To achieve comfort on a bike seat your bike saddle must match you as a rider. Let’s work out your rider profile so we can help match you to the perfect bike seat.
SMILE when you ride.
The Right Bike Saddle for You
The design of bike saddles has evolved. There are now many different types of bike seats on the market. Variations in size and shape of the saddle, a wide range of technical materials used and differing focus of support and/or cushioning. This precision and development has resulted in a much more comfortable ride but you only get these benefits if you get the right saddle for your body and your riding.
To find the right saddle you need to understand yourself as a rider by defining the following:
- Your bodies riding position – the degree of lean you ride in.
- What your level of riding is or is going to be. Recreation, endurance or performance riding.
- Gender issues – the width of the saddle and space for genitals becomes more important the longer you are on a bike saddle.
- Where you ride.
- Specific discomfort issues you may have
We have called this Your Rider Profile. Once you have completed your rider profile, you can begin to make your saddle choice.Â
Your Rider Profile.
  Body Position on the Bike – Different types of bikes put your body in different riding positions. Bike seats have been designed to have the right support and cushioning in the right areas based on your riding position. From a fully upright rider where the proportion of weight and pressure is absorbed at the rear of the seat to a forward bend riding position where the weight and pressure is transferred more forward on the seat into the soft tissues.
What body position do you spend most of your time in on the bike?Â
Are you an upright rider or do you ride with a forward lean? If yes then how much lean do you have?
- Upright Rider. Minimal lean 90-80degrees
- Slight Forward Lean 80-60 degrees
- Mid Forward Lean 60-40 degrees
- Full Forward Lean 40-15 degrees
Upright Rider
Upright Rider – Riding angle minimal, 90-80 degrees.
Slight Forward Lean
Slight Forward Lean – Riding angle 80-60 degrees.
Mid Forward Lean
Mid Forward Bend – Riding angle 60-40 degrees.
Full Forward Lean
Full Forward Lean – Riding angle 40-15 degrees.
  Your Riding Level
We have categorised our saddles into 3 levels dependent on the riding you do. Determine which group relates to you. Recreation, Endurance, Performance Rider
Recreation Saddles... match to a casual lifestyle rider who enjoys up to an hour ride times. May do regular short commuting/town riding on a bike. Can be a new rider or returning to riding after a long break.
These are soft, supportive saddles.
Endurance Saddles... match to a fitness lifestyle rider. May choose longer rides and/or rides regularly. Your body may be used to or adapting to spending time on a bike saddle. Can be working towards a multi day ride or spending more time on your bike.
These are cushioned, supportive saddles.
Performance Saddles... match to a consistent rider whose body is used to and comfortable spending time on a saddle. Can be a regular commuter, do regular long trainings or working towards long days for a multi-day ride.
These are firm, supportive saddles.
  Gender – Width/Channels – The main difference between a mens and womens saddle is that a womens saddle is generally wider through the rear. This matches to anatomical difference (women often have a wider pelvis than men). However, we are all different and a more accurate way to find your perfect saddle match is to understand the width of your own pelvis. Learn more in our story on Bike Seat Width. The space or room for genitals will also be different between a mens and womens saddle so if you have any issues towards the front of your body you will need to have a channel or cutout in the right place. See section 5 for help with Soft Tissue Compression.
  Where you ride – What places do you enjoy and plan to ride in?
- Town – riding in urban environments on smooth sealed surfaces often for transport or commuting
- Bike Path – smooth sealed biking paths
- Trails – Gravel/Country Roads – trails that are not sealed and are bumpy to ride on
- MTB – Mountain Biking/Backcountry, off road trails that have varied and often narrow (singletrack) terrain including tree roots and rocks.
- Road – On road, sealed surfaces, training and distance
  Comfort Focus – Do you feel discomfort in a certain area of your body when you ride. The most common complaints are:
- Sit Bone Discomfort
- Tail Bone Discomfort
- Soft Tissue Compression at the front of your body
- Chafing – Inner Leg
There can be several reasons for discomfort on a saddle and you may feel more than one of these areas when you ride. The design or features of a saddle will focus on solving certain discomforts.
Make your saddle choice…
With the information gained from Your Rider Profile visit the Saddle Page that matches saddles to the information outlined in your Rider Profile
goRide, your Bike Seat Comfort Specialists
Having some support to guide you in your Bike Seat Comfort journey can make all the difference to your riding and your riding enjoyment. Have an online Bike Seat Comfort Consultation. Simple online one on one support provided by women who understand. Take a step and Click the button to learn more.
Your bike riding success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.
Stories & support
Full range of comfort on the bike seat stories on one easy to navigate page.
How to Break a New Saddle In
Your body needs to adjust to a new saddle… do not expect to get a new saddle and immediately be able to go for long rides.
How to Adjust your Bike Saddle
Learn how to make minor adjustments to the position of your bike saddle so you improve your comfort on your bike seat.
A Gel Cover or Not?
Learn how to use a Bike Seat Gel Cover and understand if it is a comfort solution for you?
Guide to Riding for Longer
A fantastic goal to have is to be able to ride for longer…there are so many benefits and it opens up what you could achieve on a bike.
Padded Bike Pants
Should you be wearing padded bike pants or padded bike underwear to help with comfort on your bike seat?
Bike Seat Sweet Spot
The position of your saddle can effect your comfort when you ride. Learn about saddle position.
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