Saddles can be difficult – every bum is different, a perch that’s absolute perfection for one rider might be the most uncomfortable thing in the world for another.
The saddle you ride on is one of the most important elements of your overall bike fit – when we spoke to Osteopath and ex-pro cycling Alice Monger-Godfrey she explained that a bad saddle can indeed cause problems with alignment and position.
Monger-Godfrey told us: “If you’re experiencing pain, your body will try anything to get out of that pain. So if you have a boil or a blister, your body will shift so you’re not sitting on that part, and that changes the mechanics of your pedal stroke. A lot of people don’t see it that way, they just think it’s a saddle sore but it can have more repercussions.”
Though there is no one saddle brand to rule them all, we do notice that a notable number of female riders choose Selle Italia – and we don’t think that’s a pure coincidence.
The brand was founded in 1897, and today they’re a world leader – renowned for their scientific research into new materials, the pursuit of cutting-edge technological solutions and design. Marrying these together allows them to meet the needs of a wide range of individuals – from amateurs to professional riders.
In 1984 they created the first shock absorbing system – using three integrated pads on the key contact points between the rail and saddle. In 1990, they made the ‘Flite’ – the first saddle that was less than 200 grams and in 1991 they brought out their ‘Genuine Gel’ inserts for comfort. Come 1998, they created the ‘Tans AM’ – their first saddle to have an opening in the middle (now called a cut out) to help relieve pressure – something a high number of women are after. In 2012 that cut out grew, with the SLR Superflow designed to provide an answer for those suffering with soft tissue discomfort.
