Try before you buy

Looking at people it's pretty easy to see why there are so many saddles. Differences in arm length, leg length, shoe size, and more can all be compensated for by the simple adjustment of a few areas. Got long legs? Raise the seat. Short arms? Use a smaller stem. These key areas vary by only a few inches among most adults, which makes it easy to make a small range of products that fit. Since leaving the Paleolithic era, we rarely find people with arms to their feet, so it's not necessary to make a bike with handlebars two feet forward of the front wheel.

The one area in which all people differ is in their butts. There's no polite way to say it — everyone's butt is different. Some are small, some are wide, some are padded, and some aren't. With all the variations in both gluteal dimensions and sensitivities, it's no wonder that there are so many saddle designs. The trick then is to find the right design, and that takes some experimentation.

Don't Believe the Hype

When choosing a saddle, it's important to forget absolutely everything printed on the outside of the package. Ignore claims of things such as comfort, weight, and durability and try out the saddle for yourself. Despite the focus of their designers, not all saddles perform well for their intended use. The padded gel saddle designed for a septuagenarian might actually feel more comfortable to a NORBA racer. Likewise, the compact racing saddle might perform better for someone on a hybrid or cruiser.

Some general rules exist: Wider padded seats are comfortable in the short term, but they lower performance and can press against nerves. Racing saddles are light but uncomfortable in the long run. Ergonomic saddles MAY reduce some nerve aggravation, but they may also accentuate it. The bottom line (pardon the pun) is that a saddle needs to be ridden to determine if it's a perfect fit. Look for a bike shop with good knowledge and support; if a shop won't guarantee a return, ask to try out any models you are interested in either in the parking lot on a bike or in the shop on a stationary trainer.

Do You Really Need That?

Follow the adage,"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." If there's no perceivable downside to the saddle currently perched upon your steed, there's no need to replace it. Likewise with saddles designed to prevent numbness and damage to the sensitive nether regions. If you don't know that you're numb, you're not.

Move on to Know Your Saddle

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Founder and former editor in chief of GearHead.com (an award-winning bicycle Web site), David Schloss is a full-time sport and technology journalist. Schloss writes for more than a dozen magazines and Web sites and spends as much time on his bike and in his kayak as possible. He has written for GORP about bike racks for cars, bike locks, bike helmets and clothing, and cycling computers.

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