WHAT'S THE BEST SADDLE FOR CYCLING?

Dan and I decided to answer some bike fit questions that I have been asked on Instagram, this one, about what is the BEST saddle for you.
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[@joystation1]

I always doubted that getting a saddle with the "correct" sit-bone width was a crucial element in saddle comfort since many brands claim their saddle "model X" with no width options will suit all backsides. At last, a bike-fit expert spills the beans that for the majority of cyclists, sit-bone width is immaterial and explains why.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Thanks for watching! I believe Dan explains it incredibly well too!

[@LittleJulio.]

Brilliantly explained. I watch a lot, a lot lot of bike fit vids and finally someone literally shows how it all comes together.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Dan is absolutely fantastic

[@ashurany]

Seriously. The best explanation I've ever seen.

[@markjthomson]

Very useful words. Yes, a saddle should be something you are not aware of when riding!

[@ChrisHallRides]

Absolutely!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Very good information here. Glad to hear a lot of common sense here and not just by the numbers. Take care, Al

[@ChrisHallRides]

Thanks 👍 Glad to hear you found it useful :)

[@nickcarolan2805]

It's always great to get this type of information. It helps when choosing a saddle . Especially for clearing up the sit bone scenario. 👍🇮🇪

[@ChrisHallRides]

Glad it was helpful!

[@irondistance4313]

More wisdom from the bike fit guru. Thanks Chris and Dan

[@ChrisHallRides]

Our pleasure!

[@christopherhood9241]

Great video Chris into the mind field of saddles where everyone has an option !

[@ChrisHallRides]

Couldn't agree more

[@Brian.Gregorio]

These were my exact same issues that I had when I got fitted for my bike also, that hip discrepancy of leaning more to one side was very interesting as I would have never known!

[@ChrisHallRides]

Bike fitters are very clever!

[@rr6013]

Rider of 25 yrs… so developed seat. This tells you that the saddle choice after 10,000 miles differs from a rider in their 4th yr on the bike. I was shocked to learn that padding moves underneath you. A switch to a carbon SLR saddle with zero padding, no leather cover was a game changer. Use the padding in your bike short, not the saddle. Adjust to your bike fit for max. leg power extension. the reduction of padding enables the hip to drop and rotate freely.

[@ChrisHallRides]

I definitely couldn’t ever ride a solid carbon saddle. I’ve tested it amongst many options. Everyone is individual so I’m glad you’ve found something that works for you

[@JamesSocialCycling]

I always used the Specialized Toupe expert on both my Road and Gravel bike, until both broke and can’t understand why Spesh stopped making them. Now not entirely happy with a Bontrager Saddle… DAMN YOU SPECIALIZED! Always like these bikes fit vids. Thanks Chris😊👍

[@ChrisHallRides]

Thank you for watching :)

[@slic321]

I think bikefit James mentions in one video that the Pro Griffon is basically the same saddle as the toupe. Maybe try that one?

[@jamesjahmoolahutmorrison4104]

@@slic321 I’ll check it out. Thanks for letting me know.

[@xelseartheonlyone1267]

Try Pro Griffon or something similar like Falcon or Turnix.

[@danfuerthgillis4483]

The best saddle is the Vitesse saddle sadly the rails are too wide for the road bike clamps and only works on the older round tube adapter mountain bike setup. Still have never found a saddle to replace it for a road bike after 5 years still looking, it’s a 175 mm wide saddle and that is harder to find on road bike sizes.

[@chrisobyrne5675]

Thanks Chris, really informative.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Glad it was helpful!

[@grahambell9831]

Very sound advice and explanations from Dan. A fit surely would save a cyclist quite a bit of money in the long run?

[@ChrisHallRides]

Yes I think so!

[@grahambell9831]

@ChrisHallRides I think so too Chris! Have a great weekend 👍

[@davidide1525]

Watched it again and subscribed. Very good presentation of a complex subject. Again, what brand/model is shown at minute 10:20 , explaining t vs v shape ? Thanks, Dave

[@ChrisHallRides]

Thanks so much Dave! They’re Gebiomozed saddles: bikefitkit.avln.me/c/xPZgYyMHOylp

[@redauwg911]

would like to hear his thoughts on Brooks saddles🤔

[@ChrisHallRides]

I’ll ask!

[@MrEckic]

Best concept imho is saddle and bib without padding from everve

[@ChrisHallRides]

interesting! I guess that works for some but not all.

[@YuvrajSingh-qi2gg]

saddle is the most crucial part of a bike, you only realize it after you start having problems with it.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Totally!

[@blaze1148]

Last year I was looking for the best saddle I could find and saw a Doctor of Orthopedics on one channel and he very highly recommended the SQlab Unisex - Adult 612 Ergowave Active 2.1 Road & MTB Race Bicycle Saddle.....put it on in the perfect position and road down to Sidmouth - [100 mile all round trip].....it was the most painful ride I have ever had on a bike !! ....really don't know how I got home and was sore for weeks after. Conclusion: Everyone has an ergonomically different body - if a saddle is highly recommended be very skeptical - get your own sit/pubic bone measurement for a choice of saddle.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Completely agree

[@defipunk]

Would love some recommendations for good fitters in or near Switzerland. It's either "I'll ride behind you on the road and look" or algorithm-driven, i.e., purely following the numbers in some computer program

[@ChrisHallRides]

Hmm there will be people out there. Worth looking out for some google reviews and word of mouth talking to clubs locally

[@emmahopps5463]

I've spent all morning measuring sit bone distance and trying to find 170mm saddle. After watching this I've gone for a t shaped saddle and not worried that the saddles slightly narrower. Couldn't work out why saddles I've had in the past have been fine on one bike but painful on another. After watching this I've worked out I'm sitting more upright on my bike I'm using for indoor training so the saddles not the right shape. I don't have any bike fit places nearby or shops with a range of saddles ☹️.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Frustrating! Are you able to travel to a fitter? I would seriously consider it as an option. Some fitters (like Dan) can help with an online assesment too.

[@emmahopps5463]

No unfortunately I can't as I'm a full time carer for my mam so I can't be out too long. I've found a shop 40 min away that will measure sit bones for free and have a range of saddles, as luck would have it there closed the day I have to go to that area. I'll try and get over another day. I've had alot hip surges over the years as well so not straight forward for fitting.

[@starlord5804]

Question his leg angle was 28 degrees by lowering his seat 15mm . Did his leg angle change to 43 degrees?

[@ShadowzKiller]

Saddle tilt can make every saddle terrible and this can be very hard to setup because each saddle has its own way of setting tilt. Manufactures never tell you how to set the baseline tilt and this is what throws everyone off.

[@ChrisHallRides]

I've always found that a saddle should be flat. If you have a massive tilt on it, something probably needs adjusting with your fit I would say..

[@ShadowzKiller]

@@ChrisHallRides What do you mean by flat? Some people measure tilt from: the middle of the saddle (wherever that is), the two highest points, the point at which the saddle is 80mm wide, and so on.

[@Armandeus32]

Very informative, I have had my eye on this specific saddle for a while. I have a specialized power mirror, I do experience a bit of discomfort particularly during long rides... perhaps I need to visit a professional fitter again to get it adjusted. Regarding the gebiomized saddle -Are you happy with it?

[@ChrisHallRides]

Yeah definitely worth a discussion with a bike fitter. There’s a lot of very good saddles out there and there’s a lot of awful ones too but no one saddle is perfect for everyone. That being said I’m very happy with this saddle but saddles are incredibly personal. Dan said to me it seems to be the saddle that works well for a lot of people

[@Armandeus32]

@@ChrisHallRides yes, indeed, I'll search for a bike fitter that has the technology and go from there. Although I am tempted in trying the gebiomized saddle, to be honest! Thanks for your feedback, much appreciated.

[@davidide1525]

Great video ! What make/model of saddles do you show at 10:20 minutes to explain t vs v shaped saddles ? Thanks, Dave

[@ChrisHallRides]

They’re from Gebiomized bikefitkit.avln.me/c/xPZgYyMHOylp

[@rinky_dinky]

how crucial is this for enduro mountainbiking ?

[@ChrisHallRides]

I’d say incredibly important

[@alanhanley2981]

The one that fits you best....

[@ChrisHallRides]

Exactly what we discuss

[@michaelhayward7572]

Brooks Cambiums. Either the C17 or C15. Thank me later....

[@ChrisHallRides]

Tried it and it didn’t work for me

[@michaelhayward7572]

@@ChrisHallRides damn.

[@Emtbtoday]

That what he says about you want the pubic bine area to sit on that triangle edge thats whare im having so much pressure it hurts! I have to try and sit abit burther back or can't ride same with a gel saddle i just can't keep on buying useless saddles its like im rocking on the pressure point corner of the bone. Would be interesting to go to a fitter but there 10 a penny here unheard of

[@ChrisHallRides]

Yeah it sounds like you really should visit a bike fitter

[@bikerider4326]

Always been Brooks…👍🏻.

[@michaelslifecycle]

I need one that is like credit card shaped so it can sit right in my crack and put no pressure on my sit bones 😂

[@ChrisHallRides]

road.cc/content/review/140075-essax-shark-biomechanical-saddle

[@dtdprime9530]

i'm comfy on my saddle but I still have issue with my skin irritating... anything to do with my position or it is just my skin ( i'm a big sweater btw )

[@ChrisHallRides]

It could be lots of different things to be honest. Could be the saddle. Best bit of advice is to find a bike fitter locally to you

[@dtdprime9530]

Well i did that, but i still had saddle issues, lowered my saddle with 1 cm and it was gone. But the only thing i have nog is irriatation but it depends on the ride. Climbing + a lot of turns = almost no issue. Straight for hours = small irritation

[@xelseartheonlyone1267]

Thank you for explaining the 2 shapes T and V! I am a heavy rider and aim to do brevet rides like 200km at once or more. I suffer for the 3 years i cycle. I tried Selle Italia Novus and ISM PR all to no good results. My position is kinda sporty not too upright but not too aggressive. I have an endurance all road bike. Should i go for T or V? I mainly suffer from genital pain on the saddle and sometimes terrible numbness. After 40-60 km most of the time. So i am stuck on short rides.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Honestly the best thing to do would be to talk with a bike fitter and let them help advise on what would work best for you.

[@xelseartheonlyone1267]

@@ChrisHallRides Greetings! I already did, and it didn't help. Sadly... I will continue my quest for the right saddle. I hope someday bikes won't be so difficult to get comfortable.

[@syedmuhammaddanielhassnain5990]

​@@xelseartheonlyone1267did you try the Infitnity sadle? Or Selle Asm sadles?

[@shus5787]

What is the best saddle for men who have a sensitive prostate

[@ChrisHallRides]

You’re best to reach out to your local fitter

[@stephensmith2820]

I cannot agree with the statement "saddles should be level". Not many saddles are flat these days, so which part should be level? The pressure map problem of pressure at the front could probably have been fixed with a couple of degrees forward tilt. Everybody is different. This blinkered attitude to saddle level is not serving people well. If you've ever suffered numb nuts you'll know what I mean.

[@ChrisHallRides]

Have you ever had a bike fit?

[@Dustydayzz]

Does dan have a KZbin channel?

[@ChrisHallRides]

Not at the moment!

[@billkallas1762]

All three of my road bikes have the 1990 style of the SI Flite (no sissy cut out)

[@ChrisHallRides]

Nothing wrong with a cut out at all.

[@shus5787]

Short nose v long nose

[@ChrisHallRides]

👃

[@garylewis1475]

I feel these are a rip-off! Anyone with any experience can sort and adjust there own bike fit quite easily! Surely as a rider you know what feels right! Way to expensive I think

[@ChrisHallRides]

As someone who has been riding for years and taken parts in ultra events I think a bike fit is the most valuable thing you can pay for. Having a professional who can advise on how to become more comfortable and efficient is incredibly eye opening. What you may have perceived best for you likely is different to what atomically works best for your body in terms of comfort and performance. There is a reason why pro teams work with bike fitters. I will agree some fitters do charge way too much in my honest opinion but Dan is definitely not one of those. There are people charging 2, 3, 4 times what he does.