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You love to ride, but after a few kilometres your backside is in agony? You're not alone. The saddle is one of the most important contact points between you and your bike, and a poor choice can turn a beautiful outing into torture. The good news is that with the right criteria, you can say goodbye to pain and rediscover the pleasure of pedalling.
Contrary to popular belief, a comfortable saddle isn't necessarily the widest or the most padded. Comfort depends mostly on your body shape, your position on the bike and the type of riding you do. In this guide, we explain how to choose your bike saddle for pain-free riding, whether you're a Sunday cyclist or a fan of long rides.
The saddle supports a large part of your weight, and it's what determines whether your outing will be pleasant or painful. A poorly suited saddle can cause numbness, irritation, even persistent pain. Conversely, a well-chosen saddle is almost forgotten.
The secret to a good saddle is that it supports your sit bones, those two bones at the base of your pelvis that you sit on. If the saddle is too narrow, your sit bones hang off the edge and all your weight rests on soft tissue, which causes pain. Too wide, and it causes chafing on the inner thighs.
Measuring your sit bone spacing is the first step, well before thinking about padding.
There's a saddle for every type of riding and every kind of cyclist. Here are the main families to know.
The right type depends on your posture: the more you lean forward, the more comfortable a narrow saddle will be.
People often think a very soft saddle will be more comfortable. That's false for long distances. Excessive padding creates pressure on soft tissue and ends up causing numbness. For extended outings, a firmer saddle that supports the sit bones well is preferable.
A comfortable saddle isn't a soft saddle: it's a saddle that places your weight in the right spot.
For short city trips in an upright position, however, a bit of gel can be pleasant.
Even the best saddle in the world will hurt if it's poorly adjusted. Three adjustments are essential.
To set your position properly, start by knowing the right frame size. Our bike size calculator helps you find the frame suited to your body, which then makes all the adjustments easier.
Much pain comes from mistakes that are easy to correct. Before blaming your saddle, check these classic points.
The price of a saddle varies enormously, but paying more doesn't guarantee more comfort if the shape doesn't suit your anatomy.
A new saddle, especially a leather one, requires a break-in period. Your glute muscles also need to get used to it. Don't judge a saddle after a single outing.
If you still have pain despite everything, here are a few leads depending on the type of pain.
Don't hesitate to try several models. Many shops offer trial programs or saddles to test.
The ideal saddle also depends on the kind of bike you use and the terrain you ride on in Quebec. Here's how to adjust your choice.
A saddle lasts for years, but it eventually wears out. A few simple habits extend its life and preserve your comfort.
Choosing a comfortable bike saddle is a personal matter that depends on your body shape, your position and your riding. Measure your sit bones, choose the right type, adjust it correctly and give yourself time to adapt. Comfort will come.
For good advice and to try different models, nothing beats a visit to a specialist. Check out our list of bike shops in Quebec to find a store near you. And to go further on adjusting your bike, take a look at our complete cyclist's guide.
If you feel pain on the bones (sit bones), it's probably too narrow. If you have chafing on the inner thighs, it's too wide. The ideal is to measure your sit bone spacing at a shop to choose the right width.
For short trips in an upright position, yes. But for long distances, a saddle that's too soft creates pressure on soft tissue and causes numbness. A firmer saddle that supports the sit bones is often more comfortable over the long haul.
Expect a few outings, even two to three weeks of regular riding. Your glute muscles and the saddle need time to adapt. Wearing padded shorts with a chamois greatly speeds up the break-in.
Not necessarily, but saddles labelled "women's" are often wider at the back to accommodate a wider pelvis and have a central cutout. The important thing is still to choose according to your own anatomy, regardless of the label.
They help reduce chafing and moisture, but they don't correct a saddle of the wrong width or one that's poorly adjusted. The shorts and the saddle work together: start by choosing your saddle well, then add good padded shorts with a chamois.