Choose Your Own Bicycle Saddle
under CyclingMany people like to ask others for advice when choosing a new bicycle saddle but this is always fraught with danger. Bicycle owners tend to become fans of the products that they will have good experiences with and when someone asks cold what the best bicycle saddle is, the answer is obviously going to be the one that a particular person has used.
The problem with this is that a bicycle saddle is a very personal piece of equipment for the bike and is going to suit one person better than the next. Just because my Fizik Arione feels comfortable to me and performs strongly with my riding style doesn’t mean that it will suit anyone else. It particularly won’t suit a newcomer to the sport who is not used to riding and pedalling efficiently.
A saddle that is great for the shorter riding distances around the city streets is a vastly different thing to a long distance saddle. It is also different for climbing and descending. Then there are the varieties of body shapes and the preparedness of one person to put up with some discomfort as their body adapts to a saddle that is a new shape or size.
The best idea is to try out as many saddles as you possibly can before you make a decision. The best person to know whether a saddle is right is the person who will be using it. That means you. Some places allow the prospective customer a chance to test drive their saddles, some on-line stores offer a demo service. Alternatively it may come down to asking your friends or fellow cycling enthusiasts whether you can try out their saddle.
The bottom line is to remember not to take too much stock in the opinions of others regardless of whether they are an authority or not. Use your best judgement and make an informed choice.

