Choosing a bike saddle is not as straightforward as it seems. You need to have a selection criterion for choosing a bike seat. Even for experienced riders, finding the right bike seat is a common challenge. When the question of-which is the most comfortable bike seat? Ask yourself the kind of biking experience you are accustomed to and whether you need to make some upgrade on your saddle. Some athletes spend a lot of time before finding the perfect saddle that works for them. You might also find that the discomfort experienced when riding the bike might be as a result of saddle positioning. This means that you do not necessarily have to buy a new bike seat. Keep in mind that choosing bicycle saddles is an iterative process. Minor changes such as a change in biking gear or handle height can greatly affect your comfort. Most people prefer replacing their bike saddles with a leather saddle that is considered better in terms of comfort. In addition, a leather saddle has a longer life compared to carbon saddle. So what should you look for when trying to locate the perfect leather saddle for your bike?
Shape of the Saddle
The shape of a bicycle saddle has an effect on the overall riding experience. If you choose a leather saddle that is not proportional to your riding needs, you end up compromising your comfort in addition to the likelihood of getting alignment-related injuries. The perfect bicycle saddle is supposed to support the sit bones and not necessarily your entire bottom. A good way of choosing the best leather saddle is by observing your movement when riding the bike. Riders who tend to move a lot on the saddle should go for narrow saddles. This also applies for riders who are accustomed to different hand positions on the bike. On the other hand, riders who stay more on the saddle with minimum movement should seek a more contoured and wider leather saddle. Of important to note is that long-term use of the wrong saddle on your bike can cause posture-related injuries. To avoid cases of posture-related injuries-some of which require chiropractic therapy, ensure that you test different bike seats before choosing the one that fits your biking needs.
Materials and Rails Used
Another factor that you need to consider when buying a bicycle saddle is the type of material it is made of. Your choice should also factor in the type of rider you are. If you are the type of person who values speed and agility, the material used to make the saddle should be made from lightweight material such as molded carbon fiber. If cycling is more of a hobby to you, the first thing you will probably be looking for in a bike saddle is comfort. A good leather saddle can offer you the comfort required for longer rides. However, leather saddles are heavy and will only add to the overall weight of the bike. This is why they are not common in racing bikes. The downside of leather saddles is that despite improving your comfort, they require more maintenance compared to other saddles. They also tend to get damaged especially during wet weathers and might require poofing. The additional maintenance required for leather material adds to the cost of saddle. The bottom-line when choosing the right leather saddle for your bike is to consider riding preferences, duration of rides, speed and frequency on the bike.
