Bicycle Seat Reviews » FAQ

How do I patch a rip on a bicycle seat?

Hammer — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:22:51 +0000

Gary Lee asked:

There is a small C shaped tear on the top of my vinyl bicycle seat. It probably measures about 1 1/2 to 2 inches long and I want to stop it from getting any larger. How can I patch this? I have never had this issue before and I live in a very remote town without any kind of bike shop. TIA!

Bike Seat Reviews

Our Answer

I am not sure on this one, but I know they sell vinyl patch repair kits at automotive stores. I don't know how well they would hold up with the body weight working on it all the time. Maybe someone else has a better idea?

I think the real fix is to probably pony up a few bucks and buy a replacement bike saddle. That's the proper way to fix it.

How High Should I adjust the height on my bike seat?

Hammer — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 16:09:18 +0000

Sarah asked:

What is the optimal height that I should place my bike seat? I seem to be struggling with bike fit and can't get a good feel for this. My bike is a Road bike

Our Answer

Traditionally you should adjust your seat height so that your leg is ALMOST vertical when your foot is at the bottom of it's rotation. You should have a slight bend to your knee, but not very much. This is assuming that the rest of your bike fit is correct. This video should give you a better idea of what it would look like, the concept is similar for a mountain bike but some will prefer more of a bend on a mtn bike.

Why do bicycle seats hurt my butt?

Hammer — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:38:28 +0000

Jose asked:

I am trying to get into the sport of cycling to get in better shape. I have been riding my bicycle for about two weeks now a few nights a week but I am having a hard time keeping myself motivated to ride my bicycle because of the pain.

My butt gets so sore that I almost can't bear the thought of getting on that bike again. Am I doing something wrong or can you recommend some bicycle seats that won't cause me so much pain?

What are some good bicycle seats for someone like me?

Our Answer

Jose thanks for asking and congratulations on taking up the sport of cycling. It's a great sport and can be very rewarding if you stick with it.

Your question is a very common one that beginning riders often ask so take comfort that you are not alone in your pain. I have a few suggestions for you that you may take into account.

Cycling Shorts - Many new riders refuse to wear cycling shorts because they are paranoid about the spandex look...and I understand, especially if you aren't in the best shape currently. You can wear a good pair of cycling shorts and then a pair of gym shorts over them if you choose. The cycling shorts have a thick pad in the butt that is designed to keep you comfortable. They are also designed with no seams to chafe on your butt or legs which is another positive. Gym shorts over doesn't create an ideal situation but it's waaaay better than not using cycling shorts....I assure you. I like Pearl Izumi if you want a brand recommendation. They are good quality but won't break the bank. Try a pair and you will understand...that alone could cure your problem.
Saddle Fitment - The other issue with bicycle seat pain is whether or not you have the right type of saddle or the right size saddle. You can check out our article on Selecting the Right Bicycle Seat to see if your saddle style matches your type of bike and the type of riding you do. If it does, then you need to look at the fit of the saddle. You need to match your saddle to your sitbones. It's pretty easy to do and that article also discusses how you can measure your sit bones.
Saddle Quality - Once you know the size of the saddle then you need to match your size to a high quality bicycle saddle. If you are a man then you typically will need about a 145 mm saddle and a woman is typically a bit wider at 155 mm or even more. Women naturally tend to have wider sit bones. If I were to make a recommendation to you on a particular saddle I would recommend the Selle Italia Lady for the women and the Selle Italia Max Flite for the men. Both of these are excellent quality saddles that are well made and combined with cycling shorts and the proper fit should allow you to ride as far as you want.
Experience - Last but not least you need to ride. The more miles you ride then the more conditioned your body will become. Be aware though that as you get to be a better rider, you will find yourself moving around on the saddle more and this is good practice. You should actually make it a practice to do so as what this does is it will temporarily relieve pressure on the hot spots and get blood flowing again as necessary. You should find yourself able to ride much further quite quickly if you follow my advice.

Good luck and I hope you stick with the sport. It's a great one. Below are two examples of excellent bike saddles for beginning riders for both Men and Women.

Seats For Men

Selle Italia Max Flite for the Men

Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow Saddle Black 10 NEW
US $119.95

Selle Italia MAX Flite Gel Saddle in White xlnt
US $85.30

SELLE ITALIA MAX FLITE GEL FLOW SADDLE TEAM EDITION
US $154.99

SELLE ITALIA MAX FLITE 09 GEL FLOW WHT BIKE SADDLE SEAT
US $56.00

Selle Italia Split Max Flite Gel Flow Seat Saddle
US $80.00

SELLE ITALIA MAX FLITE 09 GEL FLOW BLK BIKE SADDLE SEAT
US $109.99

Seats For Women

Selle Italia Lady for the Women

Selle Italia Lady Diva Gel Flow Saddle Black 10 NEW
US $109.95

Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow Saddle
US $39.95

SELLE ITALIA SLR LADY GEL FLOW BLACK BIKE SADDLE SEAT
US $89.99

SELLE ITALIA SLR LADY GEL FLOW WHITE BIKE SADDLE SEAT
US $129.99

Selle Italia Lady Sport Gel Flow Saddle Black NEW
US $79.95

2009 Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow Saddle
US $20.50

Recommend Some Good Bicycle Seats?

Hammer — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:36:54 +0000

Rachel asked:

My husband and I have recently purchased a couple of new mountain bikes to get some exercise with. We love to ride but right now after about 15-20 minutes, our butts are hurting so bad that it is making this sport no fun.

I have been reading on the internet and I know a little bit about the issue, I have read about sit bones and we have measured them and we think we're pretty close. He is measuring at approximately 140 mm and I am measuring about 150-160 mm. Do you have any seat suggestions for us so that we can get it right the first time, ok the second time. We already tried the big squishy seats and they were even worse than the stock seat. We don't want to spend any more money on new bicycle seats than we have to and hope you can help us.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Our Answer

Rachel...thanks for the email and the question. You are pretty advanced compared to most people that write us and ask for bicycle saddle advice. In most cases they need to measure their widths and haven't even heard of sit bones so cudos to you for doing some research.

Also nice job on learning that "squishy" is bad. Those types of seats always appeal to new riders but they are horrible as far as comfort goes if you ride longer than 15-20 minutes. Not a good investment at all.

As for saddles...the world is your oyster...I have a few favorites that I recommend often and that would be the Selle Italia Lady for women and the Selle Italia Max-Flite for men. Your husbands sit bones are moderately narrow so he can really use almost anything. The Max Flite is traditionally for those with slightly wider sit bones than normal.

So for him I would go to my all time favorite series of saddles ever and that is the Specialized line....and in his case I would go with the Specialized Toupe. It's an awesome saddle and Specialized really has their junk together when it comes to bicycle saddle design. Hope you like em.....here's some deals on both...the Toupe on top and the Lady down below.

Specialized Toupe Saddles

SPECIALIZED TOUPE 143 TEAM ISSUE SEAT SADDLE WHITE
US $127.50

NEW Specialized Toupe BG S Works titanium road seat 130
US $99.99

Specialized Toupe seat
US $13.11

Specialized Toupe Team Saddle 130 width Ti Rails
US $90.00

SPECIALIZED TOUPE Ti143 ROAD BIKE SADDLE
US $72.00

SPECIALIZED TOUPE TEAM ISSUE SOLID TITANIUM SADDLE 155
US $112.50

Specialized Toupe Bike Seat White Red
US $15.99

New Specialized Toupe Ti 130 Saddle
US $57.75

Specialized Toupe Gel 143mm Saddle
US $50.00

Specialized Body Geometry Toupe Saddle
US $7.50

Specialized Toupe Gel Saddle Black 143 Titanium Ti
US $41.00

White Red Specialized Toupe 143 FREE SHIPPING
US $41.75

Selle Italia Lady Saddles

Selle Italia Lady Diva Gel Flow Saddle Black 10 NEW
US $109.95

Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow Saddle
US $39.95

SELLE ITALIA SLR LADY GEL FLOW BLACK BIKE SADDLE SEAT
US $89.99

SELLE ITALIA SLR LADY GEL FLOW WHITE BIKE SADDLE SEAT
US $129.99

Selle Italia Lady Sport Gel Flow Saddle Black NEW
US $79.95

2009 Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow Saddle
US $20.50

SELLE ITALIA LADY SPORT GEL FLOW SADDLE WHITE NEW
US $89.95

SELLE ITALIA LADY SPORT GEL FLOW SADDLE BLACK NEW
US $89.95

Selle Italia Lady Gelflow Blue Saddle CroMo rails Blue
US $78.04

Erection problems from Cycling?

Hammer — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 23:24:21 +0000

Ted asked:

I noticed a few months ago that I began having a bit of a problem getting an erection. This hasn't happened to me in the past and I am concerned. One of the guys in my group ride suggested that it could be my saddle.

Is this a common problem? Is there a saddle that will be better than others? Obviously this is a big deal to me so any help you can give is appreciated and I will be grateful if you can point me in the right direction.

Our Answer

Ted, thanks for the question and we understand as this would be a big problem for almost any male. It would be difficult for me, and I won't even try, to diagnose your issue with the information you provided and I am certainly no doctor. The first thing I would do if I were you is visit your doctor and see what they have to say.

You neglected to give us enough information to give you much more advice than that as you didn't mention your age or anything going on in your life that might also be the culprit so we will have to make some assumptions that you are otherwise healthy.

A common side effect of cycling can be issues in the perineum or the groin. Cycling can affect the blood flow through some rather large veins in the groin area. I suffered from this issue for a while before I found a saddle that worked for me. I never had erectile issues but I did suffer from numbness in my groin after riding. Many saddles offer an anatomical cutout in the groin area that is designed to relieve pressure on these veins.

It's tricky though as even some saddles with this cutout didn't work for me, so some are designed better than others. The saddle that worked for me was a Specialized Alias and I also have experience with the Selle Italia Max Flite on one of my other road bikes. Both of these saddles worked well for me and the numbness stopped immediately. Some riders have also reported great results with one of the "nose-less" saddles like the Ergo seat. I think it probably depends on how severe your condition is and your personal preferences as to how you proceed.

Good luck and don't forget to visit the doctor.

Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow Saddle Black 10 NEW
US $119.95

Selle Italia MAX Flite Gel Saddle in White xlnt
US $85.30

SELLE ITALIA MAX FLITE GEL FLOW SADDLE TEAM EDITION
US $154.99

SPECIALIZED Alias Saddle white143mm
US $159.99

SPECIALIZED Alias Saddle white130mm
US $159.99

Specialized Alias 143 TI Road Mountain Bike Saddle Seat
US $20.50

Cycling Help or Hurt my Running Ability?

Hammer — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 03:26:05 +0000

Nicki asked:

I am a cross country runner at heart and I am trying to plan an off season work out that I can do to supplement and improve my running. My normal summer time workout consists of approximately 30+ miles a week and I also weight train 3 days a week.

I have really considered adding cycling to my workout regimen to mix it up and make sure I am in the best shape I can be.

How, if any, would this affect my running?

Our Answer

Nicki....I wish I could answer your question better than I can but the only time I run is if someone is chasing me. I don't enjoy that sport in the slightest and really can't add anything other than speculation.

I would have to guess that cycling would not improve your running in any way other than maybe your cardio but running alone should do that. It might help break up the boredom and strain of daily training and doing the same thing over and over but I, again, am only speculating.

Maybe one of our readers will have more to offer....

Losing muscle in my upper body from cycling?

Hammer — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:00:51 +0000

Shane asked:

Ok here is my question.....I have been cycling for about six months now and ride about 20 miles a day during the week and 40 to 50 miles on Saturdays. I've lost 68 pounds of fat but I've noticed that my upper body muscle mass is disappearing as well. I never lost any muscle in my upper body while I wasn't exercising so why would I be losing it now? My legs on the other hand, are getting super lean and developing a lot of muscle it seems.

I don't want to lose muscle for obvious reasons but I have zero interest in lifting weights, it bores me to tears. So I ask you, what do I do to prevent further muscle loss?

Our Answer

Shane....first congratulations on dropping the tonnage. Your health has no doubt improved dramatically and I am sure you are MUCH faster on the bike now that you aren't hauling all of that mass around...so cudos.

As for your questions.....this is a tough one to answer without knowing a LOT more about you, your exercise regimen and especially your diet. I will offer some vague thoughts on the subject that you can interpret and investigate on your own.

First off you need to consider that you may not be losing muscle in your upper body, you may still be losing fat. A lot of body fat is intramuscular fat, meaning it's almost embedded in the muscle and isn't a "layer" around your muscle like many think. As you continue to lean out then your muscles and your arms may appear to be shrinking. The only real way to know for sure would have been to know your real bodyfat % before you started losing weight. So give this a thought.....again I am only speculating.

Second you might consider your diet....you might not be consuming enough calories for your new exercise regimen. If you've lost most of the fat you want to lose and are still eating in a caloric deficiency then you will be cannibalizing your muscle tissue. An active adult should be consuming a MINIMUM of 2500 ish calories a day in maintenance mode. This number is a rough guess and could fluctuate up and down dramatically from person to person.

If you are serious about your training then I would go have a very thorough body fat analysis done on yourself, not one of the "scales" that measure bodyfat or a skin fold test but a doctor supervised body fat test. This will give you a solid baseline to measure from. At that point then I would start analyzing your diet to make sure you are not only eating enough food but the right food. It's way too complicated to answer here but you can find a lot of information on the web for eating right.

Good Luck and enjoy the ride.

Female Long Distance Bicycle Saddle?

Hammer — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:35:16 +0000

Julie asked: I am having trouble with pain in my butt from my current bicycle saddle. I should clarify that I am not new to the sport of cycling and am actually pretty experienced. I have some great bike shorts, and I have logged several hundred miles in the saddle, so I should be "broken in" by now. I am aware that every person's geometry is different, and that saddles are very individual -- but was hoping for some general recommendations from female cyclists specifically to see what you could have to offer. What are your thoughts? Thanks!

Our Answer

Jenny....congratulations on NOT being a new cyclist....we're sure you should be very proud of yourself....as for your saddle requirements....I can tell you that a NUMBER of women have reported excellent results when changing over to a Brooks style saddle.

The Brooks series of saddles feature a female specific version that will help you in many ways and is constructed of leather. Leather makes an extremely durable, beautiful and comfortable bicycle saddle but you should be warned that many riders report that the saddle takes a few miles to "break in" to their butt while others report comfort from the first ride.

I know of one woman that does the Randoneering events and rides several hundred miles in a short period of time and all she will use is her Brooks B17. These saddles have almost a cult like following and there must be a reason. Be sure to let us know how it works out if you decide to try it but with a gajillion happy women running around on these saddles....you know it has to be good.

Brooks B17 IMPERIAL Saddle BLACK Leather B 17 w Cutout
US $119.99

Brooks B 17 Standard Honey Brand New In Box
US $150.00

Brooks B17 Champion Standard Saddle Black Leather B 17
US $89.99

Brooks B 17 Titanium Racing Green Leather Saddle
US $102.50

Brooks B17 IMPERIAL NARROW Saddle BLACK Leather B 17
US $139.99

Brooks B 17 Special Green with Brass Rails Bike Saddle
US $134.96

Good Female Specific Bicycle Saddle?

Hammer — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:20:59 +0000

Shelly asked:

So I have a new Bianchi bicycle and for the most part it is a great bike, but the saddle is horrible and creates a LOT of pain for me even when only riding 20-30 minutes. I've been riding it a few weeks but it isn't getting any better and I am at the end of patience.

Friends have told me that I should replace it but they all recommend something different and I am confused. I want a comfortable saddle and some say it has to be a gel saddle while others recommend one of those big squishy type of saddles. Others say that these are wrong and that I need a female specific saddle, which I have never heard of, so can you help me with this?

So do I need a gel saddle or do I need a squishy saddle or do I need a female specific geometry saddle? I am confused.

Our Answer: Shelly....this is such a common question on here that sometimes I wonder if I should keep publishing them but your question has a lot of merit and because it's so common, I know the message is not out there yet....but first, run away from the squishy saddles...they are definitely not the answer.

The first thing that I would say is that yes you probably should replace the saddle if you have ridden it for a few weeks and the pain is not getting any better. I am not a doctor but most likely you are trying to ride a saddle that isn't right for your geometry.

What happens a lot, especially with female riders, is that your "sit bones" are narrower than a man on average. Most of the saddles on the market are designed around the male geometry because, well, I don't know why but they just are. So in many, if not most cases, a stock saddle on a bicycle will tend to be too narrow for a woman.

I am making some assumptions here, but I would bet I am right, but without knowing exactly what saddle you have and what your own personal sit bone measurement is, I can't be positive. Again, playing the odds, your saddle is probably too narrow and will always create issues for you.

The solution in most cases is to find a woman's specific saddle for your bicycle. More and more companies are offering saddles targeted at the female geometry. Two of my favorites are Selle Italia and Terry bicycle. Selle Italia offers the Selle Italia Lady and the Selle Italia Diva that are female specific and then the Terry Butterfly is another great saddle option for women.

If you decide this is the route for you then I would highly recommend either of these saddle for most women as a good starting point. They are high quality and come highly recommended from a lot of very satisfied female riders. Check em out and hopefully they are for you.

Terry Butterfly Saddles on Ebay:

Terry Butterfly CrMo rail Womens Bike Saddle
US $39.93

Pink Terry Turban Hat w Small Butterfly Clip Pretty
US $4.99

Terry Butterfly Tri Gel Women Bike Saddle seat NEW
US $49.99

Female Specific Saddle for Beginner?

Hammer — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:26:42 +0000

Angela asked:

I'm a beginning bicycle rider and am a little overwhelmed by the number of bicycle saddle choices out there. I want a comfortable riding saddle that will support my geometry and won't kill my butt. The small thin hard bicycle saddles do not appeal to me at all.....can you recommend a good female specific bicycle saddle. I'm considering the Fizik Arione, Selle Italia Signo, Selle Italia Flite Gel and I am riding a Giant OCR 2 about 50 miles a week for now.

Thanks!

Our Answer:

Welcome to the wonderful world of cycling...it's an amazing sport that can do a lot for both your physical and mental well being.

Now that said, you need to be aware of a few things when choosing your bicycle saddle. The first thing you should do is measure your sit bones and make sure your saddle matches your style of riding. You can check out this article for a quick primer on saddle selection and then make your choices.

I have no personal experience with a Fizik Arione however I have ridden the Selle Italia saddles on a number of occasions and they are fantastic. Well built, quality made, good materials and a reasonable price. The Selle Italia Flite or the Selle Italia Diva make excellent choices depending on your personal geometry.

Selle Italia Diva Gel Women's Bicycle Saddle (Vanox Rails, Black)
List Price: $184.99
Sale Price: $99.99

For those seeking performance without compromising comfort, this is your lightweight dream. Genuine Gel models have silicone gel molded into the saddle for additional comfortStreamlined, lightweight, and comfortableGel Flow models feature a central anatomic cutout and silicone gel molded into the saddle baseItem SpecificationsColorBlackWeight275gWidth160mmLength265mmRailTubular VanoxStyleWomen'sClamp StyleStd Rails

	Selle Italia Diva GelFlow White List Price: $151.22 Sale Price: $136.99
	The result of extensive anatomic study of ladies saddles. Ladies saddles now become more streamlined and shaped to hold the same determination as the most assiduous athletes and riders. Gel Flow gel inserts under sit bones and around cutout...

	Selle Italia Diva Genuine Gel List Price: $170.00 Sale Price: $150.93
	The result of extensive anatomic study of ladies saddles. Ladies saddles now become more streamlined and shaped to hold the same determination as the most assiduous athletes and riders. Gel Flow gel inserts under sit bones and around cutout...