Finding the Right Saddle

There are a lot of ways to upgrade a bike. While having a carbon frame, expensive components, aero wheels, even titanium bolts is all good and fun, nothing can be as helpful as finding the right saddle. I would argue that it is one of the most important additions a rider can make.

In this market of faster, lighter, better, comfort is often left on the bench. However, if your body is having to compensate for a strenuous position, muscles that could be working for the pedals are spending all their time just keeping you upright.

The safe zone
This is going to get pretty technical fast but don't worry, there are pictures!
There are areas of your hips designed to support your upper body weight. If you are spreading your weight on other areas it is causing loss of blood flow in REAL important inner thigh sections that nobody wants to hurt.
To make sure this doesn't happen a rider needs to be sitting on their ischial tuberosities (your sit bones) or the lower curve known either as the the inferior pubic rami or psoas. (right in front of your sit bones).
Stay away from the pubic arch. It is not designed to hold weight. Plus, if you back out from bone structure and take a look at anatomy, I doubt anybody wants to be sitting on that area.

Below is the picture I promised. The ischial tuberosity and inferior pubic ramus good, pubic arch bad!

Listen to Your Body
Find out where your pelvis is planting itself. There are 2 ways to do this.
1. Get a fit by somebody who holds comfort as a tool for effective biking and has an array of saddle options. (the Body Geometry fit method is known for taking such an approach. To find somebody close to you, click here)
2. Find a test program for every saddle you are interested in. Pair it with a good bit of research and riding time. Then listen to your body on each ride.

Some Great Options
Specialized saddles are always a good place to start. Their saddles guarantee 70% blood flow the entire ride. Their road saddles focus on the iscial tuberocities while the new aero position specific Sitero saddle works on the lower pelvic ridges for a more forward position.

The Specialized Romin Evo and Sitero

For more information about the Specialized Saddles, click here

Selle SMP has been making medically backed saddles for a long time. Still basing their position on the bone structure, SMP's cradle the hips, using both iscial tuberocities and lower pubic ramus. There is a good amount of adjustment and it will allow more hip rotation. This takes some of the responsibility of creating a forward-leaning position from the spine to the hips.

The Selle SMP Glider

ISM Adamo saddles seem to be the solution for a lot of riders. With their horse shoe-ish shape, they take away direct pressure to the perinium. Like the Selle SMP's, these saddles are especially helpful for people that want/need a more aggressive position than their flexibility will allow.

The ISM Adamo Road

For more information about these saddles, click here

While this upgrade to your bike may not make it look any flashier, or come with as much carbon as you want, it will help you look better while riding. Because your body has a comfortable place to rest, your muscles can focus on moving the bike forward, rather than keeping you upright. This translates to more power in the pedals and a faster rider. You can throw as much money as you want at the bike, make things lighter and stiffer but you may have that extra advantage right between your legs.