Looking for the most comfortable road bike seat
#1
I ride to clear my mind
Thread Starter
Looking for the most comfortable road bike seat
What are you guys sitting on and or what do you recommend? I currently have a Selle Italia X1 and it is getting uncomfortable now even with padding
#2
Senior Member
Saddles are super personal but will say I’ve been happy switching to Fabric Scoop and Line saddles on my bikes. Worth a look.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 89
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 28 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#4
Senior Member
It is getting uncomfortable in what way? Did you experiment with seat angle?
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: corpus christi,texas
Posts: 423
Bikes: canondale silk trail--92 schwinn criss cross--sun atlas x type--fugi odessa--2018 trek domane ALR5 disc
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Ergon ST Core Prime
. Most comfortable I've ever tried. And I've tried a few.
. Most comfortable I've ever tried. And I've tried a few.
#7
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,618
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3919 Post(s)
Liked 1,982 Times
in
1,414 Posts
Selle Italia MAN. Suits a range of butt widths, narrow nose, slotted.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 220
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1218 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
This is such a loaded question. The best advice is try a few saddles and see what works best for you. Most LBS' have test saddles you can borrow for a few days or even weeks. That's what I did.
#10
serious cyclist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Austin
Posts: 21,147
Bikes: S1, R2, P2
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9334 Post(s)
Liked 3,679 Times
in
2,026 Posts
I like the Dash Strike and ISM PN2.0/ 3.1. You probably won’t.
#11
I ride to clear my mind
Thread Starter
Yes. I been researching all day and when I saw my LBS selling a Specialized Power for $100.00 I jumped on it before they realized they are cheaper than online prices LOL. I could not get fitted because I had on padded shorts but the 143mm is ok.
#12
I ride to clear my mind
Thread Starter
I found out that they do that today. I got a Specialized Power and I am going to try different width's over the next few days.
#13
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,804 Times
in
1,801 Posts
So many variables. I was surprised to discover a narrow, firm Selle Italia SKS Kit Carbonio was perfect for me. Padding is comparable to a Fizik, not too much, not too little.
I figured a 140mm would be right for me, but when I checked my sit bones they're pretty narrow. Turns out the 131mm width was right for me. Kinda surprised me because my hips aren't particularly narrow for my weight -- I'm 5'11", 160 lbs with a bit of a belly pudge, and usually I wear 34 waist pants. Even at my thinnest in my teens and 20s I wore a 32 waist, not a 30 like some guys my size or larger in top condition. The wider saddles left me feeling bruised after long rides. But the narrow has been perfect this year.
Saddle height and angle make a significant difference for me too. I can tolerate a bit of leeway in height, but I can't tolerate any variation in angle. If the saddle is a single notch off level it drives me nuts. I set it level and realistically it probably dips just a wee bit under load while I'm riding.
I also dislike saddles with up-flared backs. Supposedly older guys with bad backs like me should be more comfortable on saddles with some up-flare to correct for hip tilt. But I can't stand the things. My Selle Italia has only the very slightest bit of up-flare, and at a glance appears flat but isn't. That's about right for me, at least this year. Subject to change as the body ages.
I figured a 140mm would be right for me, but when I checked my sit bones they're pretty narrow. Turns out the 131mm width was right for me. Kinda surprised me because my hips aren't particularly narrow for my weight -- I'm 5'11", 160 lbs with a bit of a belly pudge, and usually I wear 34 waist pants. Even at my thinnest in my teens and 20s I wore a 32 waist, not a 30 like some guys my size or larger in top condition. The wider saddles left me feeling bruised after long rides. But the narrow has been perfect this year.
Saddle height and angle make a significant difference for me too. I can tolerate a bit of leeway in height, but I can't tolerate any variation in angle. If the saddle is a single notch off level it drives me nuts. I set it level and realistically it probably dips just a wee bit under load while I'm riding.
I also dislike saddles with up-flared backs. Supposedly older guys with bad backs like me should be more comfortable on saddles with some up-flare to correct for hip tilt. But I can't stand the things. My Selle Italia has only the very slightest bit of up-flare, and at a glance appears flat but isn't. That's about right for me, at least this year. Subject to change as the body ages.
#14
Forum Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Kalamazoo MI
Posts: 20,784
Bikes: Fuji SL2.1 Carbon Di2 Cannondale Synapse Alloy 4 Trek Checkpoint ALR-5 Viscount Aerospace Pro Raleigh C50 Cromoly Hybrid Legnano Tipo Roma Pista
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3130 Post(s)
Liked 6,807 Times
in
3,896 Posts
Selle Anatomica X.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Nor Cal
Posts: 6,016
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1814 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 923 Times
in
569 Posts
For a comfortable seat, you need lots of padding.
https://www.target.com/p/schwinn-foa...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 23,208
Mentioned: 89 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18883 Post(s)
Liked 10,646 Times
in
6,054 Posts
Really love my Fabric Scoop.
#20
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4560 Post(s)
Liked 2,804 Times
in
1,801 Posts
BTW, if your shorts are only lightly padded you might try these: Przewalski shorts.
I hadn't planned to buy another pair of shorts after just getting the Black Bibs (which are excellent for the money). But the Przewalski shorts popped up on my Facebook feed for only $5 and change on a one-day sale. I got 'em Thursday or Friday. Wore 'em three times this weekend, twice for indoor trainer rides of 60 and 90 minutes, and Saturday on a 20 mile ride. They're weird and really comfortable.
Weird because of little things they do, like a pad that's different from anything else I've seen or used. It's really dense and firm, with dimples like a golf ball -- not so much thicker than other pads, but much denser and more resilient. Should be comfortable with very firm saddles. Might be too much padding for padded saddles.
The regular price is a good value and the vendor (I think it's sold by Spotti) has been offering various discount codes, like a second pair for 50% off, that sort of thing. I just lucked into the $5 discount code last week and gave 'em a try. So far I like 'em at least as well as my AeroTech Pro shorts, although the padding is completely different.
I hadn't planned to buy another pair of shorts after just getting the Black Bibs (which are excellent for the money). But the Przewalski shorts popped up on my Facebook feed for only $5 and change on a one-day sale. I got 'em Thursday or Friday. Wore 'em three times this weekend, twice for indoor trainer rides of 60 and 90 minutes, and Saturday on a 20 mile ride. They're weird and really comfortable.
Weird because of little things they do, like a pad that's different from anything else I've seen or used. It's really dense and firm, with dimples like a golf ball -- not so much thicker than other pads, but much denser and more resilient. Should be comfortable with very firm saddles. Might be too much padding for padded saddles.
The regular price is a good value and the vendor (I think it's sold by Spotti) has been offering various discount codes, like a second pair for 50% off, that sort of thing. I just lucked into the $5 discount code last week and gave 'em a try. So far I like 'em at least as well as my AeroTech Pro shorts, although the padding is completely different.
#21
Senior Member
In addition to saddle and bib selections, a strong core and flexibility will significantly alleviate your butt problems.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 6,432
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 539 Post(s)
Liked 44 Times
in
38 Posts
I started doing a "warmup" routine called the Limber 11 that I think also increased my core strength:
https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/lim...ever-need.html
After that, I suddenly found that nearly any decent saddle became comfortable (for me).
https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/lim...ever-need.html
After that, I suddenly found that nearly any decent saddle became comfortable (for me).
#23
Senior Member
Sella Royal Seta S1. It is hard and flat and smooth.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,071
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 354 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 124 Times
in
92 Posts
I tried sitting more forward until I couldn't feel the material digging into my legs, but then my sitbones were no longer on the wide cushioned part of the saddle and instead more on the harder middle part. I tried lowering the nose so that it was maybe 2-3 degrees downward slope when measured with a bubble level from the sitbone area to the nose. It felt much better, but I could still feel a little bit of the material pressing under my legs. I lowered it a little more but then it became too steep.
If I pointed my knees outwards, or placed my feet further out at around 190mm Q-factor, the pain seemed to reduce greatly. But that's not a very practical way to ride. my cranks are 148mm Q-factor.
I think the problem is that the distance from where the sit bone area to the leading forward edge is too long and flat. I also tried the Ergon SMC3 in the past (the newer model is SMC4), and that too was digging into the underside of my legs. It would have been great if they had made the sit area shorter lengthwise, and made the leading edges curve downward.
Last edited by tomtomtom123; 03-31-19 at 03:04 PM.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Posts: 118
Bikes: 2007 Quiring Ti + 2014 Focus Izalco + 2009 Dynamic Synergy + 80's Bottecchia w/105 Crank Set + 2010 Jamis Commuter-4 + 1999 GT Slipstream Hybrid
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 40 Post(s)
Liked 15 Times
in
10 Posts
Kontact Saddle (kontactbike.com). I have hundreds of miles on my Kontact Saddle. The more I ride it, the more I like it!
Last edited by DrDyno; 03-31-19 at 11:15 PM. Reason: Link problem