mikolay87

I have had my new kona for about a month. I love the bike but I need a new seat. I am 330 lbs and the stock seat is killing me. what do you recommend for a guy my size.

FBinNY 

There's no easy answer, you just have to try a bunch.

There are much wider saddles out there, with some approaching the size and shape of tractor seats, but these can make pedaling hard and/or rub the insides of your thighs unless you have a very erect riding posture.

Sit on a few to get an idea of the support they offer and whether they suit your posture, then make a short list and toss a coin. Also, consider adjusting the saddle height slightly to the short side of what is ideal for efficiency. This will have you "sitting lighter" more of the time with more weight transferred to the pedals. It also will encourage pushing back, and/or lifting slight off the saddle on climbs which will break things up and offer relief.

gunner65

In a perfect world you have a shop nearby that has a saddle loaner program so that you can try out several before purchasing one. In my world I have a pile of poor fitting saddles before I found the Brooks B-17. The B-17 works for many but again there is always those few butts that it doesnt work for. Best of luck on your search.

Null66

Wider is not better, better is better.

weight should be on the "sit bones, oddly the width of sit is the least variable metric between people...

I prefer my Serfas RX... Keeps pressure off parts that should not have pressure on.

Lot's and lot's of people swear by the Brooks saddles (different models for different body positions, comfort, touring, road)...

Post a picture of you on the bike from the side.
Could be a matter of fit, or could be just a matter of acclimating to riding itself...

MRT2

I use a Brooks B17. Works well for rides up to 4 to 5 hours. That said, it took a half a riding season, or 500 to 700 Miles and several treatments with Proofhide to break it in. Brooks now has a saddle that needs nobreak in, the Cambium, but I have not tried it.

Ursa Minor

I too have a Brooks B17. I love it but a good pair of bib shorts is also helpful.

Charlie

asque2000

I have been happy with my WTB Speed V Pro Gel seat. It's not amazing considering it's a 400 gram seat but I found it has saved my butt for super long rides (it's a dual purpose Road and MTB saddle). But as others have stated, you should find a saddle that works for your body shape and size. If you go by a LBS, they should let you try a bunch of different options before you buy.

bransom

Selle Anatomica. Sort of like a Brooks with a slot cut in it. Expensive but totally worth it, and (for me, anyway) comfortable from the very first ride.

mikolay87

Thanks I will go to the lbs and see if I can try a few of the recommended seats out

szewczykm

+1 to Brooks B-17.

It made a big difference for me.

Tim_Iowa

Brooks B-17 is a great seat. A quality leather seat stretches a bit under your sit bones, like a hammock. Leather seats last forever with minimal care, and look classy.

For a bigger guy, check out the Brooks Flyer. It's a B-17 with springs. I'm 220#, and I feel those springs doing their job when I ride on rough roads.

If you like a wider seat, Brooks makes a B68, or the B67 is the same wider saddle with springs.

Brooks also sells versions of most of their seats with cutouts to relieve perineal pressure; those are called "imperial" models. The design of the Selle Anatomica is based on this concept.

If you try a Selle Anatomica, get the "X" model, it's made for heavier riders. The standard model would stretch out too quickly for you.

nfmisso

I am 350# and this works well for me for 20 miles/day
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C1C88ZY/...V1Z9ZU3D&psc=1

psalm

If it's only been a month give it a little more time. It takes a few hundred miles at least to start breaking in not only the seat, but your rear end as well. Also, as Ursa Minor said, a good pair of bib/shorts make a world of difference.

fujione

+1

joe

donalson

I'm a bit over 300#... I have a brooks b17 on my road bike and a flyer on my touring bike... I like them both but prefer the b17, not sure why (as the leather is from the same mold) might just be a slight tweak (height/nose up etc) difference or slight variance in the leather... but both are very nice and the honey colored ones get a beautiful patina as you put more miles on it.

but i'm sure there is a plastic saddle out that I would be just as comfortable if not more on... just a matter of trying out different things...

also as mentioned... a good pair of bibs make a big difference.

mrodgers

Someone said wider is not better. Well, softer isn't always better either, opposite of what most folks starting out would think.

I have a soft seat on my old bike from last year. I started late in the summer. 45 minutes until my rear started hurting pretty bad. I rode 580 miles the last 3 months of summer/fall. Never got use to the pain. I rode 45 minutes before it hurt and could only last about an hour and a half until the pain was too much.

I bought a Giant Escape which has a very hard saddle stock compared to what I had last year. I'm at 240 miles on it and ride at least an hour and a half for my usual riding. This weekend, no pain at all. I don't know how long I could go not having shorts, but the pain is now gone.

The difference between the two was, last year's pain on the softer saddle was from the fleshy parts of the rear. Never got use to that. With the Giant and the hard saddle, I could feel I was definitely set down on the sit bones and it hurt for 200 miles until I got use to it. Now, no pain for the amount I ride at one sitting.

SammyJ 

another for Brooks B17

JT Burkard

I did some adjustments to the angle and position of my saddle on my road bike. That alone helped greatly. I think the best thing I did was a pair of cycling shorts. I am not a fan of the look of the bib's so the ones I have look like regular cargo pants with the built in padding. World of difference in comfort and I don't feel weird wearing tights. At 260lbs I would probably look like a sausage on two wheels if I rode in a full kit.

ChiefTJS

I bought a Serfas RX for my Hybrid and after a few rides I liked it so much that I bought another one for my cross bike. Geometry is totally different but the same seat works perfectly for me on both. Serfas has a 90 day comfort guarantee so if it doesn't work you're not stuck with it. The bike shop said they've never had one brought back.

jeff556

If you have a bike shop that sells Specialized bikes in the area you may want to swing by see if they have an assometer you can use. Knowing how wide your sit bones are can help narrow the range of saddles to chose from.

I have very wide sit bones. I'm currently riding on a Selle SMP Plus and love it.

WrightVanCleve

Serfas Rx. Never looked back after I tried one of these.

Sullalto

Chalk up another for the b-17, but I also endorse the 'Imperial' perineal cutout.

I've heard good this about the sprung versions as well.

Dave Cutter

Patience... and a new saddle.

I can't think of any other activity that effectively toughens-up the sit bone area that is used for cycling. It is normal to have a sore butt when beginning cycling. Depending on how much/often your bicycle... the soreness can last some weeks.

The manufactures know they can't possibly predict what saddle will work best with whoever buys any particular bicycle. So... don't expect the "stock seat" to be of particularly high quality.... or anywhere close to being best for your bottom.