Seat Recommendations

I really dislike gel seats.

The thing is that while your sit bones might not like it, they can take your weight.
When you get a soft seat, the sit bones sink in, causing pressure on the soft tissue inbetween.
Compare to walking barefoot in sand. It's nice at the start, but after awhile your arches will be getting tender.

Apart from that it's pretty much impossible to guess from a distance. Even if you have the perfect saddle for you, expect an adjustment period if you are a rookie rider. The area that is effectively carrying your weight is quite small, and need some time to adapt to the task. Keep your first rides short.

Another thing is leg strength and endurance. Fitter riders rarely have their whole weight in the saddle, as every push on the pedals is basically acting as a secondary support. As a rookie rider, you will spend more time sitting more heavily.

And there's expectation management too.
Personally I've never found an actually comfortable saddle.
You'll never hear me say "hey this couch is really uncomfortable, I wish I had my bike to sit on instead". So what I look for in a saddle is possibly "comfortable by comparison", or "I can take this".

But sure, you may have gotten a saddle that's just wrong for you - that does happen.
If you find a good shop they'll try to measure the width of your sit bones, and then offer you a loaner saddle based on that.
If you're happy, you pay for it and keep it, or you go on to their next suggestion.

Everyones a little different so saddle recomendations can be tough but I have had some good luck with the Specialized Romin. Personally I would stay away from gel saddles. There is a disconcerting squishiness with some and I've actually had one where the gel solidified and became rock hard over time. YMMV.

Saddles, like shoes, needn't be toughed out. There is some getting used to sitting on a saddle when starting out but it shouldn't be uncomfortable. If one dreads sitting on the bike, the hobby is not going to last long. There's a saddle out there for most every tuccus and it's possibly the single most piece important piece of bike equipment regarding the enjoyment of the activity unless of course one has a proclivity toward the Marquis de Sade.

Unfortunately in many cases it's a catch 22 as we only know if a saddle works or not once we've purchased. Some shops will allow an exchange or a return but not always. Some shops may offer a field test program. Sadly, I've spent more than the GDP of some small nations over the last 20 or 30 years in my quest for the holy grail. Good luck.

A lot of bikes (even really good ones) come with less than stellar saddles. Depending on how much you weigh stock saddles may not hold up well to those of us that are 200lbs+. It could also be that the saddle just does not fit your backside. I dropped 1,400 on my bike last May and I was in instant agony the first week of riding. I knew something was wrong and it wasn't just because I was a rookie (sometimes you know when something just isn't right). I immediately switched the saddle out for a quality Gel Saddle and the difference was like flipping a light switch.

Funny thing is a lot of the reviews I read about the bike said the only real negative was the saddle, but I didnt think much of it. Later on I read that the common denominator seemed to be guys that were heavier like myself all struggled with the saddle, It was too soft to support extra weight. FWIW I bought a Specilaized Avatar Gel Saddle. Awesome saddle.

If you are really uncomfortable and it does not get any better than it is the saddle and not you. For your health and sanity switch it out for something better. Make sure you go to a quality bike store and they should be able to measure you up to find the right size seat before you choose a new saddle. A comfortable saddle is useless if it is not the right size.

Also note that very subtle adjustments to saddle tilt, even a degree or so, can make big differences comfort-wise. But sometimes a saddle is just not for us.

I went to the local bike shop and asked them to fit (if that's the appropriate terminology) my bike to me. I told him I was uncomfortable with the saddle and he said that I was probably correct because it was too small. He sized and fitted me with a Specialized Avatar Gel Saddle. He also made minor recommendations on parts for my posture. I did all the changes and what a difference the subtle changes made. The saddle is still uncomfortable but way better. I had no idea how minor tweaks will effect the ride. I'm sure you all know....I'm just in newbie awe-land.

lagriff said:

I went to the local bike shop and asked them to fit (if that's the appropriate terminology) my bike to me.  I told him I was uncomfortable with the saddle and he said that I was probably correct because it was too small.  He sized and fitted me with a Specialized Avatar Gel Saddle.  He also made minor recommendations on parts for my posture.  I did all the changes and what a difference the subtle changes made.  The saddle is still uncomfortable but way better.  I had no idea how minor tweaks will effect the ride.  I'm sure you all know....I'm just in newbie awe-land.Â

A good fit on the bike is perhaps the biggest key to enjoying cycling and getting the most out of your abilities (if that is your goal). More importantly, a good fit is essential to have a happy gooch (or for women to have a happy taint). An unhappy gooch makes for a lot of suffering, especially if the gooch is red, inflamed, and rubbed raw.

even pro's get what they call saddle sores !

Even with a perfectly-fitted saddle, chamois cream is the ticket to prevent saddle sores and chaffing on longer rides.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by dhk2 [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

Even with a perfectly-fitted saddle, chamois cream is the ticket to prevent saddle sores and chaffing on longer rides.

I've been on the bike 30 years and I still cannot work up the courage to slather a handful of that stuff in my shorts. I've met hundreds who swear by it.

Quoted post said:

Originally Posted by danfoz [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]

I've been on the bike 30 years and I still cannot work up the courage to slather a handful of that stuff in my shorts. I've met hundreds who swear by it.

I wouldn't want a handful in my shorts either, but a small amount on the left and right butt contact patches does the trick for me. Before a long, hot ride, will use a heavier type, which seems to stay on longer in extreme sweat conditions. Started using it about 10 years ago, when an early spring century ride had me raw and bleeding over the sitzbones by mile 80. I rode most of the way out of the saddle for the last 20 miles, it was that painful.

I don't mess with it for the shorter rides of less than 90 minutes. My hide is probably tougher now, but I really don't care to test it again, ever, after the "bloody spring" of '04. If you don't have the problem, no need to use the stuff of course.