Bicycle Seats: What do you get for your money?

L

Lizard King

New member
Bicycle Seats: What do you get for your money?
At Nashbar and Performance Bike I see saddles for 29.95 and for 259.99. I think a saddle can be very important on long rides and I don’t mind paying a little more. But what do you really get when you pay $100 or $200 dollars for a saddle? Can the gel (or foam) or covering really be different enough to make it feel better after a long ride? I've purchased bikes for less when I was a kid.
 
Good question.

Saddles are made of just about everything, in many shapes, to fit many different rears and riding styles.

Gram weenies will pay big bucks for the lightest saddles they can get. These are usually designed for racing.

Many touring cyclist swear by the hard leather Brooks brand. Many other touring cyclist hate them. Properly cared for, they will last a long time. Properly cared for is the key here. Cost $100-$150.

Velo and others make very good synthetic padded saddles for less than $50 that require no special care. I have a Brooks and a Velo. Both are a pain in the butt after a couple of hours.

About all a fellow can do is try out various saddles 'til he finds the lesser of the evils. Some bike shops may let you try out saddles and return them if they don't work for you.
 
Do you have a pair of padded cycling shorts, if not get a pair they make a huge difference. If you just started ridding a bike your butt will get sore with any saddle until you get use to it. The best ones are just large enough for your sit bones and small enough not to rub your thighs. Gel or foam saddles and covers can be worse then a firm thin saddle on a road bike.
 
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