Saturday 21 May 2011

Bike Fit - Saddles

Saddle comfort is not just down to the saddle, put a saddle that looks like a razor blade in the right place, i.e. correct height and lay back and it could be comfy, put the most comfiest looking saddle in the wrong place it will feel like a razor blade! Plus don't underestimate how handlebar and brake lever set up can influence how the saddle feels, you could have the saddle at a perfect height and lay back, but get the angle of the bars and the position of the levers wrong and they could put pressure on the nose of the saddle, most people at this point would then start messing with the angle or/both lay back of the saddle to relieve that pressure, when all they needed to do was adjust the handlebar set up.


So don't just go on how the saddle looks and what the label says, you need to get it positioned correctly and get the bar set up right, otherwise you'll be like a few people I've met who have spent a fortune of saddles trying to find one that feels comfy.

If you are going to try a demo saddle make sure it is fitted properly, you can not just pick a saddle up from a shop and just put it on your seatpost and hope for the best, to feel any benefit from the saddle your whole bike position needs to be correct.

It's the whole bike fit that influences how a saddle feels.