Many riders don’t give a whole lot of thought to saddle sizing, but as Senior Carmichael Training Systems Coach Phil Astrachan points out, a saddle is perhaps the “most important component” on a bicycle, and it can make the difference between a pleasurable ride, and one that never seems to end. He offers up three points to keep in mind when looking for a saddle. First, it should be wide enough to support “sit bones”; he suggests measuring “sit bone” distance, and then looking for a saddle that is slightly wider. Second, Astrachan recommends choosing a saddle that allows a rider to pedal without restriction, i.e. one that helps avoid thigh chafing. He cautions against saddles that “flare more gradually” as they “tend to cause rubbing of the muscle at the inner thigh.” Finally, he says that it’s important to look for a saddle that does not cause numbness in the genital region. He recommends choosing a flatter saddle over one that is rounded, saying that flatter saddles offer riders greater adjustment in riding position with out drastic changes in pressure forward of their “sit bones.” Even with this advice in hand, Astrachan says its always a good idea to head out to a local shop that will let you test out a number of saddles – at least 3 or 4 – to “determine which shape and design will work best for you.”

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