When it comes to choosing a saddle for your bike, one size doesn’t fit all. There are key differences between men’s saddles and women’s saddles that should not be ignored when choosing your next seat, such as length, padding, and width.
What’s the difference between men’s and women’s saddles?
Women’s saddles are generally shorter in length and wider at the rear to accommodate a wider sit bone structure and pelvic arch. Cut-outs also appear more frequently in women’s saddles, as women often have more soft tissue and can be more susceptible to discomfort in this area.
There are some women’s saddles that are almost noseless too, meaning there is no hard material underneath the soft padding at the nose.
Men’s saddles are generally longer. This reflects differences in pelvic structure and nerve sensitivity.
Despite these key differences between male and female anatomy, everybody has a unique body. To get the best idea of how a saddle should fit, it’s always recommended to measure your sit bones.
Choosing The Right Bike Saddle
The right saddle can make or break your ride. Different riding styles place your body in different positions, so comfort, support, and saddle shape matter far more than price or looks alone.
Mountain Bike Saddles
When it comes to mountain or hybrid cycling, comfort is key. Riders typically sit in a more upright position, so choosing a saddle with a wider rear is a smart option—aim for roughly 20mm wider than your sit bone measurement. MTB saddles are designed for durability and varied riding positions, with extra padding to dampen vibrations from rough terrain. If you’re tackling jumps, drops, and tight turns, this added cushioning helps provide a softer landing. A rounded, often slightly shorter profile also prevents the saddle from catching on shorts, improving freedom of movement and control on technical trails.
Endurance
If you’re travelling long distances, adding around 10mm to your sit bone width can help balance comfort and performance, allowing you to manage the miles more comfortably.
Road Racing
For road racing, you don’t want to add extra width to the saddle. A wider saddle adds unnecessary weight and can increase pressure at the front, which may lead to discomfort, so always think about the shape of the saddle, as you’ll be in a static position for longer on a road bike.
What to Consider When Buying a Saddle
There are a few key things to consider when buying your saddle, so don’t judge by the price or looks alone. Comfort, fit, and performance matter far more in the long run.
Padding
It’s easy to assume that more padding means a more comfortable ride, but that’s not always the case. Gel saddles can feel great on short trips or when riding in a more upright position, such as on a city bike. Over time, however, the gel can shift under your weight and lose its shape, which may push pressure into soft tissue and lead to discomfort.
Firmer saddles, including leather options, often take a little longer to break in. Once they do, they tend to offer better support and long-term comfort, especially on longer rides.
Grooves and Cut-Outs
Many modern saddles include a central groove or cut-out designed to reduce pressure in sensitive areas. This helps improve comfort and supports healthy blood flow, making a noticeable difference on longer journeys or regular rides.
Rails
Saddle rails are the bars underneath the saddle that attach it to the seat post. Most saddles use aluminium or steel rails, which offer a reliable balance of strength and durability. Premium saddles may use titanium or carbon fibre rails to reduce overall weight while maintaining performance.
How Do I Measure My Sit Bones?
You can measure your sit bones by following these simple steps:
- Gather materials – Grab a piece of cardboard, a ruler or tape measure, and a pen.
- Sit on the cardboard – Place the cardboard on a hard, level surface such as a chair or the floor. Sit down and lean forward slightly to mimic your riding position.
- Mark the indents – After sitting for a short while, stand up and use your pen to circle the indents caused by your sit bones.
- Measure the distance – Use a ruler or tape measure to measure the distance between the two circles. Measure in millimetres, but you can convert this to inches if needed.
Now that you’ve measured your sit bone width, explore our range of bike saddles.
How to fix an uncomfortable saddle
There are a couple of things you can do if you’re finding that your saddle is uncomfortable.
Chafing
If your saddle is too high, you’ll take weight off your pedals and put more pressure on your sit bones. This can cause your hips to rock from side to side, leading to your thighs chafing on the edges of the saddle.
To combat this, use an Allen key to adjust the height of your seat post, making small adjustments until your foot is on the pedal with a slight bend in your knee. You shouldn’t be able to place both feet flat on the floor while seated in the saddle. If you can, the saddle is set too low.
Neck and Back Pain
If you’re reaching too far forward to reach your handlebars, this can cause neck strain and lower back pain. Overextending also puts more pressure on the front of the saddle.
To fix this, try fitting a shorter stem to bring the handlebars closer to you. If you’re road cycling, a set of drop handlebars can also help shorten your reach.
You should also pay attention to the angle of the saddle as well. If the nose is tilted too high, it can increase pressure on the soft tissues; too low, and your weight is pushed forward, placing extra strain on your arms, shoulders, and neck. A level saddle is always the best place to start. Using a spirit level or an angle-measuring app on your phone can help you get it right.
From there, make small adjustments, raising or lowering the nose slightly, until it feels comfortable and balanced for your riding style.
Losing Efficiency
Your saddle position makes a big difference to how efficient you are on the bike.
If the saddle is too far forward, you’ll put extra strain on your upper body, arms, hands, and shoulders. If it’s too far back, you may struggle to put power down on climbs and maintain speed on flat sections.
To fix this, ask someone to hold a piece of string from your dominant knee down to the pedal, with your cranks parallel to the ground and your foot in a forward position. The string should fall through the pedal axle. If it falls in front of the axle, move the saddle back. If it falls behind the axle, move the saddle forward.
If you need help upgrading your bike saddle, then we offer an accessory fitting service for a small fee of £5, to take the hassle out of setting up your saddle perfectly.