Life In The Saddle

Are you sitting comfortably? Saddle sores are a serious concern for many cyclists; at best they can be a cause of discomfort, at worst they could end a ride or adventure. After many long distance bike rides such as the #BlackForest400 and #7Countries7Passes , these are my tips for preventing and treating saddle sores. 1 – Saddle Choice Having the correct width and length of saddle makes a huge difference to the chances of encountering saddle sores. Too wide, the saddle will rub on your seat bones. Too narrow, you will sit on your perineum rather than on your seat bones. Recommended reading:  'How to Choose the Right Bicycle Saddle for You' 2 – Saddle Height The height of your saddle plays a significant role in determining the pressure and friction on your nether-regions. If your saddle height is too high then you do not put enough pressure on the pedals; increasing the pressure on your perineum or sit bones and increasing the rocking motion in the s...

Choosing the right bicycle saddle is similar to looking for a comfortable pair of shoes; there are numerous factors to consider—both physiological and with intended use. In this article, I offer  7 Tips to consider how you can choose the right bicycle saddle for your anatomy and style of bike riding. 1 – Seat-Bone Width The first thing to consider is the distance between your seat bones. Your seat/sit bone width determines the ideal width of the saddle you should choose. You can measure your seat bone width using a piece of corrugated cardboard: place the cardboard on a hard bench, and sit firmly on it. Rock forwards slightly to mimic a riding position, and elevate your feet to press your seat bones down onto the cardboard—so that they make an indent. Then, mark the centre of the two indents and measure the distance between the two points. This will give you your seat/sit bone width. A narrow sit bone width would be 100 mm or less, medium 100 to 130 mm, and wide over 1...

The Artax GL saddle from Italian brand Repente is designed for the world of gravel cycling. Featuring a non-deformable reinforced carbon fibre shell and rails, as well as greater padding than a traditional road cycling saddle; this perch is made for the challenging and sometime rough terrain encountered on gravel bike adventures. A rider on a gravel bike has a fundamentally different position that of a rider on a road racing bike; with a more upright stance and normally a less stretched out torso. The Artax GL is designed to offer better support for this position: with a squarer front, a semi-flat shape, and additional padding on the rear of the saddle to support the seat bones. The saddle measures 275mm long and 132mm wide at the widest part; these dimensions place is in the 'short and narrow' spectrum in most saddle ranges; allowing the rider to move from side to side on the saddle with ease, pedal without incurring leg friction, while still being able to get their weig...

Carbon fibre has become the go-to material for the vast majority of high-end bike components; its light weight and structural strength is un-matched for most applications. Thomson have defied that trend though, with their range of beautifully machined alloy seatposts. Alloy seatposts have a number of advantages that I will discuss in greater detail below; but put simply, the Thomson Masterpiece Alloy Seatpost offers almost all the advantages of a carbon fibre post, with greater reliability and durability. Thomson Alloy Seatposts have been spotted on world class off-road race bikes for a number of years; offering a build quality that delivers the ultimate reliability. For starters, the tube and head of a Thomson seatpost are machined from one piece of high strength 7000 series aluminium; because the head is not pressed or bonded in, it delivers superior strength. The clamp on a Thomson seat post is exceptionally low profile, so there is no risk that the clamp will rub or touch o...

I must admit I was sceptical; a suspension seat post has always been something I associate with leisure bikes—too similar to a pogo stick for your saddle. Yet, the  KINEKT 2.1 Suspension Seatpost  and  KINEKT Suspension Stem  have both proven to be excellent additions to a gravel bike... Review – KINEKT 2.1 Suspension Seatpost As I took the KINEKT 2.1 Suspension Seatpost from its packaging, I was a little disparaging about its weight—561 grams for the 350 mm post; it felt like a lead weight compared to the Ritchey WCS Zero Seatpost that it replaced (230 grams). Could this extra weight burden really be worth it? The seatpost was quick and simple to set up: slotting into the frame with a shim and accommodating both round and oval saddle rails. The 2.1 KINEKT seatpost comes in various weight brackets, and they arrive with the correct spring for your selected weight; however, there are also heavier/lighter springs within the box if you need to change the load le...

The Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle is designed for gravel bike riding. Featuring gel inserts to reduce vibration, titanium saddle rails to absorb trail buzz, and a sleek low-profile design to offer style and performance—this is a saddle made for adventure. The SLR Boost Gravel is Selle Italia's latest offering for the growing Gravel segment of the market; engineered specifically to enhance riding comfort on difficult terrain and during endurance gravel events. Available in two sizes, I opted for the smaller version (S3), and have been testing it out over the last month… I have become a great advocate of the cut-away design for saddles—it offers greater flexibility in the centre of the saddle and reduces pressure on the sensitive perineum region. The SLR Boost Gravel Superflow is a superb example of this kind of saddle design; with a cutaway section, short nose, and flared sides to effectively support your seat bones. To improve comfort on rough terrain, Selle...

For my 21st birthday, I received a Brooks Swift saddle . The beautifully hand-crafted piece of leather and stainless steel represents the artisanal skill and heritage of the Brooks factory workers in Birmingham, UK. The Swift has provided me with many hours and miles of comfortable riding. Ahead of taking part in the interesting new bikepacking event 'The Distance' in Galloway, Scotland, I was sent a Brooks Cambium C13 132 Saddle to test and ride. I was intrigued to see how this modern adaption of the classic leather hammock would fare and function. Unfortunately, a collision with a car a few days before 'The Distance' meant I wasn't able to take part in the event. However, I have been riding the new Brooks Cambium C13 132 for a good month now, and I still wanted to reflect on my experiences. Modern styling. Beautifully crafted. The Cambium C13 132 replaces leather with vulcanised rubber and natural cotton, and stainless steel with carbon and aluminium. T...