J.R.
Well-Known Member
- Region
- USA
- City
- Piedmont Highlands
Saddles are where the phrase less is more makes a lot of sense. When soft foam seats hit the market a few years ago I tried one thinking it may be nice. It was painful! If your riding very short distances a couple times a week, a large, soft saddle may be comfortable for you. If you're riding 10, 20, 30 miles several times a week, a large, soft saddle can be painful and dangerous to your health.
There have been many, many studies into bicycle saddles and they've all come to the same conclusion; a proper fitting firm saddle is your best defense against pain. A saddle has to be firm enough for your sit bones to raise your perineum off the saddle to minimize pressure and a saddle can't be so large and soft to put pressure on the nerves at the base of your spine.
Your sit bones are essentially the base of your pelvic bone, the massive bone structure that encompasses the hips and base of the spine. I know that's a simplistic description (not a doctor) but it works with regard to cycling. That base (sit-bones) is able to support you very well and will hold your body up keeping pressure from creating nerve pain. That nerve pain can do bizarre things like pain, tingling and numbness in your extremities. Hands, fingers, feet and toes... and yes men that extremity too! With time it can cause permanent damage.
This post is meant to help, not criticize any personal choice. If it's working for you cool, but read up on the subject, it's well worth your time. Brooks saddles have been around for more than a hundred years for two reasons, yeah they look cool... but they work! Other saddles that work well and cost a whole lot less than Brooks are Serfas Rx and Velo Plush.
I personally like the split or imperial saddles, they eliminate any pressure on the perineum and they allow air flow to keep you dry. I currently own Serfas, Velo and Avenir saddles.
All that being said you need to put time in any saddle to break it and you in. A Brooks leather saddle will take a lot more time to break in than a synthetic saddle but the Brooks will outlast most all other saddles by decades in most cases if taken care of. Saddles, pedals and grips are very personal cycling accessories, there's no one size fits all.
I hope this is helpful, let me know
There have been many, many studies into bicycle saddles and they've all come to the same conclusion; a proper fitting firm saddle is your best defense against pain. A saddle has to be firm enough for your sit bones to raise your perineum off the saddle to minimize pressure and a saddle can't be so large and soft to put pressure on the nerves at the base of your spine.
Your sit bones are essentially the base of your pelvic bone, the massive bone structure that encompasses the hips and base of the spine. I know that's a simplistic description (not a doctor) but it works with regard to cycling. That base (sit-bones) is able to support you very well and will hold your body up keeping pressure from creating nerve pain. That nerve pain can do bizarre things like pain, tingling and numbness in your extremities. Hands, fingers, feet and toes... and yes men that extremity too! With time it can cause permanent damage.
This post is meant to help, not criticize any personal choice. If it's working for you cool, but read up on the subject, it's well worth your time. Brooks saddles have been around for more than a hundred years for two reasons, yeah they look cool... but they work! Other saddles that work well and cost a whole lot less than Brooks are Serfas Rx and Velo Plush.
I personally like the split or imperial saddles, they eliminate any pressure on the perineum and they allow air flow to keep you dry. I currently own Serfas, Velo and Avenir saddles.
All that being said you need to put time in any saddle to break it and you in. A Brooks leather saddle will take a lot more time to break in than a synthetic saddle but the Brooks will outlast most all other saddles by decades in most cases if taken care of. Saddles, pedals and grips are very personal cycling accessories, there's no one size fits all.
I hope this is helpful, let me know
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