| Choosing the correct bicycle saddle is an important | | | | or plastic shell,there are a few manufacturers that still |
| step when looking for the perfect bike. One needs to | | | | use leather which is riveted to the rails. |
| remember that the seat carries the burden of the bike | | | | RAILS |
| - namely the rider and more than 50% of his or her | | | | Titanium is the material of choice for today's saddle |
| weight. Not only do they need to be comfortable, but | | | | rails and is found typically on higher-end bicycles. |
| they also need to wear well. It needs to made of a | | | | Previously, rails were made cheaply using carbon steel |
| good material so if the bike falls to the ground, marks | | | | that had been chrome plated, but this made the seat |
| are not made or it does not deteriorate from the | | | | and bike unnecessarily heavy. Another common |
| friction of sitting on it for a long ride. It is a good idea to | | | | material is lighter, though strong steels such as |
| test bicycle saddles before committing to one and | | | | chrome-moly, which is usually fashioned in a hollow |
| here are a few things to consider when looking to | | | | tubular shape, keeping the bike light. Some more |
| purchase: | | | | expensive seats have rails made of carbon fiber, but |
| PADDING | | | | because they can be more easily damaged than steel, |
| There are a couple of types of padding that are most | | | | they are often wrapped in aluminum. There are still a |
| commonly used on bike seats - polymer gels and | | | | few companies that have a dedicated seat with a |
| urethane foam. Both are typically molded on the seat | | | | beam system or monorail. |
| however each model of seat has different | | | | SHAPE |
| thicknesses and density depending the seat model. | | | | The shape of a seat is perhaps the most important |
| Sometimes both types of padding are used on one | | | | aspect when choosing the perfect saddle. If the seat is |
| seat trying to add different textures to different | | | | too narrow, it will feel like there is not enough support. If |
| pressure points, however more padding does not | | | | it is too wide, however, it will often rub and end up |
| necessarily mean that it will be more comfortable. The | | | | chaffing. For women, a wider seat is typically more |
| purpose of padding is to disperse one's weight over | | | | comfortable since the sit bones - ischial tuberosities to |
| the entire seat and sometimes thicker padding can | | | | be technical - are wider than those of males. Since |
| move get lumpy in spots and can actually be more | | | | each rider is different some specialty shops have |
| uncomfortable. If one prefers, there are still flyweight | | | | seats that come with special pads which measure the |
| saddles that are made without padding. | | | | width of the sit bones to make it easier to choose the |
| SHELL DESIGN | | | | seat. Some seats are also curved and are rounded |
| The shell of a bike saddle can be made of a few | | | | while others have squarer sides and a flatter top. |
| different materials, depending on the flexibility required | | | | There are also seats made for different bicycling |
| of the seat. Most saddles are made of plastic which is | | | | purposes. A saddle made for off-roading, for instance |
| injection-molded, and typically made of nylon. These | | | | is thicker over the whole seat while a seat made for a |
| seats are usually the least flexible and heaviest so | | | | triathlon as more padding in the front of the nose to |
| carbon fiber is added to create a lighter and more | | | | help the cyclist sit forward. |
| malleable. There are even a few types of saddles | | | | COVERING |
| which are made entirely of carbon and are quite light | | | | The covering can vary greatly on bicycle saddles. |
| and flexible. In order to make the saddle more | | | | They can be made from materials such as plastic, |
| comfortable and adjustable, manufacturers have | | | | fabric, leather or even Kevlar on more expensive |
| added slots or holes in the nose of the seat which can | | | | seats and can come in many different and |
| disperse pressure away from softer tissues. | | | | personalized colors, though typically black fades and |
| According to Andy Pruitt, Ed. D. of the Boulder Center | | | | wears the least. In order to keep the rider from sliding |
| for Sports Medicine in Colorado, seats with a hole in | | | | around, some seat coverings have tiny holes to add |
| the nose are more comfortable for approximately | | | | friction. Saddles made for off-roading are usually made |
| 80% of riders, though solid saddles are still preferred | | | | with durable materials and reinforced corners since |
| by some. If one wants an option other than a carbon | | | | they are heavily used. |