No - it is like the others - WRONG! Dr. Steven Schrader, a reproductive physiologist with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), is one of the world’s leading experts on bicycle seats and the human anatomy. Dr. Steven Schrader: “When you sit on a chair you never put weight on the perineum. But when you sit on a bike, you increase pressure on the perineum sevenfold. The research shows that when riders sit on a classic saddle with a long nose, a quarter of their body weight places pressure on the perineum. The amount of oxygen reaching the penis typically falls 70% to 80% in 3 minutes. A guy can sit on a saddle and have his penis oxygen levels drop 100% but he doesn’t know it. After half an hour he goes numb. Today’s ergonomic saddles with splits in the back or holes in the center to relieve pressure on the perineum may make matters worse because they have smaller surface areas, and thus the rider’s weight presses harder on less saddle. The arteries in the perineum run laterally and they are not directly over the cutouts. The arteries come under more pressure when they come into contact with the cutouts’ edges. It is no longer a question of whether or not bicycle riding on a saddle causes erectile dysfunction. Instead the question is, What are we going to do about it?”
I have watched this several times; it is excellent. Watching again today made me realize something additional. My sit bones measure about 112/113 and most saddle manufacturers recommend a 140ish width, but I am much more comfortable on a 150ish. I ride in the sportive position on both my Trek Domane and t- labs gravel bike, so based on your recommendations I would add 2cms on each side of the seat bome width so 112 +20+20 {152}. So you are definitely correct. Thank you.
Как на гравийном можно ездить в спортивном положении, голову на руль кладёте? У меня 125 мм, а седло 130 мм, очень комфортно, шоссейный велосипед, езжу реально в спортивном режиме!
The most comprehensive coverage of saddles, period. Thanks for sharing. If by any chance, you could do a similar video for tyres. That would be really great.
This and part 1 are the most complete videos on bicycle saddles I found. Super helpful! I have been on the hunt for information and likely a new saddle for my Mt bike. For that perfect setting for longer ride comfort, and getting all the adjustments dialed is a challenge. When mt biking the hip angle changes more as the terrain changes, however if you know your climbing more than descending, or whatever the dominant position is then this would be where the adjustment focus. I think the key is getting the base setup first, then make micro adjustments from there. Don't forget your Alan key! =)
The most comfortable saddle I've ever used was $15 out of the clearance bin at a bike show, the manufacturer doesn't exist any more (as far as I know), and the bike it was on was stolen. I rode that saddle for almost 10 years. It was synthetic, and very flexible, very thin with almost no padding, and a relief channel. It's been a bit of a struggle to find something close to that in terms of comfort and price.
Regarding saddle flex, the more one rides in an upright position, the less saddle flex there will be - and the less important saddle flex becomes - because there will be a much larger percentage of one's body weight on the sit bones which are (or should be) positioned closer to the rear of the saddle where the rails connect to the saddle.
A truly SUPERB piece of film-making. RU-vid may as well remove all other saddle vids and "info-mercials" from their platform; yours is the most comprehensive and informative here. Well done indeed. Of course, saddle choice is very much "each to their own" - so what might be heaven for one could be hell for another - but at least this video looks at all the design elements and will help people find, over time, what are the key areas they need to look for when hunting down their perfect mount. Once again, chapeau for a REALLY excellent video. 👍👏
What great information! I have carefully followed your advice and I have managed to find a saddle for a mere £40 that is just right for me. My comfort and power output have improved massively. So has my enjoyment of riding. Many thanks from the UK!
thank you for this very useful and informative video. I am returning to cycling after a very long time. it was back then before RU-vid videos, but I can still remember the pain of having a poor saddle ooch!
7 Years of riding bikes and i have tried every single seat out there they all hurt after 3 hours of riding some more then others i find a flat thin seat is best for me. This has to be the best video on Utube on finding yourself a perfect seat for cycling.
Informative video and very useful. Recently I've just got my new TCR that the saddle (142mm only) is not comfortable at all! I am going to get a little bit wider and softer saddle. Thank you, oz cycle😁🙏
YOU are are an EXPERT JUGGERNAUT!!! I am a newer subscriber and value your knowledgeable videos as a newer road rider. I live in N.Italy 🇮🇹 as an American 🇺🇸 married to an Italian lady. I did 1,600miles last year on a Trek 4300 with a few road ascents (Piancavallo hwy and SP61 to Cansiglio) and got hooked on road riding! The agony of the ascent for the speed of the descent!!! (60+mph😃)~ will send you some pics of my new bike this weekend!!!
after trying several saddles, the cheep one you showed at the start and said looked umm not so good, I found very comfortable, and loving it, viva Ali Express.
looks good to me, and im seemingly very similar in build to mr oz.. can you tell me where could i find that model online or at least what model it is? TIA
Excellent Video! It took me a few attempts with the foil to get it right. A chair with webbing just gave me a good imprint of the webbing. I used a thick blanket on a wood seat and got a good mark. Looking at the back (bottom looking up) gave me the best results. I appreciate the amount of time, thought and effort you have put into these. Looking forward to video three.
Thank you very much! This was by far the the best informative video I've seen this year. I never got bored, it was pure information in an appropriate time-frame.
Regarding Carbon-Fiber, if I remember correctly if you are over 90kg there's no warranty on the item (or frame) which would say to me (and other heavier riders) to stay away - that goes for seat posts and probably forks too. I really like WTB saddles - They have different designs that start out at a reasonable price with cro-mo rails and then go up to quite expensive with the fancier materials (in the same design/shape). Ergon are supposedly good too but are a bit pricey for trial and error. Good video as always, now it's cooled down a lot it's a perfect time to get back out and enjoy Adelaide's Bike Trails.
I've just got a SMP F30c and immediate comfort for me, going from Lite 209, big Selle SMP fan, tho they are pricey, also found with a leather covering they're grippier.
Great videos. Watched part 1. Just starting part 2. Glad you're covering sit bone width and how to measure... I've tried several times and not got consistent i.e. repeatable results.
@@stevenleffanue At 7m14s it shows the overall width of saddle and at 7m22s it shows location/width of sit-bones. On the diagram the latter is of course a bit narrower. Are you saying the overall width of a TT/racing saddle is literally the width of sit bones; a sports saddle is a bit wider than them; a recreational saddle wider still, etc.
Need to know for all that grateful people about a BIG mistake in this video. At 7:16 to select the definition of the saddle width is made incorrectly. Because the technique was originally taken from the company SQLabs where it is directly stated that you need to add not on each side of the saddle but in general to the entire width. Therefore, 15 mm should not be added on each side, but in general to the entire width of the saddle, this is 7.5 mm on each side. Be careful and take care of your health :)
Just in case anyone else is suffering from bleeding - hematospermia - frankly nasty - caused by my saddle which was actually quite comfortable except for the abrupt ‘edges’ of the channel which were apparently pushing into the veins of my prostate. I changed to the widest complete cutout I could find (Selle SLR superflow) which fortunately cured the problem immediately
My unfavorite saddle is now my favorite. All i did was tilt nose down 10 degrees and dont use 4:09 use colored briefs. Siatic problems solved. When and if ill get a brooks. Meantime plastics fine. Also mag.citrate. your buns L love em!
Ive got a pro/shimano/saddle with ti rails. It medium firm 143 eude with the groove channel for some relief. I paid $60 for it. Im using a cutaway wide but short length type now and I'm liking it so far plus its cheap and light. Ive got another coming soon with more cutout so will be good to try out.
WTB are no 1. Better then Specialized and better then Bontrager and better then Selle Italia .. Durability and Comfort of the WTB saddles are a proven formula . You can not go wrong with buying WTB saddles. Most likly once you buy a WTB saddles you will stay with WTB for ever. Simply the BEST.
Great video man!, once again! Definitely the trick with tinfoil will help me a lot next time! I'll keep some of that in my work shop, together with all the other DIY tools u help me build! Cheers!
FYI ... I STOPPED BY A LOCAL HOTEL LAUNDRY FACILITY AND ASK IF THEY HAD SOME OLD SHEETS I COULD HAVE ... TO MY SURPRISE THEY DID AND THE MANAGER GAVE ME 4 HOTEL USED SHEETS FOR FREE ... GET WAY FOR ANYONE TO PICK UP NEW RAGS WITHOUT COMING OUT OG POCKET! JUST THOUGHT I'D PASS THIS ON ... HOPE THIS HELPS? BIG AL GREAT VIDEOS!
Great video. The only thing problematic is the sit bone width to saddle width formula. This formula is fundamentally flawed because the posture used when measuring has no correlation to the posture used when riding. If anything, measuring you sit bones provides a reference.
“Perennial” means “continually recurring.” The channel in the center of bike saddles is for PERINEAL relief. Per - in - e - al. The anatomical area relieved is the perineum. You are neither the first nor the last to get this word wrong.
Thanks for sharing this info. On advice of my bike fitter I bought a Selle SMP for more stability on the saddle. I now used it for over 3000km but it keeps on hurting after 50km. I tried different angles of the nose but it always gets uncomfortable after about 50kms. I always get the feeling that my prostate is slowly pushed through the gap in the saddle because nothing is supporting it. It feels like you're almost sitting on 2 bars. The positive thing on this saddle is that it prevents pain in the back and that is most probably due to the upslope of the back part. I'm looking for something else because right now the saddle is what limits the distance that I can be on the bike.
I was at a bikefitter and he measured 114 mm sitbone with an he said i should take a the smaller one because i was riding with 145 and i had nonstop problems on the saddle.
