Saddle
Saddle
There’s little worse when riding than discomfort caused by an uncomfortable saddle. Actually, there is – saddle sores, but the two often go hand in hand.
Saddle choice is incredibly subjective and one rider’s throne is another’s bed of thorns, however a comfortable saddle will go a long way to improving life on the bike.
Most cyclists buy a bike as a complete machine and so it’ll have a saddle come with it. For some riders that’ll work just fine, other will grin and bear any discomfort, while some will immediately swap that stock saddle to their favourite perch. If you’re in the middle camp then it’s time to change.
There’s no shortage of choice when it comes to saddles and the most important considerations when buying a new perch are shape and width. Seek the advice of your local bike shop, and ideally try before you buy. Some saddle manufacturers run test ride programmes through stockists.
It’s impossible to talk about saddles without mentioning bib tights/shorts – or, more specifically, the chamois. A ‘comfortable’ saddle is little use if you can’t stand the shorts or chamois. Again, there’s some experimentation involved to find what works for you, with chamois shape, width and thickness all factors in determining comfort, and that’s before considering the fabric and fit of the shorts themselves.