Last Updated on August 6, 2022 by Editorial Staff
Let’s be honest; no rider wants to ride their bike on an uncomfortable seat. Nevertheless, the factory-constructed saddles aren’t always that comfortable. For this reason, if you go for a long ride, there are high chances that you will have your behind hurting. The worst thing about saddle sores is that they are no joke.
Despite that, this does not mean that you should get used to this pain. Long rides are pretty demanding, and the last thing you need is to have an uncomfortable saddle which results in lower back or knee pain, which will consequently ruin your ride. Fortunately, you can make a wide array of solutions and modifications to your saddle to boost comfort. But before we delve into these solutions, let’s see what causes bike seat pain.
Bike Seat Pain
Also known as saddle soreness, bike seat pain is discomfort in the parts of your body that get in contact with the bike seat. This can be your butt, or in some instances in other tricky riding positions, the part between your anus and genitals referred to as perineum. Besides, it is possible to chafing on your inner thighs since they typically rub against each other when cycling.
At times, you can even have inflammation and redness if you take long rides every day. However, if you have significant pain impacting your riding skills, you should deal with it immediately.
The classic sore is typically a boil, referred to as a furuncle. Infected follicles result in smaller manageable sores though unattended boils can swiftly reach unmanageable proportions and should be checked by a doctor as soon as possible. A blend of pressure from friction from the continuous pedaling to the bodyweight bearing, sweat, and decreased blood flow, can create the ideal combination of sore formation and discomfort.
But the good news is, there are solutions to reducing the discomfort of your saddle.
How to Make a Bike Seat More Comfortable?
1. Buy a proper saddle
If you purchase a saddle depending on the brand, you’re making a huge mistake. Dedicated riders know that there is more to a saddle than just the brand. Getting the perfectly comfortable saddle starts by checking its width. It is supposed to be spacious enough to handle your weight comfortably.
Weight distribution is a considerable variable; if you buy a saddle that’s too narrow or too wide, it might not be comfortable. The spacious seats create friction between the crotch and the seat, and a narrow one will prevent ideal weight distribution. The most important thing here is to ensure you know the correct width of your sit bones since it will help you select the proper saddle. You can visit online bike shops or physical stores to find a perfect bike seat.
2. Check the saddle angle
Another way to deal with bike seat pain is to ensure that the angle of the seat is right. Especially if you ride your bike for a long time in a low position and fast speed, there are chances that you might be numb in the nether regions. In case this occurs, try lowering your seat’s nose by several degrees, which will eliminate a bit of the pressure on the sensitive areas.
However, this does come with one downside; reduced weight on the saddles and more on the arms. Like a saddle height, you need to find a balance; therefore, begin with a level saddle, and modify from there.
3. Wear the proper attire when cycling
If you are not adequately dressed for your next cycling session, your “seat bones” are going to hurt a lot. In other words, dressing in the wrong attire, like loose shorts, will result in rubbing between the saddle and your skin, leading to chaffing.
The impact may not be immediate, though it will be quite noticeable. This leads to discomfort, which will make it almost impossible for you to ride your bike. Thus, the problem is the clothes you wear and not the bike seat itself.
For this reason, you must wear the proper cloths when going for your ride. There is a reason why cycling shorts are not loose. They’re designed to be tight since this construction comes in handy in managing the space between the body and the bike.
Precisely, shorts are made using tight Lycra, and they are soft enough to get into contact with the saddle without creating heat or friction. If you wear loose attire when going for your ride, you must switch to different attires; preferably tight ones. Purchase fitting shorts and riding jerseys, and you will see how much of a difference it makes. Also, go for shorts with thick padding.
4. Fit mudguards
Even though fitting mudguards will not help stop the pain, it will come in handy with increasing the comfort of the seat, keeping your behind and back dry and warm when you’re cycling on wet roads, which almost means you have one more reason to ride a bit longer other than staying inactive at home.
When winter comes, there are numerous clip-on mudguard options to select from, and they should be able to suit most road bikes. On the other hand, if you don’t want to ruin the sleek lines that come in handy during the summer, there are many different options in the market that you can clip beneath the saddle, keeping you dry during the rain and snow without ruining the appearance of your bike.
Bottom-line
Every time you decide to get on your bike and ride, it is supposed to be alone time, away from everything else, such as work. And for it to be uncomfortable enough for you not to be able to do it is just unacceptable. Here we have given you four practical ways to make a bike seat more comfortable, ensuring you have a good time and no saddle sores.
Do not allow your next cycling session to be a painful experience that you’ll regret. Adjust, boost or even change your seat now if you haven’t, and make that alone time even more comfortable.