Bike Seat Comfort

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

When time comes for bike seat selections,
Deciding among wide collections,
The thing you must do,
To find what fits you,
Is RIDE, not just eyeball inspections.

Have you struggled with bike seat comfort?

This is the year for a new bike seat for me.
Catalogs call them bike "saddles.”

Having grown up in Wyoming where
Saddles were on the backs of horses,
For me, bikes have seats.

What you sit on while you pedal
Is important.

Miles of pedaling.
Translate those to hours of sitting,
Means a bike seat that is comfortable
Can make the difference between
Riding your bike
Or leaving it parked as monument to
What you could be doing if your
Bike seat were comfortable.

For ten or fifteen years,
My "Butterfly Century Saddle" from
Terry Cycling has been on my bike.

It's a well designed bike seat.

New for me, and now on my bike:
Terry's Corta Saddle.
Design slightly different
With a wider cut-out.

Old seat on left, new on right

Best way of testing out a bike seat
Is to put it on the bike and ride
Daily for the length of your long ride days,
For consecutive days—about five.
By that time, you will know if seat matches you.

This works if your "backside" is used to biking.
If new-to-this, a more moderate approach is good.
Still, absolutely, ride to get the feel of that seat.

My consecutive multi-day riding
Hasn't worked out for this time.
Ride time has been a little squeezed
With household chores, usually shared,
Coming mostly to me right now.

Still, I've tested this Corta Saddle enough
To know it's a design improvement for me
In my current ride life and age.
It is staying on my bike.

Beautiful day for a ride! Spring is all around me!

Questions about bike seat comfort
Are ones I most often hear
When I've given a talk about my bike journeys.
I know it can make or break the fun of biking.

If your seat is a problem,
Read about what to notice for fit.
Go to your bike store and ask for help.

Be sure you can return the seat
If it is uncomfortable.

Bike store folks want to put you with what works for you.
They want you riding.

May you enjoy your ride.

Hugs,
Lin

... Oh ...

P.S. Terry Cycling website has a category for
"How to pick the right bike saddle.”
That's a start.

Fresh, soft green of spring.. Lovely!

Lin Bruce

Lin McLaughlin Bruce uses stories of her cross-country bicycle adventures post age 60 to inspire and encourage people to reach beyond perceived limitations. In her words, "It's never too late to say 'yes' to bigger things!"

Jill R. Swanson - May 7, 2025

This was good to know – I have an open bottom seat, but not nearly as open as your new one 🙂 I also bought a special seat for my husband (who has not used it yet) made more specifically for men called the “V- Seat” so it doesn’t add pressure where it could be a problem and it has some sort of “sticky” substance that keeps you from sliding off of it. I still prefer my padded seat with the opening 🙂 Also like the larger style seats since I’m not a ‘long distance’ rider.

So my next big challenge is finding a rack for my ebikes — the bikes are heavy and I’m finding out that so are the racks. Been watching many videos on this – and know I want ramps – there are many good ones out there and many pros and cons to each. Any insight here Lin?

Lin Bruce - May 7, 2025

Jill, there are so many seat options and all of us have different body shapes, body weight, ride needs.
I’ll go back to suggesting that the person who will be riding on that seat go to a bike store staffed with people who ride.
The buyer might even ask the salesperson if they have ridden on that particular seat.

Buy being assured and clear that the seat can be returned if it isn’t comfortable. Tell the salesperson that is your intent, because you are confident they can help you find what works. Let the salesperson know you appreciate their experience as bikers,
(does your salesperson bike?) . That biking salesperson will “get it” that having the right seat makes you a happy customer. If one seat doesn’t work, some other configuration, or brand may be great.

Then put that seat on your bike and ride. That is the deciding factor…. how does it feel when you sit on the seat and ride.

There are adjustments, “tweaks” really, about position of the seat itself that can make it more comfortable, e.g. a quarter inch forward, leveling out how the seat is mounted, slightly up or down of the seat post. It can mean some repeated trips to store for suggestions and help. That is Very worthwhile.

Re, ebike racks…. I have no experience. You are absolutely right. Heavy bikes, heavy racks.

Good luck on all this. While I can’t comment on ebike racks needs, I do believe we can get help with bike seats.