If your current saddle is uncomfortable, don’t put up with it! Many people stick with the saddle that came with their bike and beginners often get put off by uncomfortable saddles… That’s why we’re here to explain the 5 things you need to know to choose the perfect road bike saddle! The right saddle can make or break your riding experience, and by understanding these key points, you’ll be able to find one that’s just right for you!
In association with @selleitalia1897 🤝 https://gcn.eu/SelleItalia
00:00 How to Choose the Right Bike Saddle
00:52 Position
03:12 Width
04:15 Shape & The Evolution of Road Bike Saddles
07:01 Cutouts
08:36 Materials
11:42 Those Were Our 5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Saddle!
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43 Comments
What kind of saddle do you use? Why? 🤔
Is there specific info for women’s saddle?
Women's saddles please!
Hi GCN team, how much does rider weight affect saddle choice and comfort? For example, would a 70kg rider experience significantly different comfort compared to a 100kg rider of the same height, using the same saddle?
What?!!! For years.. and a do mean many many years, all bike shop retailers have told me that all saddles with a 'cut-out' are designed for women! WOMEN!!! This is the first time I'm hearing that men can use a cut-out saddle. So what the hell is the TRUTH??????
Why buy and wear bike shorts with a pad in them? Why not put that padding in the saddle so you can just wear regular shorts?
Well… I have one from the 50s or 60s that I got with my bike. I can easily ride 50 kilometers a day with it (I can only recommend that everyone try out a simple, old-fashioned one, which you can get used to for €20, instead of buying these expensive, high-tech saddles).
Pain carbon fibre saddles are just torture devices…went back to padded saddles…no need wasting money on wood like seats.😢 But paid cyclists can use them , not for long durations.
I think, due to their lack of adjustability, saddles must be the most personal thing on a bike. I‘ve only had Selle Italia for +35 years but found the Novus with the cutout which you mentioned terribly uncomfortable and switched back to my solid SLR. Maybe I just have a weird arse 🤷🏻♂️
The trouble with all these saddle choices is the cost of ditching one and trying another, over and over again. Maybe someone would like to start a business that hires saddles for a month so with the option to purchase or to try another design. Any volunteers?
I must of got lucky on an old Giant mountain bike I bought years ago which had a 90's Selle Nox gel saddle on it because it worked so well I never had to take any notice of it the whole time riding a bike. So getting a new bike and needing to change the saddle because straight away it is terrible I get a new version of the Selle gel with the cut out and it still does not compare to the 90's version, so off to ebay I go 😄
"The soft tissues…"
What’s your opinion of the Brooks B17 ?
I don't care how you look at it, that shit ain't got no comfort in it no matter how expensive you make it, or look at it…
ACHO QUE VOCÊ QUIS DIZER COMPRAR SELIM, PORQUE SELA É PRA CAVALO!
4:28 !!!
You haven't said much about point 4. CUTOUT. You said it helps relieve pressure for soft tissues. You could have been more direct in explaining how it actually helps and what the consequences of not having it are. I have to search for a new video just for that now.
Very interesting video. But one question remains: how can I tell by looking at the saddle that it is worn out.
Somehow they have the most uncomfortable saddle in history, the Selle Italia Model X. Is like torture.
I have been bicycling for over 50 years. I probably had over 100 different saddles and the two saddles that I use all the time and are the most comfortable are both from selle italia.
6. Curvature to the sides or flat
I'm an old guy. I started riding SMP a few years ago. I now have an SMP on my road bike, my MTB, and my spin bike. I can't decide what to do with all my old saddles, want an old SLR?
So much chatter and endless “bike fittings” around what is, in fact, a very simple issue: the geometry of road bikes is stupidly designed around the idea of being aerodynamic, for pros. And guess what? The exact same geometry is served both to the pro peloton and to the average Joe. Brilliant. As if there shouldn’t be two distinct designs, one prioritizing comfort for the rest of us, instead of “aero at all costs.” But no, people are idiots and believe they can somehow mimic a pro’s performance by crouching into an aero position. Unfortunately, what they actually end up with is back pain and prostate problems. That’s the level of genius we’re collectively working with, folks.
Just get a Brookes leather if you want comfort regardless of weight. I never believed in them for decades.. then I rode one during Covid.
I just use whatever I can afford off facebook marketplace if im honest.
Natural leather saddles are the best sadles period.
people prefer saddles with cut outs, but if buying a bike online chance it has one is pretty small. I wonder why. Last bike I bought in a regular shop didn't have one either, and they didn't want to change it, ended up with two saddles. By the way, when I mentionned i would like the bike to have 165 mm cranks they looked also annoyed, but luckily the bike had them already installed.
None of these Saddles look they have provisions for my man Plums
Because profits rule these companies. The seat is just something they throw on the bike now, expecting you to replace it with something that won't rub your balls raw and make you feel like somebody kicked you right in the asshole with their steel-toe boots. Now the seats have a damn hole in the middle, because it's less material, and it's genius I guess. Why not just put a soft tube on top of that pole and forget about those "seats". I mean, they're SO yesterday. Compare a 70's banana seat to what they're making today and it's a shame.
Oops, I ate my sadel😢
BiSaddle makes saddles that are adjustable in width at the nose and tail of the saddle so instead of buying and trying multiple saddles you can make adjustments using your 4mm hex key. All their saddles are comprised of two independent halves (you pick the shape, these are called "surfaces") attached to a seat pan (the part with the seat rails) with 4 bolts. This allows the nose and tail of each half to be moved in or out to your preference. Rather than buying and trying multiple saddles take out your 4mm hex key and make an adjustment. If you want a different saddle shape you can buy the "surfaces" separately because the seat pan is universal. I love my BiSaddle and have tweaked it over multiple rides to fit my unique physique.
crazy there new 2025 slr 3d elite uses tubular steel rails which is just slightly cheaper than the slr 3d carbon. It's wild they didn't even opt for titanium in a saddle that is 429 usd.
Iam curious if rain would get stuck in the 3d printed saddle
lacked info on the shape of the rails and what seat post they fit to match .Oval v round .At moment I m using a beam type saddle which only fits a specific seat post made by Race Face but looking for a combo which is lighter
WARNING! Whatever brand you buy, DO NOT BUY SERFAS saddles…unless you're a masochist. Their cheap plastic frames brake for no reason (one of their "top-of-the-line" RX saddles broke on the way home 2 miles from the bike shop!!!!). Not only that, but their steel frames actually snap in the middle without warning – so make sure you're carrying cab fare.
the moan at the start was terrifying..
I'll never not use a very wide and comfortable saddle
Die Musik ist echt beruhigend
It's amazing how Chris Hemsworth loses all his gains when he's off the gear.
@5:55 lol
This is little people saddles nothing is going to work when it has only 1/4" of padding and you have optimal seat post height.. when all of 240 pounds plus at 10% body fat is weighing down on a sit bone nothing but fully padded beach cruiser style saddles are worthy for comfortable multi hour rides without that burn hahah . I can lower my seatpost 2" and lose maybe 50-60 watts and be comfortable on my lightweight ergon procomp and average 13 mph or put my in prime seat height & big thick amazon couch saddle which nets me 15-16 mph average at same watts .. thin ergon which was fitted to me, gives me burn after 30 seconds and wont leave ..
So if the width of your sit bones is 120 what size saddle do you buy you haven't yet mentioned how the size of your sit bound relates to the size of the saddle obviously is it bones don't want to be on the outside edge of the saddle or do they!
I have a wooden seat.