Why do performance saddles have so little padding?

Guaps said:

Again, why do performance saddles have so little padding? I know you save some weight by taking out some of the padding, but is there acutally any performance benefit, like better power transfer or something like that?

I can't point to any direct performance advantages other than reduced weight, but personally padded saddles aren't very comfortable for a trained cyclist. If you get a decent saddle that fits well and you ride enough to toughen up a bit saddles don't need much padding. When I jump on a friend's bike with a thick saddle cover it's far less comfortable than my narrow, thin racing saddles. I don't like all that foam or gel or whatever bunched up down there and much prefer a slim, thinly padded saddle. I know it's counter intuitive but keep that Spenco stuff away from my bike 🙂

Too much padding:
1. applies unwanted pressure to sensitive tissue around sitbones
2. weighs more
3. is less efficient while pedalling

It is mostly the top one. after the foam depresses, that foam and all the foam surrounding it which is in contact with you will apply a resistance. Racing saddles take this foam away so the pressure isn't applied anywhere but where youu are sitting. In theory, a perfectly designed hard carbon saddle can be very comfortable.

Padding has got nothing to do with it. If the saddle's got a shape that's amenable to your butt cheeks, then it'll be comfortable, even if it has no padding. People scoff at the riders that use CF/unpadded saddles, but if those saddles suit their anatomy, then those riders will be as comfortable as they would on any other saddle.

bobbyOCR said:

Too much padding:
1. applies unwanted pressure to sensitive tissue around sitbones
2. weighs more
3. is less efficient while pedalling.

how much padding would you say would cause 'inefficient' pedalling?
Would you say a thick chamois effects pedalling? 🙂

The old Selle Italia Turbos have about 5mm of foam, which obviously compresses to almost nothing.

I say it's mostly weight saving for marketing purposes.
If you flick through the pics of pro bikes on Cycling News, you'll see a lot of them (but not a majority) use "normal" seats

Here's an Example. These are 8 team bikes before a race, and 4 of them have 'normal' saddles with a bit of meat on them
http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=photos/2004/tech/features/georgia04/SPB85F6528

It's all about movement. The more the saddle compreses, the more your butt moves around causing discomfort. Yeah, to folks that don't ride much the logic sounds kinda backwards thinking that a soft ride is better.

It is your hip bones that support your weight whenever you sit on anything. When we sit in a chair, our weight is distributed across our butt, and because it is such a large area, (relative to a saddle I mean- individual results may vary) padding is useful. A good saddle will give and flex in the areas that are giving you direct support, and rigid elsewhere.

Next time you are in your LBS feel a padded saddle. Seems nice doesn't it? Now place your hand on the saddle and press down with all your weight. THAT is what your butt will feel. Most inexpensive padded saddles are not shaped well to fit ones anatomy, and cover it with padding to make up for it, and are really only suitable for short rides. Now go to a good saddle, and do the same test, but now with your fingertips. Really lean into it. You will most likely find that some areas of the saddle give more than others.

There is a tremendous amount of engineering that goes into a top quality saddle. They really are designed to fit your anatomy, and be comfortable for long periods. That is also why good saddles must be sex specific.

If you are on a shoestring budget and interested in upgrades to your bike, and interested in lots of riding, don't skimp on a saddle. It is an upgrade that you can transfer to your next bike.

Cheers!

It's a saddle not a seat if you are in good shape you don't put much weight on the saddle.

It also depends on your powerr output and position. If you have a high saddle-bar drop then you are putting more weight on your arms (assuming you don't have really long arms) and less on the saddle. If you have a higher PO then you also put less pressure on the saddle as you are pushing youself up slightly. This applies if you are lighter etc etc.

The inefficiency thing is something I hear a bit. I think a thick chamois would decrease efficiency, but a thick, well designed chamois wouldn't. I think it comes down to a bouncing effect. A hard saddle wouldn't have foam applying an upwards pressure. Think about trying to ride on a mattress. Every time you reached the deadspot you would sink down, then rise up, and repeat. I am not sure if its all marketing but thats what I heard.

Guaps said:

Again, why do performance saddles have so little padding? I know you save some weight by taking out some of the padding, but is there acutally any performance benefit, like better power transfer or something like that?

Actually when you really think about it the bicycle saddle is the most efficient design for such an application. When I say efficient it covers about everything including comfort. I cant imagine how I will be able to ride my bike the way I want to sitting on a mushy seat - proly slip slidin on all directions. For as long as I dont get sore down there regardless of how far I ride I think thats pretty comfy.