Can you recommend a comfortable, inexpensive bike seat?

Question

I have a mountain bike with a cheap seat and my butt HURTS after I ride. Feels like it's bruised.

I know how to adjust my seat, thank you very much.

Answer 1

There's no reason a cheap seat has to leave you sore. There are two things to consider:

1) Even a cheap saddle can be set up to be reasonably comfortable, based on the height and angle.
- height - with the ball of your foot on the pedal, and the pedal at the bottom of the stroke, you should have a slight bend to the knee
- angle - this will take some experimenting, but if your butt ('sit bones') is sore after riding, angle the front of the saddle slightly up. If your crotch is sore, tilt the nose down slightly.

B) Your butt takes time to get used to sitting on a bike seat. The best seat in the world will leave you sore until you get used to riding. Take for example the seats that professional riders use. They typically weigh less than half a pound and have only a minimal amount of padding. The reason these riders can ride the same seat, 6 hours a day for three weeks of a grand tour is that they train every day and get used to it. In fact, for time trialing many racers use thin hard saddles with NO padding like this carbon fiber model from Selle Italia:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2006/tech/shows/?id=/photos/2006/tech/shows/eicma06/eicma0611/EMil06-SelleItalia1

However, there's nothing wrong with getting a newer saddle. Go to www.performancebike.com or www.nashbar.com for a good selection and price.

Lastly, get a good pair of cycling shorts. There are womens and mens shorts. They are in fact cut differently so don't think you can get a mens pair and not have problems. Nashbar and performance both have pretty good womens clothing to choose from.

Answer 2

Try the Planet Bike ARS or a Serfas seat for affordable seats. You want firm cushioning...too soft and your butt goes numb. Like the other person said...saddles are a personal thing....otherwise why can those pro racers ride hundred miles a day on a skinny saddle with hardly any padding.

Also invest in a good set of padded shorts. They say if you ride regularly your butt will get used to saddle and it'll hurt less. If you only ride once a month, your butt will probably always hurt after a long ride, because you are not letting your butt adjust. Happy riding.

Answer 3

Buell is into chapter 11 enterprise. 250 ninja sturdy for smaller human beings. recommend Suzuki S40 side highway or the S65 variety. gentle yet sturdy torque- meets your velocity requirement yet would not exceed it by way of lots. A 5 year previous Honda or different cycle may well be a sturdy first bike on time-honored concepts- it gets beat somewhat. The previous 550 cycles have been a sturdy highway motorcycles- I had a 550 Suzi for artwork bike as commerce to Goldwing, cousin has it now. cutting-edge CM400 coach can do 100mph - besides the shown fact that that's somewhat small for you- a 5'3" woman is gaining knowledge of on it. comparable fashions with finished top seats exist around 500cc. ** the different poster recommending hotrod cycles would get you killed in first week of using- i'm suggesting undemanding to verify and journey for newbie cycles as you asked. i does no longer propose better than a prior 750 Honda for first bike . in case you prefer a Harley- the 883 Sportster has a sturdy rep for ease of using. I had a pair in early years using 1970's yet i might ridden T500 Suzuki and 1954 FL Harley earlier 1968 sporty. the belief is to stay to journey, no longer have a astounding crash**.

Answer 4

Bike saddles don't have to be very expensive. The one I have on my road bike cost around $30-35 and I actually took it off my old bike when I sold it and swapped the new seat from new bike onto the old bike because I like it so much.

Bike saddles are very personal. Go to the bike shop and see what works for you. Sometimes they'll let you briefly road test a few before you buy.

Answer 5

The sooner you discover Performance Bike Shop and Bike Nashbar the happier you will be.

Everything you will ever need at the best prices, and on-line too.

BTW - Terry makes good woman specific seats.

Answer 6

shortcut: My wife and I find people with our size and shape and ask them about their favorite saddles .

Then go to their shop and try one out. Most good shops will let you swap seats till you get one that likes you, as long as they are still like new.

I have an old Brooks B17 hard leather that I rode when younger, it now graces the wall. Tastes, preferences and butts change.

so should saddles.

(I just bought the new "no nose" ergo saddle from Nashbar, will try that soon)