Before you spend big bucks on a new saddle, you should check to make sure that you are riding with the proper seat adjustments. The following are some simple guidelines for you to consider:

Seat height – if the seat is too low, then you waste energy and fatigue your legs much sooner. If the seat is too high, then you put excess strain of your knees. How to find the proper height? When the crank arm is at the 6:00 position, and your foot/pedal is parallel to the ground, then there should be about a 5% bend in you knee.

Seat angle – check to see if your seat is level, if not, the shift in weight either forward or backward will cause strain on different parts of your body.

Seat position – finally, the seat can also be adjusted front to back, and might provide smoother pedalling and a more comfortable seating position.

Seats, today, come in many shapes and sizes, but in general, there have been tremendous improvements over size, comfort and performance. It is important to note that if you are new to cycling, you will experience discomfort. Normally, this numbness and discomfort will go away as you begin to ride more consistently and longer distances. If the discomfort continues for a long period of time, then you should consider replacing your seat.

The “bigger the better” does not mean the most comfortable. Seats with big pads might fit the beach cruise or social riding, but the high tech seats are best for road and mountain biking. Seats are constructed with a shock-absorbing base, proper layers of foam for comfort and support, channels to alleviate pressure in soft tissue areas and designed to fit you sit bones for cycling comfort.