Bicycle Seats

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Serious question - why are bike seats the shape they are and why are the ones for "sporty" bicycles so lacking in comfort?

[weeksy]

Serious question - why are bike seats the shape they are and why are the ones for "sporty" bicycles so lacking in comfort?

Weight is one major thing, i guess optimal pedalling is the other. Thinner, narrower saddles allow your legs to move better i bet.

[Mr Moofo]

I am guessing many years of research, scientific study, CAD design and rider feedback probably have a role to play.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

I am guessing many years of research, scientific study, CAD design and rider feedback probably have a role to play.

Yes, I see that, but why does anything mildly competitive have a seat like a masochistic sex toy, and this has been the case as long as I can remember, I got a brand new Elswick in 1982 and the seat was like a torture implement, and I doubt if Elswick were using CAD then.

Whereas touring bikes get something more suited to the middle aged derriere.

I've invested £8 in a comfort seat for my EMTB as an experiment to see what difference it makes to comfort, control and pedalling, it'll look ridiculous, but I'm old enough to care more about comfort than looks (says the man who bought a car because of the way it looks and won't buy a modern motorcycle because they're ugly)

[Mr Moofo]

After posting my reply I thought " I have never actually found a comfortable saddle!" I currently have a Ergon SM something or other ... but having just does 29k my arse still hurts.
So I retract my sarky remark...
The answers is that many pro cyclists are racing snake thin, weight weenies, who spend outs in the saddle and just toughen up. Lightness in more important than ultimate comfort. I also suspect that on a road bike "arse in the air" crouch, more weight is on your wrists - so less goes down your spine onto the saddle. There is also a shift in the weight balance to the front of the bike .
The only solution , I have found, is a Brooks. It takes time to wear in ... but not strictly partial for winter / Autumn MTB duties when mud will bugger it up.

So buy a Brooks saddle

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Went out for a ride last night, mostly on dirt roads and paths, about 12 miles and I believe my discomfort is caused by chafing as I pedal, I'm developing hard bits of skin on my upper inner thighs (for want of a better description), so a wider seat may make things worse, I'm going to try tipping the front of the seat downwards a bit more and after that moving it back a little, if this doesn't help I may fit the seat of my old Carrera Vengeance as this has a slippery cover and is also a different shape to my Haibike seat, narrower, with more padding at the rear part and a thinner mid section.

I've never though of my self as having narrow hips but it may be that I've got narrower hips than whoever the Haibike was designed for

[weeksy]

Went out for a ride last night, mostly on dirt roads and paths, about 12 miles and I believe my discomfort is caused by chafing as I pedal, I'm developing hard bits of skin on my upper inner thighs (for want of a better description), so a wider seat may make things worse, I'm going to try tipping the front of the seat downwards a bit more and after that moving it back a little, if this doesn't help I may fit the seat of my old Carrera Vengeance as this has a slippery cover and is also a different shape to my Haibike seat, narrower, with more padding at the rear part and a thinner mid section.

I've never though of my self as having narrow hips but it may be that I've got narrower hips than whoever the Haibike was designed for

What shorts are you wearing ?

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

What shorts are you wearing ?

Assuming you interest isn't sexual,just ordinary casual ones, I suspect I need some cycling ones, but I don't like the ones with padding as these feel like I'm cycling with a nappy on, but I'm happy to see suggestions, I went round the local cycle shops on Saturday but didn't really get to have a look because I'm not queueing for an hour to get into a shop.

[weeksy]

What shorts are you wearing ?

Assuming you interest isn't sexual,just ordinary casual ones, I suspect I need some cycling ones, but I don't like the ones with padding as these feel like I'm cycling with a nappy on, but I'm happy to see suggestions, I went round the local cycle shops on Saturday but didn't really get to have a look because I'm not queueing for an hour to get into a shop.

That sir is your answer right there, whether you like them or not, they resolve both the chafing and the comfort issues massively.

[millemille]

What shorts are you wearing ?

Assuming you interest isn't sexual,just ordinary casual ones, I suspect I need some cycling ones, but I don't like the ones with padding as these feel like I'm cycling with a nappy on, but I'm happy to see suggestions, I went round the local cycle shops on Saturday but didn't really get to have a look because I'm not queueing for an hour to get into a shop.

That sir is your answer right there, whether you like them or not, they resolve both the chafing and the comfort issues massively.

This, 100% this...

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

That sir is your answer right there, whether you like them or not, they resolve both the chafing and the comfort issues massively.

Padded or unpadded, I've got a pair of padded ones but riding in those makes it feel worse.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

One shop https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shorts-cycle 16 pages of cycling shorts, what the feck should I buy?
I'm using the bike for exploring dirt tracks and paths btw, not downhill with jumps etc so don't need any protection as I'm only doing 15mph max.

[Mr Moofo]

That sir is your answer right there, whether you like them or not, they resolve both the chafing and the comfort issues massively.

Padded or unpadded, I've got a pair of padded ones but riding in those makes it feel worse.

Serious question - why are bike seats the shape they are and why are the ones for "sporty" bicycles so lacking in comfort?

Endura Humvee, Troy Lee or Nukeproof. See other thread.
Re padding - nobody else can see it, they don't think you jhave a Tena Pad in there - but it makes a whole deal of differences

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Endura Humvee, Troy Lee or Nukeproof. See other thread.
Re padding - nobody else can see it, they don't think you jhave a Tena Pad in there - but it makes a whole deal of differences

I don't care whether people can see it, the fact is it makes the chafing worse because it increases the friction.

[millemille]

Is it possible you've got your saddle set too high, or even too low?

[v8-powered]

Know it's probably a bit of a cop-out but worth going to a dealer and getting your arse measured.

Big comfy squishy seat on our Peloton hurts me after about 30 mins whereas razor blade saddles on all of my other bikes fit well and I can ride for hours without the feeling that I've been violated.....

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Is it possible you've got your saddle set too high, or even too low?

Yes, it could be a little too high, doubt if it's too low as I'm not exactly over endowed with height.
Going to try adjusting the seat tonight, going to drop the front of the seat a bit, as equally it may be the angle of the seat, I know from any testing you should only try one thing at a time

[weeksy]

Is it possible you've got your saddle set too high, or even too low?

Yes, it could be a little too high, doubt if it's too low as I'm not exactly over endowed with height.
Going to try adjusting the seat tonight, going to drop the front of the seat a bit, as equally it may be the angle of the seat, I know from any testing you should only try one thing at a time

You know/googled how to set seat height correctly ?

I'm a little weird in that i run mine lower than figures would say is optimal, but that's how i prefer things.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

Yep, I've had a Google, think it's correct, but it is as low as it will go with that seat post, I have got another seat post that is probably shorter that I could use, the trouble for me with buying bikes is that I'm right on the height recommendation for between small and medium frames, so I've gone medium because in the past I've found small to feel a bit small though if I wanted a bike for downhill I'd probably go small, the bike fits me perfectly apart from this chafing problem, which isn't as big a drama as it's coming across as on here. The problem will be resolved by seat adjustment or a new seat, cycling shorts will definitely help as if I wear my tight underpants the problem is less, just need to find a pair that don't have a huge foam nappy/monkeys butt, I don't mind looking a twat, after 53 years I've got used to being a twat.

[weeksy]

Yep, I've had a Google, think it's correct, but it is as low as it will go with that seat post, I have got another seat post that is probably shorter that I could use, the trouble for me with buying bikes is that I'm right on the height recommendation for between small and medium frames, so I've gone medium because in the past I've found small to feel a bit small though if I wanted a bike for downhill I'd probably go small, the bike fits me perfectly apart from this chafing problem, which isn't as big a drama as it's coming across as on here. The problem will be resolved by seat adjustment or a new seat, cycling shorts will definitely help as if I wear my tight underpants the problem is less, just need to find a pair that don't have a huge foam nappy/monkeys butt, I don't mind looking a twat, after 53 years I've got used to being a twat.

hacksaw, post lowered