Suggestions on bike seat

08-29-2004, 03:10 PM

I have a mountain bike that I ride on paved paths. The ride is usually
between 1 and 2 hours. My current seat gets painful after a while of
riding. I'd like suggestions on comfortable bike seats.

Thanks,
Brett

08-29-2004, 03:36 PM

Brett wrote:
> I have a mountain bike that I ride on paved paths. The ride is usually
> between 1 and 2 hours. My current seat gets painful after a while of
> riding. I'd like suggestions on comfortable bike seats.
>
> Thanks,
> Brett

Do you have a bike shop in your area that loans or rents saddles so you
can try out different alternatives? What works best is a very
individual thing.

I ride a road bike, but after trying out 3 different saddles before I
was happy, I concluded that for me there were two issues. First, I need
a saddle that properly supports my sit bones (which in my case are set
wide). Second, I need a saddle that has some give when I go over a bump
(not a soft surface, but some flex), so that I don't feel like I have
been sitting on a rock after 15 miles.

I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
my seat bones.

Pam

08-29-2004, 03:36 PM

Brett wrote:
> I have a mountain bike that I ride on paved paths. The ride is usually
> between 1 and 2 hours. My current seat gets painful after a while of
> riding. I'd like suggestions on comfortable bike seats.
>
> Thanks,
> Brett

Do you have a bike shop in your area that loans or rents saddles so you
can try out different alternatives? What works best is a very
individual thing.

I ride a road bike, but after trying out 3 different saddles before I
was happy, I concluded that for me there were two issues. First, I need
a saddle that properly supports my sit bones (which in my case are set
wide). Second, I need a saddle that has some give when I go over a bump
(not a soft surface, but some flex), so that I don't feel like I have
been sitting on a rock after 15 miles.

I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
my seat bones.

Pam

08-29-2004, 03:36 PM

Brett wrote:
> I have a mountain bike that I ride on paved paths. The ride is usually
> between 1 and 2 hours. My current seat gets painful after a while of
> riding. I'd like suggestions on comfortable bike seats.
>
> Thanks,
> Brett

Do you have a bike shop in your area that loans or rents saddles so you
can try out different alternatives? What works best is a very
individual thing.

I ride a road bike, but after trying out 3 different saddles before I
was happy, I concluded that for me there were two issues. First, I need
a saddle that properly supports my sit bones (which in my case are set
wide). Second, I need a saddle that has some give when I go over a bump
(not a soft surface, but some flex), so that I don't feel like I have
been sitting on a rock after 15 miles.

I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
my seat bones.

Pam

08-29-2004, 03:36 PM

Brett wrote:
> I have a mountain bike that I ride on paved paths. The ride is usually
> between 1 and 2 hours. My current seat gets painful after a while of
> riding. I'd like suggestions on comfortable bike seats.
>
> Thanks,
> Brett

Do you have a bike shop in your area that loans or rents saddles so you
can try out different alternatives? What works best is a very
individual thing.

I ride a road bike, but after trying out 3 different saddles before I
was happy, I concluded that for me there were two issues. First, I need
a saddle that properly supports my sit bones (which in my case are set
wide). Second, I need a saddle that has some give when I go over a bump
(not a soft surface, but some flex), so that I don't feel like I have
been sitting on a rock after 15 miles.

I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
my seat bones.

Pam

08-29-2004, 05:32 PM

pam_in_sc wrote:
> I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
> rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
> ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
> more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
> different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
> saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
> my seat bones.

I'd second the Brooks saddle thing - I just got a B17 Standard a few days ago,
and it's lovely. I think one of the benefits of a leather saddle is that it's
a bit more slippery than plastic/whatever, so there's less friction on your
thighs/bum when cycling along.

Sheldon Brown's site has a few tips of selecting the right Brooks saddle. I
went for the B17 because I have my bars at about the same height as my seat.

-- CH

08-29-2004, 05:32 PM

pam_in_sc wrote:
> I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
> rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
> ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
> more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
> different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
> saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
> my seat bones.

I'd second the Brooks saddle thing - I just got a B17 Standard a few days ago,
and it's lovely. I think one of the benefits of a leather saddle is that it's
a bit more slippery than plastic/whatever, so there's less friction on your
thighs/bum when cycling along.

Sheldon Brown's site has a few tips of selecting the right Brooks saddle. I
went for the B17 because I have my bars at about the same height as my seat.

-- CH

08-29-2004, 05:32 PM

pam_in_sc wrote:
> I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
> rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
> ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
> more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
> different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
> saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
> my seat bones.

I'd second the Brooks saddle thing - I just got a B17 Standard a few days ago,
and it's lovely. I think one of the benefits of a leather saddle is that it's
a bit more slippery than plastic/whatever, so there's less friction on your
thighs/bum when cycling along.

Sheldon Brown's site has a few tips of selecting the right Brooks saddle. I
went for the B17 because I have my bars at about the same height as my seat.

-- CH

08-29-2004, 05:32 PM

pam_in_sc wrote:
> I am now very happy with a Brooks Team Pro S (see
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] for lots of information). I
> rode 40 miles yesterday and 25 today, and I only got the saddle a week
> ago. My local bike shop owner said he doesn't ride a leather saddle any
> more because the break-in is too difficult. My experience was
> different--from the first day it was more comfortable than the modern
> saddles I had tried. It will only get more comfortable as it molds to
> my seat bones.

I'd second the Brooks saddle thing - I just got a B17 Standard a few days ago,
and it's lovely. I think one of the benefits of a leather saddle is that it's
a bit more slippery than plastic/whatever, so there's less friction on your
thighs/bum when cycling along.

Sheldon Brown's site has a few tips of selecting the right Brooks saddle. I
went for the B17 because I have my bars at about the same height as my seat.

-- CH

08-29-2004, 08:13 PM

On Sun, 29 Aug 2004 19:10:06 -0400, "Brett" <no> wrote:

<I have a mountain bike that I ride on paved paths. The ride is usually
<between 1 and 2 hours. My current seat gets painful after a while of
<riding. I'd like suggestions on comfortable bike seats.

Sometimes it's your shorts, or maybe an adjustment in height or position of the
current saddle.