouldn't be able to sit normally.....until that hidden infection became what medicine calls abces. Long story short had to be operated.....endure what I wish noone doesn't, then finally All was well. Bought my new road bike and continued to ride and ride....last week made 125km through an amazing mountain. Now here's the catch. After few days I was in butt-pain again! Freaked out went to the doctor, all good he said no infection, only swelling. So pause this week. Then, I noticed that I had the sponge padded shorts that day instead of my usual 9D padded shorts with gel. The second realization is that I was quick to respond with antibiotic Cefalexin, specific anti-abces and Diclofenac, anti-inflammatory to reduce pain and remove swelling. The latter did miracle in my case. Cycling long rides brings all your hidden weaknesses on the surface. Learn to recognize and deal with them one-by-one until they vanish into nothingness. Friction is unavoidable when on saddle. The smoother the pad, the lesser the friction. In my case sponge pad did really irritate the skin and tissue. Lesson learned hard way..........and now shared easy way. Peace to all and may you ride joyfully! Rinoni
Update: Revisited my fit via LeMond and Goniometre method. Turned out my saddle was more than 2 cm higher than my body needed, hence the rubbing! Be well, Rinoni.
Excellent advice, as always. Some time ago, I had a touring bike which came with a gel saddle. It was comfortable on all the (few) training rides I did. Then I went touring: longer days, twice as much saddle time as before and the saddle hurt. I thought it might be height, and tried adjusting the height, which made things worse, so I returned to the previous height. Over two and a half weeks of touring, it got more and more painful. It was ok for the first 10 to 15 miles, then got worse and worse as the day went on. After 50 miles, I was basically standing to pedal. On my return home, I had two months before going on my next tour. I bought a Brooks B17: instant comfort! The first ride I did was 10 miles and it was lovely, the second ride was 60 miles and I was as comfortable at the end of that ride as I had ever been at the start of a ride on the gel saddle. I sort of lost that saddle and bike in a divorce. I bought a new bike, installed a new B17, again it was lovely and comfortable, though it took a bit longer to break in. In an attempted emigration to another country, I had to sell that bike/saddle, which I have regretted ever since. My new bike is arriving soon with another think leather saddle, not a Brooks this time, I am getting a bike from Spa Cycles and went with their Nidd saddle. It is worth a try and I can soon get a new B17 if I need to!
My cycle is a Brompton and the saddle is a Brooks - I recently had my Brommie in for a service (which took _ages_ waiting for a replacement part during lock-down). I borrowed a friend's bike and found numb-bum kicked in after ~17 miles...I definitely missed my saddle!
good advice- saddles are so important , as a long distance cyclist myself, i really agree that saddle is almost everything, going to check out more of your channel soon, just found it today. thanks on sharing
I'm female. My current and never to be changed saddle is a Brooks B67. I bought a used one from eBay and it is comfortable even if I haven't ridden for a while. I did buy a new one (black) so it would match the bike but it's just not as comfortable as the one I bought that was second hand. In the past I did try to get a saddle fit at my bike shop but to be honest it was unsuccessful - my bum is just too well upholstered to enable a measurement of my sit bones (cue red face). I do use chamois cream for very long rides - I think my cycling tights are a bit baggy in the vulval area and the female anatomy is not a uniform shape so friction can result!! Extremely painful. I think we need to use the proper words for our anatomy - labia, vulval area and perineum. It really helps:)
Tip mark the angle, position of rails, so when taking saddle off or if bolts loosen, you can always put it back where it was, I use gorilla tape on the rails, and white pencil on the seat post. I recommend to do the same with cockpit controls too, like brake levers, shifters, when you got the position dialled.
Another fan of the Charge Spoon, which I have on 3 of my 4 bikes. My wife likes the Specialized Body Geometry saddles and has the Lithia saddle on all of her bikes.
Oh it was definitely worth it and it’s obviously helpful to a lot of people. With lots of information, explained in an eloquent way and coming from an experienced cyclist. I have been riding my bike for over two decades but only short distances, I mostly just do my shopping. I noticed that whenever I spend two or more hours riding, it becomes a problem for my sensitive parts. I wanted to go on longer journeys and I just have to find the right saddle. By the way thank you for letting us know about the saddle library. I’ll be trying a few saddles myself 😊👋🏻
Thank you for such great advice. Just knowing that there is NO hard and fast is comforting, like a good fitting saddle. :) . The best videos I have watched are those that know when to say there is no quick fix. Please keep them coming.
Thanks for the lovely comment Erin. It would be nice if there was an easy answer. Hopefully someone finds something useful from this one, and don't give up on their bike. I suspect it's a big barrier for some.
I used Brooks B17 for a about 300 miles I know they're suppose to break in but this thing was hard as a plank, my last ride was London to Brighton on it and by the end I was genuinely worried about how numb I was. The saddle brings me nightmares now, I'm going to replace it with a modern scientifically developed Ergon saddle instead it's much lighter and less maintenance too, it rains all the time here
I prefer a saddle with a channel in the middle which is über comfortable. I have nightmares about something flying up a cut out saddle and damaging my Crown Jewels.
Really well thought out video on an almost impossible question to answer. Well done. I totally back you up on the seat bone measuring, since being measured every saddle I've had has worked great after a short transition period, maybe a couple of decent length rides. 08:30 I think cyclists more than most do things, buy stuff and sign up for products because they're told they need to in order to be a cyclist.
Thank you. It's hard to do the subject justice, espeically in a video under 15 minutes! I only had my sitbones mesured recently because I was in a shop that had a measure. Had I not been lucky enough to get a saddle that worked for me the first time I feel like this information would have been invaluable in finding the right saddle. I think you will like my next series, breaking "The Rules" of cycling 😀
Thanks. The saddle on my lil fold up caused such extreme pain, I replaced with a really padded saddle & it worked. Change of bike to the one I have now, didn't like the saddle that came with it so moved the padded one over, it was great, as I have spinal issues I needed the soft. But 1 year in the bump at the front was bumping, its not good, needing to pee has stopped cycling, ordered a replacement, supposed to be padded, its hard as, can feel my sit bones immediately. But maybe that isn't so bad? Not looking forward to cycling to chiropractor today, so looking for alternatives, shall try this x
chamois cream definitely works, but as you said it won't solve all problems, it's made to reduce friction so your butt won't get sore, and sensitiv. I use as thick layer as I can, but after about 4 h it's used up, but then my whole body hurts, but that's a lot of time on the saddle. not a commute. but for few mins of riding I won't need much or none at all.
Thank you for a great video. I haven't struggled too much with the various saddles I have run (Selle Italia, Brooks Cambium, Selle SMP) and I agree that adjusting the saddle position can outweigh any benefits of running a new saddle and that padded shorts are not needed for shorter rides, however it's been less straight forward for my wife, thank you again for the advice.
Both my wife and I are using Brooks saddles. I can ride mine all day and my butt is fine. The adjustment is definitely crucial. According to bike fitters I'm doing it all wrong (saddle tilted back slightly), but this adjustment works perfectly for me. I do not own padded shorts.
Actually thats what you SHOULD do with many Brooks / leather saddles because otherwise you slide forward too easy. Did the same on Brooks / Gilles Berthoud saddles. Cheers!
One piece of advice that i'd give: If the leather on your seat is worn/loosened you can purchase some leather glue to get it back to original condition/also add new leather patches to fix holes. This is maybe not possible with the more high-end super modern seats but if you have one with a simpler design that you prefer then that's an option!.
The only difference I see there is that you've bought from Amazon rather than supporting your 'local bike shop'. But if you don't have a LBS, or they don't sell what works for you, then don't stress.
Great advice, most sadles are about the same, but the geometry of you and your bones are not so getting the geometry right by adjusting the saddle tilt, rail position and height should be the first port of call, however doing this little thing seems at first a fruitless endeavour as "I need a new saddle" seems the logical solution to my burning Gouch. A saddle with the cutout longitudinally is a nessary if you happen to have one of those Penises that gets its blood supply cut of as it will all go numb and one day you'll go to see what's going on down there and it'll have gone away sensationally and you'll freek out.
My advice? If the saddle hurts, it's the wrong saddle. Bike fits can get you to about 90% of the way to alleviating saddle pain so they are worth it. But it the saddle doesn't feel right, then its just not the right saddle. Also, sometimes saddle pain comes because you are a heavier rider in general. I've found that saddles that hurt previously became much more comfortable and sustainable after I lost 15 pounds of weight.
Interesting. My experience was the opposite. Had the Prologo Kappa saddle on both my bikes for years with no issues. Then I lost a similar amount of weight to you and the problems began. Repeated saddle sores forced me to take some time off the bike. Ended up putting the Specialized Toupe saddle that came with one of my bikes back on. Wider and flatter than the Prologo, it seems to be working better for me so far. A rider's body fat composition is factor that surely must be a factor in choosing a saddle but no one ever seems to talk about that.
This has actually been one of the best videos I have watched regarding saddles and comfort. When I first got my bike it had a male saddles which caused shooting pains and I could feel every bump in the road, I knew immediately that something was wrong. I went out and bought a wide women's saddle, (nebula +). Then I had the sore sit bones thing over the next 4 or 5 rides, after this went away it has never come back. I thought problem solved, however on rides over an hour, around the 20 mile mark I now get numb sit bones, which does make me want to get off the bike, I do get up out the saddle often. Is this related to increasing mileage and will go away or is it more likely to be a bike fit/saddle problem, I happen regardless to if I am wearing padded cycling shorts or not. Its not painful but it is enough to make me end the ride. My bike is a very relaxed position not sure if that makes a difference, and it's definitely my poor bum that goes numb not my gender parts. Any advice most welcome.
Sounds like you are uping your milage in a reasonable way. It sounds like something else. Have you checked your sitbone measurments and is the saddle the correct width for you? You say you are in a relaxed position what type of bike are you riding? And how padded is your saddle?
When I tried my Brooks I rode for about two weeks a few hours each day. Was not for sure if this was going to work for a three month tour around California. So I put my specialized avatar back on my bike went for another ride after fifteen minutes I said no way turn back home and now all of bicycles have a Brooks. One is a imperial flyer and the others are imperial pro. My girlfriend would use padded shorts and a big seat. She finally bought a Brooks imperial after a few weeks she never used padded shorts again.
Thank you for this very informative and helpful video, Michelle. Re Nathan, what adjustment did he ultimately make that did the trick for him? Like many other cyclists, I have tried many saddles and am currently giving the Brooks B-17 another shot (I owned one on a Peugot and Raleigh 10-speed when I was a teenager and outside of the break-in period, I loved them). With the B-17, I have found that being able to sit in a more upright position makes this saddle so much more comfortable for me. I have installed a steer tube extension to raise the height of my handlebar, and will re-install my zero setback seat post and try moving my saddle forward incrementally to see if these strategies can keep me in this position consistently. I also own a Selle Italia SLR TM Super Flow saddle and the Specialized Toupe (although my friend swears by his Specialized Power saddle) which I have found comfortable.
Yep I have the same problem as Nathan LOL.. most bike Saddles are not a problem but I just got a new gravel bike for bikepacking. And the seat is absolute trash. It's the contact neutral it's a giant saddle. I went to my old folks and I went in to the basement to steal back my saddle from my second hand miyata from the 80s and holy hell even though the leather is Stained and the saddle is old af its still more comfortable
I swear by my sdg circut, selle italia SLRs, WTB volt 135 cromo And 150 cromo. Each has its pro and cons and for specific use. Most good saddles are not cheap but makes a hell of a difference on your riding experience. To me gel stuffs are hyped, good only for first 5km.
Aww thanks for the lovely comment. I'm working on edits from my adventures in the Pyrenees last week on holiday 😁 hoping for a Sunday or Monday release.
The most comfortable saddle I have is the one on my Brompton. Had Brookes B17 wide version it killed me and others. Don't wear padded shorts of knickers. Keep em coming and KEEP SAFE!!!!
Hi there, hoping I can get some tips for what type of saddle to get - I’ve tried numerous saddles over the years spending a whole heap of money and not really getting anywhere. Most saddles are fine for short rides (less than 15 miles) however on long rides I always have pressure/compression issues either on the perineal area or around the pubic bone (this makes me feel like I need to pee constantly - worse after a hill) or both! Often after a long ride my soft and delicate tissue feels sore for a day or two making me not want to get back on the bike - help!!
Thank greatly you for this follow up video! To elaborate...Yes. My wife has numbness from pressure in the front region of the saddle. Is the cut out on that Selle Italia saddle intensionally designed to reduce such frontal pressure? Also, she cycles more upright. So, I suspect (with respect to her sit bones) she may need a wider variation of the Selle Italia saddle. Lastly, she will never ride longer than 10-15 kms as she cycles for health/social reasons and not for the joy of cycling. Therefore, plush saddles may be acceptable?
The cut out might be enough. There are also saddles with more extreme cut outs that might be worth her looking at. If she is in a more upright position and the Salle Italia is wide enough for her sitbones it might be a worth a try, it is one of the more coushy options without being over the top. Perhaps some others will have some words of wisdom for you. And you never know, perhaps if her saddle was more comfortable 20-30km might start to look appealing 😀
@@OneLessCar I agree. We inherited a free plush and wide saddle which satisfied some of the criteria with no luck. So, that numbness is certainly not that. What's remaining is the cut-out or a short nosed solution or angle. Is numbness is not normally related to the angle? If not, then your suggestion is the right approach 😀without tinkering with angle and wasting time.
@@cirodirosa6752The seat angle can cause numbness. Make sure the nose of the saddle is not too high and you might also want to try moving it forwards / backwards on the rails to see if this helps. Cushioning spreads the weight over a larger area - including putting pressure on nerves. If numbness is an issue you need to take the pressure away from those nerves - Reducing cushioning can help this, so can a 'pressure relief channel' (the hole/dip down the middle of the saddle). First thing to do is lower the nose of the saddle just a little and see if things improve.
Padded boxers/pants. Even with just a 4 mile each way commute, I will sometimes wear them on really hot days, just because a sweaty crotch and gusset seams aren't fun. Brooks saddle on the Brompton. Everything else I sit on now feels horrid, including other Brooks saddles
On hot days we women have more options, skirts, leggings 😀 You should check out Resolute Bay cycling jeans, they have a dimond gusset and codura (for better wear and tear). I have 2 pair now, love them.
@@OneLessCar I'm up to six pairs of Resolute Bay jeans (plus two jackets and the paclite kickstarter, two hoodies and two tees). Absolutely won't ride in normal denim now. First time on them was a revelation. Love all of Chris' stuff.
I have a mimic saddle , I have never had problems with sit bones. My problem is when I ride I seem to ( open up) , I now have a swollen labia on one side that has a sore spot. I have adjusted my seat several times and no joy. I always wear padded shorts, I am on my bike for 2hrs plus most times. I would be glad o& any advice.
hello I’m newish to cycling for commute and pleasure. My question is do i still need to get used to it or is the seat I have not right for me? My bones surrounding my vagina I feel are very sensitive, that’s the only place I feel pressure. It chafes my skin and is giving me ingrown hairs as well because of the intense pressure. The seat I have now is Selle Royal Avenue Saddle for women
If you've been riding regularly for a couple of months I'd say you need a change. I would recommend checking if your saddle is level. If it is tilt it forward a tiny bit (a couple of degrees). There are some apps to help you measure this. If you are struggling with ingrown hairs I'd stop shaving (if you do) and see if it improves (this is the recommondation of British Cycling). This article might also help you www.velome.co.uk/lifestyle/your-vulva-and-cycling-what-you-need-to-know/ I hope you are able to find your solution, rides are a lot more fun when you are comfortable.
Dr. Steven Schrader with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): “When you sit on a bike the pressure on the perineum increases sevenfold. Riders using a classic saddle place 1/4 of their body weight on the perineum. The amount of oxygen reaching the *** typically falls 70% to 80% in 3 minutes. A guy can have his oxygen levels drop 100% but he doesn’t know it. After half an hour he goes numb. Saddles with splits or holes may make matters worse because they have smaller surface areas, and hence the rider’s weight presses harder on less saddle. The arteries in the perineum run laterally and therefore they come under more pressure when they come into contact with the cutouts’ edges. It is no longer a question of whether or not traditional bike saddles causes ED, but what are you going to do about it?” @t @t
I rotate my pelvis forward when I cycle. I don't sit on my sit bones. I sit on the bone in front of that at the top of the thighs and the front of my pelvis. It gets worse going uphill. I have pressure on the front area of my pelvis. It is horrible. I dread riding and will have to give up riding. Bike shops are not helpful. They just want you to go away. It is awful.
I understand - female anatomy and all - but how can your ischial bones be 155mm apart? I'm a heavy-boned man twice your weight and mine are but ca. 144mm. I'm thinking, you are adding at least a cm to the distance between your seat bones? But even so, you must have a remarkably wide pelvis: doesn't really show from the little I have seen of you. By the way, I understand you are from Canada, and am wondering whether your ancestry is largely Italian, Spanish or Armenian…
I have tried literally dozens of saddles in my 45 year cycling career. I have always been an advocate of Brooks B17 for comfort as they have been sold for over 100 years because people keep re-buying them, including me as I have owned about eight on them. After an initial break in period they are the most comfortable saddle for my large male posterior. However, on the recommendation of a friend and some great feedbacķ by Amazon purchasers (hundreds of 5 star reviews) I changed one of my bikes to the funky looking SMP TRK saddle which much to my surprise has proved slightly more comfortable than a Brooks. It has a large cut out in the centre to help reduce perineal pressure/numbness and a drooped nose which makes life easier on the man bits. I have been so pleased with it that I just ordered another.
I ended up butchering my B17 for the same reason.
Ah yes, saddles... I understand why you avoided this for such a long time. Probably the most person specific thing on the bike. When people ask me I will ask if they want it sorted quickly or are they prepared to work it out... quickly... get a bike fit form a reputable bike fitter, that will head you in the right direction. If they want to work it out, there are some good youtube resources including Bikefitadvisor. I like the recommendation of riding without padded shorts. If you get a seat you are comfortable on without padding typically when you add the shorts (which help with other issues you just don't get over a short ride...) then it should only be better... :). My short advice, price doesn't mean a better fit. Shape is important first, then position, then maybe cushioning... price is the last (and the least) important thing.
Since a spinal infection destroyed the base disc in my spine (L5/S1) I found I could no longer ride my ancient 1973 Holdsworth Equipe with drop handlebars at all. So, with mountain bike or crossover (with straight handlebars) I found the biggest book was putting a Kane Creek Thudbuster (also from CAaa) saddle post suspension. It made cycling over rough terrain possible again with a non-suspension bike (the earliest Kona Explosif 1989 with Project Two forks, which I still ride (I’m not in the super downhill racer league so it does me fine. So I recommend that Kane Creek to anyone with spinal injuries - made a huge difference! (No, I don’t work for them - I am a graphic arrtist).
Book = boon!
I obviousl;y don’t work for “Kane” Creek because I mis-pellied it - Shoiuld be Cane Creek
Thank you for sharing this. I love that you found a way to Ride On 🙌
I have a thud buster on my Gazelle C380+ with a Bi Saddle and it's like riding on air.
I have Brooks B17 on all my bikes. After my first good experience with one, the other bikes got the Brooks treatment.
The “road” bikes with drop handlebars have the “narrow” version, as this seems to suit the leaning forward stance nicely. The more upright riding stance on the mountain bike and M6L Brompton have the “standard” one. In each case, for me, they are comfortable on any ride length I have done (e.g. 60 miles, no problem). One key thing I find is that because they are leather, the bum does not get uncomfortably sweaty or stick to the saddle. Although all mine have been good “out of the box”, the leather does soften and mould to the individual with use, so comfort improves as they age. I have found that fine-tuning of saddle fore/aft position and angle can make subtle but important differences to all-round comfort, so it is indeed worth persevering, and when a good setting is achieved, make a record of the setting for future reference.
One thing I would say, by way of example, the standard fit Brompton saddle I found to be generally very comfortable to ride, and really suits the bike well. For short rides, perfect. For longer rides, the primary comfort remained, but because they are plastic, they do not breathe, so the sweatiness can become a nuisance over a longer time in the saddle. Which is why I upgraded :-)
What a great video! Thanks! I am older (60) and just getting started on this journey and love any and all advice!
Wonderful! I hope you are enjoying it.
Saddles are personal but finding your sit bone width puts you in the right neighbourhood.
Early 2019 I was looking at a more npadded version of my saddle as I was happy but thought with a PBP in August it might be an idea.
Bloke in the shop recommends the Women's Mimic by Specialized, instructed me on its correct installation and said I could bring it back if it did not work.
I'm a bloke but from the moment I used it, it was an amazing improvement the shorter size just suited me.
If you are having a saddle search just have a look at this one because it went through a SR and a PBP really well.
After treatment for prostate cancer, I found most conventional saddles too uncomfortable. I was then advised to try the Rido R2 which immediately solved the problem. The saddle is specifically designed to take the pressure off the perineum and ensures pretty much all your weight is carried on the sit bones where it should be. This made a world of difference for me and enabled me to continue cycling when I thought I would have give up. Hope my experience helps someone else out there.
I have had the same experience and have also used a Rido to good affect. Think the latest version is even better than the one I bought many years ago.
I learned for long rides sometimes it's better to look for new shorts than a new saddle. Old one hurt after ~50 miles, after new shorts with a thicker pad can do 100 miles + just fine.
Way back when I took up cycle-touring, on the advice of a cycling friend, I made sure that I bought a cycle with a Brooks B17 saddle. I was warned that it would take 500 miles to bed in. This proved to be correct. After much pain, in the end I had no trouble doing long distance touring.
In later years I bought recumbent cycles and Trikes which are much more forgiving on spine, wrists and one’s rear end.
Wider tyres on your bike make a huge difference as well, my bike is a Whyte Glencoe all road bike with 650b wheels × 47mm tyres,.
I just bought a BiSaddle and while I grudged paying the $300 for it, it's proven to be very comfortable and easy to hop on and off. I use my bike largely for commuting/errands around town and it's proven to be worth the money.
It's hare to spend that much not knowing if it will work, a bit of a shot in the dark sometimes with saddles but when you find the ONE it's worth every penny!
Here's a bit of a bigger picture which begins on the saddle.
Cycling is about knowing your self. Especially when more than 50 km per day become your riding habit.
Two years ago I used to have a hidden infection which I didn't know about. It was a silent process ready to get activated.
One night I jumped on the trainer and rode hard for the session. All good. The next day began to notice not being well, slowly I wouldn't be able to sit normally.....until that hidden infection became what medicine calls abces. Long story short had to be operated.....endure what I wish noone doesn't, then finally All was well.
Bought my new road bike and continued to ride and ride....last week made 125km through an amazing mountain.
Now here's the catch. After few days I was in butt-pain again! Freaked out went to the doctor, all good he said no infection, only swelling. So pause this week.
Then, I noticed that I had the sponge padded shorts that day instead of my usual 9D padded shorts with gel.
The second realization is that I was quick to respond with antibiotic Cefalexin, specific anti-abces and Diclofenac, anti-inflammatory to reduce pain and remove swelling.
The latter did miracle in my case.
Cycling long rides brings all your hidden weaknesses on the surface. Learn to recognize and deal with them one-by-one until they vanish into nothingness.
Friction is unavoidable when on saddle. The smoother the pad, the lesser the friction. In my case sponge pad did really irritate the skin and tissue. Lesson learned hard way..........and now shared easy way.
Peace to all and may you ride joyfully!
Rinoni
Update: Revisited my fit via LeMond and Goniometre method. Turned out my saddle was more than 2 cm higher than my body needed, hence the rubbing!
Be well, Rinoni.
Excellent advice, as always.
Some time ago, I had a touring bike which came with a gel saddle. It was comfortable on all the (few) training rides I did. Then I went touring: longer days, twice as much saddle time as before and the saddle hurt. I thought it might be height, and tried adjusting the height, which made things worse, so I returned to the previous height. Over two and a half weeks of touring, it got more and more painful. It was ok for the first 10 to 15 miles, then got worse and worse as the day went on. After 50 miles, I was basically standing to pedal.
On my return home, I had two months before going on my next tour. I bought a Brooks B17: instant comfort! The first ride I did was 10 miles and it was lovely, the second ride was 60 miles and I was as comfortable at the end of that ride as I had ever been at the start of a ride on the gel saddle.
I sort of lost that saddle and bike in a divorce. I bought a new bike, installed a new B17, again it was lovely and comfortable, though it took a bit longer to break in. In an attempted emigration to another country, I had to sell that bike/saddle, which I have regretted ever since.
My new bike is arriving soon with another think leather saddle, not a Brooks this time, I am getting a bike from Spa Cycles and went with their Nidd saddle. It is worth a try and I can soon get a new B17 if I need to!
My cycle is a Brompton and the saddle is a Brooks - I recently had my Brommie in for a service (which took _ages_ waiting for a replacement part during lock-down). I borrowed a friend's bike and found numb-bum kicked in after ~17 miles...I definitely missed my saddle!
good advice- saddles are so important , as a long distance cyclist myself, i really agree that saddle is almost everything, going to check out more of your channel soon, just found it today. thanks on sharing
An excellent video with clear and definitive advice 🙏
Glad you think so!
I'm female. My current and never to be changed saddle is a Brooks B67. I bought a used one from eBay and it is comfortable even if I haven't ridden for a while. I did buy a new one (black) so it would match the bike but it's just not as comfortable as the one I bought that was second hand. In the past I did try to get a saddle fit at my bike shop but to be honest it was unsuccessful - my bum is just too well upholstered to enable a measurement of my sit bones (cue red face). I do use chamois cream for very long rides - I think my cycling tights are a bit baggy in the vulval area and the female anatomy is not a uniform shape so friction can result!! Extremely painful. I think we need to use the proper words for our anatomy - labia, vulval area and perineum. It really helps:)
Bought Brompton b75, saddle hurts, looking to replace it but too many options there, difficult to try at shops due to covid. great video
Tip mark the angle, position of rails, so when taking saddle off or if bolts loosen, you can always put it back where it was, I use gorilla tape on the rails, and white pencil on the seat post.
I recommend to do the same with cockpit controls too, like brake levers, shifters, when you got the position dialled.
Excellent tip! Thank you for taking the time to share it 😀
Another fan of the Charge Spoon, which I have on 3 of my 4 bikes. My wife likes the Specialized Body Geometry saddles and has the Lithia saddle on all of her bikes.
I've heard so much good about the Brooks saddles I want to try them.
Thank you so much, I needed this video. I love my bike but I have been in pain lately and now I know why.
So glad it helped. If my video helps anyone enjoy their bike more it was worth making it 😊
Oh it was definitely worth it and it’s obviously helpful to a lot of people. With lots of information, explained in an eloquent way and coming from an experienced cyclist.
I have been riding my bike for over two decades but only short distances, I mostly just do my shopping. I noticed that whenever I spend two or more hours riding, it becomes a problem for my sensitive parts. I wanted to go on longer journeys and I just have to find the right saddle. By the way thank you for letting us know about the saddle library. I’ll be trying a few saddles myself 😊👋🏻
Thank you for such great advice. Just knowing that there is NO hard and fast is comforting, like a good fitting saddle. :) . The best videos I have watched are those that know when to say there is no quick fix. Please keep them coming.
Thanks for the lovely comment Erin. It would be nice if there was an easy answer. Hopefully someone finds something useful from this one, and don't give up on their bike. I suspect it's a big barrier for some.
I used Brooks B17 for a about 300 miles I know they're suppose to break in but this thing was hard as a plank, my last ride was London to Brighton on it and by the end I was genuinely worried about how numb I was. The saddle brings me nightmares now, I'm going to replace it with a modern scientifically developed Ergon saddle instead it's much lighter and less maintenance too, it rains all the time here
I prefer a saddle with a channel in the middle which is über comfortable. I have nightmares about something flying up a cut out saddle and damaging my Crown Jewels.
Really well thought out video on an almost impossible question to answer. Well done. I totally back you up on the seat bone measuring, since being measured every saddle I've had has worked great after a short transition period, maybe a couple of decent length rides. 08:30 I think cyclists more than most do things, buy stuff and sign up for products because they're told they need to in order to be a cyclist.
Thank you. It's hard to do the subject justice, espeically in a video under 15 minutes! I only had my sitbones mesured recently because I was in a shop that had a measure. Had I not been lucky enough to get a saddle that worked for me the first time I feel like this information would have been invaluable in finding the right saddle.
I think you will like my next series, breaking "The Rules" of cycling 😀
@@OneLessCar looking forward to it...
Thanks. The saddle on my lil fold up caused such extreme pain, I replaced with a really padded saddle & it worked. Change of bike to the one I have now, didn't like the saddle that came with it so moved the padded one over, it was great, as I have spinal issues I needed the soft. But 1 year in the bump at the front was bumping, its not good, needing to pee has stopped cycling, ordered a replacement, supposed to be padded, its hard as, can feel my sit bones immediately. But maybe that isn't so bad? Not looking forward to cycling to chiropractor today, so looking for alternatives, shall try this x
chamois cream definitely works, but as you said it won't solve all problems, it's made to reduce friction so your butt won't get sore, and sensitiv. I use as thick layer as I can, but after about 4 h it's used up, but then my whole body hurts, but that's a lot of time on the saddle. not a commute.
but for few mins of riding I won't need much or none at all.
Thank you for a great video. I haven't struggled too much with the various saddles I have run (Selle Italia, Brooks Cambium, Selle SMP) and I agree that adjusting the saddle position can outweigh any benefits of running a new saddle and that padded shorts are not needed for shorter rides, however it's been less straight forward for my wife, thank you again for the advice.
Both my wife and I are using Brooks saddles. I can ride mine all day and my butt is fine. The adjustment is definitely crucial. According to bike fitters I'm doing it all wrong (saddle tilted back slightly), but this adjustment works perfectly for me. I do not own padded shorts.
Love hearing about how people do what works for them. You are the expert on you after all. 😀
Actually thats what you SHOULD do with many Brooks / leather saddles because otherwise you slide forward too easy. Did the same on Brooks / Gilles Berthoud saddles. Cheers!
Ill try this with my Brooks Swift on my Brompton 👍
still working on saddle comfort...thanks for the info...I do like the idea of doing away with padded shorts
One piece of advice that i'd give: If the leather on your seat is worn/loosened you can purchase some leather glue to get it back to original condition/also add new leather patches to fix holes.
This is maybe not possible with the more high-end super modern seats but if you have one with a simpler design that you prefer then that's an option!.
Thank you for this! I'd like to use my old saddle for rentals or my commuter/touring bikes so I'll be sure to look into trying this.
I know this is frowned upon by a lot of people but I bought my saddle off Amazon, I think it was called women’s comfort saddle and it was only
The only difference I see there is that you've bought from Amazon rather than supporting your 'local bike shop'. But if you don't have a LBS, or they don't sell what works for you, then don't stress.
Great advice, most sadles are about the same, but the geometry of you and your bones are not so getting the geometry right by adjusting the saddle tilt, rail position and height should be the first port of call, however doing this little thing seems at first a fruitless endeavour as "I need a new saddle" seems the logical solution to my burning Gouch. A saddle with the cutout longitudinally is a nessary if you happen to have one of those Penises that gets its blood supply cut of as it will all go numb and one day you'll go to see what's going on down there and it'll have gone away sensationally and you'll freek out.
Wise words 👍
My advice? If the saddle hurts, it's the wrong saddle. Bike fits can get you to about 90% of the way to alleviating saddle pain so they are worth it. But it the saddle doesn't feel right, then its just not the right saddle.
Also, sometimes saddle pain comes because you are a heavier rider in general. I've found that saddles that hurt previously became much more comfortable and sustainable after I lost 15 pounds of weight.
Interesting. My experience was the opposite. Had the Prologo Kappa saddle on both my bikes for years with no issues. Then I lost a similar amount of weight to you and the problems began. Repeated saddle sores forced me to take some time off the bike. Ended up putting the Specialized Toupe saddle that came with one of my bikes back on. Wider and flatter than the Prologo, it seems to be working better for me so far. A rider's body fat composition is factor that surely must be a factor in choosing a saddle but no one ever seems to talk about that.
Bontrager have a 30 day unlimited warranty so there no financial risk, the Anja sorted out my sit bone pain
Great tip! Thanks for sharing.
A good saddle makes all the difference
Very helpful info. Thanks 🙏🏾
This has actually been one of the best videos I have watched regarding saddles and comfort. When I first got my bike it had a male saddles which caused shooting pains and I could feel every bump in the road, I knew immediately that something was wrong. I went out and bought a wide women's saddle, (nebula +). Then I had the sore sit bones thing over the next 4 or 5 rides, after this went away it has never come back. I thought problem solved, however on rides over an hour, around the 20 mile mark I now get numb sit bones, which does make me want to get off the bike, I do get up out the saddle often. Is this related to increasing mileage and will go away or is it more likely to be a bike fit/saddle problem, I happen regardless to if I am wearing padded cycling shorts or not. Its not painful but it is enough to make me end the ride. My bike is a very relaxed position not sure if that makes a difference, and it's definitely my poor bum that goes numb not my gender parts. Any advice most welcome.
Sounds like you are uping your milage in a reasonable way. It sounds like something else. Have you checked your sitbone measurments and is the saddle the correct width for you? You say you are in a relaxed position what type of bike are you riding? And how padded is your saddle?
When I tried my Brooks I rode for about two weeks a few hours each day. Was not for sure if this was going to work for a three month tour around California. So I put my specialized avatar back on my bike went for another ride after fifteen minutes I said no way turn back home and now all of bicycles have a Brooks. One is a imperial flyer and the others are imperial pro. My girlfriend would use padded shorts and a big seat. She finally bought a Brooks imperial after a few weeks she never used padded shorts again.
The issue of soft tissue and the numbness of it. What did we do before cutouts?
It makes me want to cry thinking about it!
Thank you for this very informative and helpful video, Michelle. Re Nathan, what adjustment did he ultimately make that did the trick for him? Like many other cyclists, I have tried many saddles and am currently giving the Brooks B-17 another shot (I owned one on a Peugot and Raleigh 10-speed when I was a teenager and outside of the break-in period, I loved them). With the B-17, I have found that being able to sit in a more upright position makes this saddle so much more comfortable for me. I have installed a steer tube extension to raise the height of my handlebar, and will re-install my zero setback seat post and try moving my saddle forward incrementally to see if these strategies can keep me in this position consistently. I also own a Selle Italia SLR TM Super Flow saddle and the Specialized Toupe (although my friend swears by his Specialized Power saddle) which I have found comfortable.
Yep I have the same problem as Nathan LOL.. most bike Saddles are not a problem but I just got a new gravel bike for bikepacking. And the seat is absolute trash. It's the contact neutral it's a giant saddle. I went to my old folks and I went in to the basement to steal back my saddle from my second hand miyata from the 80s and holy hell even though the leather is Stained and the saddle is old af its still more comfortable
I swear by my sdg circut, selle italia SLRs, WTB volt 135 cromo And 150 cromo. Each has its pro and cons and for specific use. Most good saddles are not cheap but makes a hell of a difference on your riding experience. To me gel stuffs are hyped, good only for first 5km.
I'd go for strong sitbones over gels :)
Padded does not necessarily translate to comfort. I've had great success with Brooks B17 and also Brooks Cambium C19.
Are any new vids coming out soon?
Miss and enjoy them very much!!
Aww thanks for the lovely comment. I'm working on edits from my adventures in the Pyrenees last week on holiday 😁 hoping for a Sunday or Monday release.
This is a great video thankyou
A comfortable saddle doesn't mean an expensive saddle. I use a Charge Spoon on all my bikes, they are about £30.
I use Fabric Scoop Shallow race on my mtb.
Bike fit is so important.
Nice
The most comfortable saddle I have is the one on my Brompton. Had Brookes B17 wide version it killed me and others. Don't wear padded shorts of knickers. Keep em coming and KEEP SAFE!!!!
Padded saddle covers can be a good cost effective way of making bike rides more comfortable.
You are a lady and a scholar! Thank you.
Hi there, hoping I can get some tips for what type of saddle to get - I’ve tried numerous saddles over the years spending a whole heap of money and not really getting anywhere. Most saddles are fine for short rides (less than 15 miles) however on long rides I always have pressure/compression issues either on the perineal area or around the pubic bone (this makes me feel like I need to pee constantly - worse after a hill) or both! Often after a long ride my soft and delicate tissue feels sore for a day or two making me not want to get back on the bike - help!!
your voice is incredibly musical.
*Ride On Cycling* It's awesome. Keep it up :p
Thanks ✌️
Did he adjust it up and down, angle or front and back ??
Thank greatly you for this follow up video!
To elaborate...Yes. My wife has numbness from pressure in the front region of the saddle.
Is the cut out on that Selle Italia saddle intensionally designed to reduce such frontal pressure?
Also, she cycles more upright. So, I suspect (with respect to her sit bones) she may need a wider variation of the Selle Italia saddle.
Lastly, she will never ride longer than 10-15 kms as she cycles for health/social reasons and not for the joy of cycling. Therefore, plush saddles may be acceptable?
The cut out might be enough. There are also saddles with more extreme cut outs that might be worth her looking at. If she is in a more upright position and the Salle Italia is wide enough for her sitbones it might be a worth a try, it is one of the more coushy options without being over the top. Perhaps some others will have some words of wisdom for you.
And you never know, perhaps if her saddle was more comfortable 20-30km might start to look appealing 😀
@@OneLessCar
I agree. We inherited a free plush and wide saddle which satisfied some of the criteria with no luck.
So, that numbness is certainly not that.
What's remaining is the cut-out or a short nosed solution or angle.
Is numbness is not normally related to the angle? If not, then your suggestion is the right approach 😀without tinkering with angle and wasting time.
@@cirodirosa6752The seat angle can cause numbness. Make sure the nose of the saddle is not too high and you might also want to try moving it forwards / backwards on the rails to see if this helps.
Cushioning spreads the weight over a larger area - including putting pressure on nerves.
If numbness is an issue you need to take the pressure away from those nerves - Reducing cushioning can help this, so can a 'pressure relief channel' (the hole/dip down the middle of the saddle).
First thing to do is lower the nose of the saddle just a little and see if things improve.
Padded boxers/pants. Even with just a 4 mile each way commute, I will sometimes wear them on really hot days, just because a sweaty crotch and gusset seams aren't fun.
Brooks saddle on the Brompton. Everything else I sit on now feels horrid, including other Brooks saddles
Nathan wants to put a Brooks on his Brompton. Perhpas it's time for me to try one on my tourer/commuter. 😀
On hot days we women have more options, skirts, leggings 😀
You should check out Resolute Bay cycling jeans, they have a dimond gusset and codura (for better wear and tear). I have 2 pair now, love them.
@@OneLessCar I'm up to six pairs of Resolute Bay jeans (plus two jackets and the paclite kickstarter, two hoodies and two tees). Absolutely won't ride in normal denim now. First time on them was a revelation. Love all of Chris' stuff.
@@OneLessCar I've been thinking about swapping the C17 out for a Cambium.
I have a mimic saddle , I have never had problems with sit bones. My problem is when I ride I seem to ( open up) , I now have a swollen labia on one side that has a sore spot. I have adjusted my seat several times and no joy. I always wear padded shorts, I am on my bike for 2hrs plus most times. I would be glad o& any advice.
Lower saddle height, one side usually means over extending and leaning to compensate
hello I’m newish to cycling for commute and pleasure. My question is do i still need to get used to it or is the seat I have not right for me? My bones surrounding my vagina I feel are very sensitive, that’s the only place I feel pressure. It chafes my skin and is giving me ingrown hairs as well because of the intense pressure. The seat I have now is Selle Royal Avenue Saddle for women
If you've been riding regularly for a couple of months I'd say you need a change. I would recommend checking if your saddle is level. If it is tilt it forward a tiny bit (a couple of degrees). There are some apps to help you measure this. If you are struggling with ingrown hairs I'd stop shaving (if you do) and see if it improves (this is the recommondation of British Cycling). This article might also help you www.velome.co.uk/lifestyle/your-vulva-and-cycling-what-you-need-to-know/
I hope you are able to find your solution, rides are a lot more fun when you are comfortable.
Dr. Steven Schrader with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): “When you sit on a bike the pressure on the perineum increases sevenfold. Riders using a classic saddle place 1/4 of their body weight on the perineum. The amount of oxygen reaching the *** typically falls 70% to 80% in 3 minutes. A guy can have his oxygen levels drop 100% but he doesn’t know it. After half an hour he goes numb.
Saddles with splits or holes may make matters worse because they have smaller surface areas, and hence the rider’s weight presses harder on less saddle. The arteries in the perineum run laterally and therefore they come under more pressure when they come into contact with the cutouts’ edges. It is no longer a question of whether or not traditional bike saddles causes ED, but what are you going to do about it?” @t
@t
Sorry if this isn't obvious but I'm a woman, I don't have a penis.
Did you mention which month you were referring to when you said Sunday or Monday?
Hee Hee!
I rotate my pelvis forward when I cycle. I don't sit on my sit bones. I sit on the bone in front of that at the top of the thighs and the front of my pelvis. It gets worse going uphill. I have pressure on the front area of my pelvis. It is horrible. I dread riding and will have to give up riding. Bike shops are not helpful. They just want you to go away. It is awful.
Maybe try an SMP Selle TRK
Do you drive a car or just a bike
I drove before moving to London, and after 13 years in the UK I just started to drive again 6 weeks ago. 😬
I only ride a electric bike or a bike
Say hello to your urologist for me. Or ... Spongy Wonder.
Finally a woman talking about women parts. Men, I love u guys for trying, but most of you just don't know.
🙌😂😂 Too true!
My knees hurt every day, I bike, turns out x rays reveal I have no meniscus, they've worn out.
I understand - female anatomy and all - but how can your ischial bones be 155mm apart? I'm a heavy-boned man twice your weight and mine are but ca. 144mm. I'm thinking, you are adding at least a cm to the distance between your seat bones? But even so, you must have a remarkably wide pelvis: doesn't really show from the little I have seen of you.
By the way, I understand you are from Canada, and am wondering whether your ancestry is largely Italian, Spanish or Armenian…
Your accent is a mix of American and English.