Is your bike saddle pressing and taking the fun out of cycling? Here you will find tips on why this might be and what you can change to avoid pain when cycling.
If the bicycle saddle is too tight, it can be uncomfortable and, in the worst case, spoil the fun of cycling. The saddle must fit your body – it can be too wide, too narrow, too soft or too hard. The height of the saddle, as well as clothing and sitting position, also determine whether a saddle is too tight or not. Regardless of whether you are riding your own bike or a borrowed one, the saddle should fit your body so that you can ride without any problems.
Tip: In addition to the correct saddle adjustment, you should also do a bike check in spring so that you can start the cycling season safely.
Bicycle saddle is pressing: The right width is crucial
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Globetrotter78)
If a bicycle saddle is too tight, it may be due to the width of the saddle. Too wide or too narrow is not ideal and can lead to pain. If a saddle is too narrow, the sit bones slide off the side of the saddle. The saddle then presses uncomfortably on soft tissue, the perineum or intimate area. If the saddle is too wide, the inside of the thighs can rub against the saddle and cause abrasions.
Ideally, the saddle is wide enough for both sit bones to fit on the saddle padding.
As a rule, women’s sit bones are further apart than men’s. Therefore, most women need a wider saddle, but the exact width varies from person to person. To prevent the saddle from being too tight, it is advisable to seek advice from a specialist bicycle shop. There are special devices that measure the distance between the sit bones. Based on this measurement, you can choose a saddle that is wide enough so that the saddle does not put too tight a burden.
These are guidelines for saddle width for different bicycle types:
- The saddle on city bikes can offer a little more comfort and therefore be much wider than the sit bones.
- Saddles on racing bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes are only two to three centimeters wider than the sit bones so that the saddle is not too wide. In this case, it is usually not about comfort, but about efficiency.
- The seat on a trekking bike is more upright, but sportier than on a city bike. The saddles can therefore be a little narrower than on city bikes, but are usually wider than on racing bikes, for example.
The upholstery must not be too soft
At first glance, it seems obvious: the bicycle saddle is too tight, so you simply choose one with thicker padding. But that’s a misconception. A saddle can also be too soft. This causes the sit bones to sink into the saddle and can compress soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves.
How padded a saddle is depends on the type of bike:
- The saddle on a city bike can be a little more padded. Most people use these bikes for short trips within the city. In addition, the back is upright and has to absorb the shocks. The padding provides comfort and cushioning.
- A sports saddle for road bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes, on the other hand, is hard. The sit bones do not sink into the saddle, so the area that lies on the saddle is smaller. The surrounding tissue is therefore adequately supplied with blood. A harder saddle can be unusual on the first few rides and may even be more painful than a softer saddle. However, after about 10 rides, tissue should have formed around the sit bones and the pain should have disappeared. So give your body time to get used to the hard saddle.
- Since the seat on a trekking bike is sporty but upright, the padding can be a little softer than on a sports saddle, but harder than on a city bike.
Tip: Gel saddles store heat, which can cause your bottom to sweat uncomfortably. They are therefore not suitable for tours that last longer than about half an hour. If you want to ride your bike for longer, you should use a foam saddle – for example on a trekking tour.
The saddle presses at the wrong height
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Pexels)
If a bicycle saddle is too tight, it can also be due to the height. If the saddle is too low, a lot of pressure is placed on the buttocks. If the saddle is set too high, the pelvis can tilt to the right and left when pedaling.
There are no differences in height between the different types of bikes. You can find out the correct saddle height either during a bike fitting or at home:
- Sit on the saddle.
- Place the ball of your foot on the lower pedal
- Apply pressure to the pedals. Your leg should not be completely straight in this position, but still bent slightly.
The saddle should also be level. To be very precise, you can measure this with a spirit level that you place on the saddle.
You can find more tips on this topic in our article How to adjust your bicycle saddle correctly.
The shape of the saddle is important
Saddles can differ not only in width and padding, but also in shape. In any case, the sit bones should bear most of the weight. If you sit upright on a city or trekking bike, you can mostly ride on a saddle with an even shape. However, to ensure that as little pressure as possible is exerted on the intimate area when cycling in a bent-over position, such as on a racing bike or gravel bike, there are saddles with cutouts in the front area. On a mountain bike, a raised end of the saddle is useful to hold the buttocks up when climbing.
If your bicycle saddle is too tight, find out whether the saddle has the right shape for you and your tours.
The right clothing prevents buttock pain
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Skitterphoto)
If you are only travelling in the city and covering short distances, you will probably do so in everyday clothes. For a longer bike tour on a racing bike or a trekking, gravel or mountain bike, padded cycling shorts are recommended. These are also available as sustainable sportswear. If you are travelling in a relaxed manner and don’t like the look of tight cycling shorts, you can also wear another pair of shorts over them.
The padded cycling shorts should not be too big so that the padding fits snugly against the body and does not rub. The shorts should also not be made of cotton. Cotton absorbs moisture but does not release it. This creates a moist environment in the shorts in which bacteria can multiply. The moisture can also cause micro-tears in the skin, causing the saddle to press.
By the way, you should not wear underpants under padded underwear. This can cause additional friction or moisture.
Variety in the sitting position
(Photo: CC0 / Pixabay / Pexels)
The height is right, the width is right, you’re wearing padded cycling shorts, but the saddle still feels tight after three hours on the bike? Then it can definitely help to change your sitting position a little while you’re riding. So bend forward a little more now and then or sit more upright than you already do. You can also ride standing up for a while.
Also interesting: This is what happens when you ride your bike every day
Read more on Techzle\.com:
- 7 cycling myths you should know about
- Buying a bike: When is the best time
- Bikepacking: How to prepare for a bike trip with luggage
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