How many types of bike seats are out there?

In the entire history of cycling as a sports activity or as a physical activity, the bicycle seat was kind of always neglected. It is undoubtedly the most important part of the bicycle as it keeps the rider posture straight.

Although it is so important, it took about 150 years of research to make it perfect. However, after all these years, we can definitely say that it is the most sophisticated man product ever made. It looks after your bottom after all.

Now, throughout the years there have been many designs of the bike seat or saddle as they call it. There are so many designs that are enough to confuse a total beginner. Beginner riders can hardly tell which one to buy or which one is best for them.

Well, have no fear. As usual I have come up with another blog that is going to tell you all about the types of bike seats. So just keep on reading.

What are the different types of bike seats?

There have been many designs of bicycle seats. Bicycle seats improved and changed along with bicycle designs. The reason is that a comfortable and strong bicycle seat that goes along with the riding style is really important. Now, since everyone’s riding style is different there are different types of bike seats out there.

1. Lightweight saddles

Bicycle seats are not like bicycle saddles. Bicycle saddles are different. They are not meant to carry your body weight all the time.

Either way there are many saddle types out there. The one I am talking about here is the competitive type. By that I mean the ones that are used for racing.

The racing saddles are very thin and lightweight. They completely remove the chance of skin chafing and they increase leg rotation. However, like I said earlier, they are not meant to carry your body weight all the time. They are not made for sitting and that is why they are not on the comfortable side.

2. Comfy seats

By the name you can already tell that these ones are meant for comfort. They are made to carry your weight all the time and give you comfort while at it.

They are much wider compared to racing saddles. They have soft padding to cushion your seat and absorb shock when going through bumpy roads. They are made for long distance cycling where you will need to sit along the road.

Since they are wide with a very small nose, they are great for female riders as well. These bike seats are mostly made of foam with gel infused with them.

3. Cruiser bike seats

Cruiser bicycles have upright handlebars. This means that most of the rider’s weight will be on the seat. This is why cruiser bicycle seats are not held by one post, rather they are held by two posts.

Cruiser saddles are long in shape, sort of like a banana and they have good light cushioning too. They are made for easy, relaxed riding with little effort. Most kids’ bikes have these types of seats.

4. Mountain bike seats

Mountain biking requires swiftness and an agile physique. Let’s just say it, mountain biking is not for noobs. Only those who have experience with advanced bicycle riding can actually ride the mountains. And so they require a special type of seat.

This seat is narrow and thin, but has little cushioning. The cushioning is mostly in the back of the seat, so that the rider can move back and slide the bike while riding. The thin nose of the bike seat allows the rider to move forward. 

These types of maneuvers are important in mountain biking as they will help in sliding through slopes and hills. And that is why the seat is designed this way.

By the way the hard part of the seat is to force you to stay upright with little sitting. This prevents nerve injury. If you ride the mountains while sitting you might damage your nerves on your sitz bones. That’s the reason why mountain bike seats are soft but hard at the same time.

5. Gel cushion bike seats

Gel bike seats are made for those who are not regular riders. Those who want to ride short distances and just enjoy their free time use this type of bike seat. These bike seats are just like comfort bike seats. Except gel bike seats have less durability. 

The best thing about gel bike seats is that they can distribute body weight evenly. You can easily understand that this bike seat is for those who are not an expert with bicycles. It helps them sit upright on their bike.

Since these bike seats have gel in them and not foam, there is no chafing of skin. There is no sweat and heat trapping as the gel quickly releases heat. Gel bike seats are usually wide and are very light.

6. Suspension bike seats

As the name suggests, these bike seats have suspension springs below their seats. Suspension bike seats have a rough texture and are very hard. They are not made for comfort. Their main purpose is to help ride in uneven terrain like rocky paths. They are best suited for hybrid bicycles.

7. Cut out bike seats

The cut out design is made to remove numbness or any pain from the groin area. It is basically a narrow bike seat with cushioning that is mainly to stop discomfort. 

It can be made with any material and for any purpose like mountain biking, road biking etc.

8. Cushioned wide bike seats

This type of bike seat is made specifically for female riders and those who have problems staying up right on a bike. These seats are cushioned and very wide. So it’s obviously for those who do not want to ride aggressively.

They are nicely padded all around and have a little bit of suspension at the bottom. They are quite heavy, probably the heaviest.

9. Noseless bike seats

Noseless bike seats or bike seats that have their front part cut off are meant to support the riders. By support we mean as comfortable and as delicate as possible to the rider’s pelvic area.

By nature we are meant to sit on our sitz bone which is right under our pelvis. Now our groin is just right in front of it with perineum nerves. We need to protect our groin from road bumps while cycling otherwise we will hurt our perineum nerves.

That’s the reason why cut out bike seats exist. Except noseless bike seats work better because the noseless bike seats have a solid cut in front of them.

I hope now you have a somewhat idea of the different types of bike seats. Since I have also mentioned their purposes I hope you now also know which one to get. Don’t worry I will explain even more clearly in the next section.

Choosing the right bike saddle or seat

Alright as promised I will help you choose the right bike seat or saddle for you. Basically I will put down a list of questions below. All you have to do is ask yourself these questions when you are choosing your bike seat to buy.

1. What is your riding style?

This should be your first question. You obviously bought your bicycle or you are buying your bicycle for a purpose. Your reason to ride a bike will be your riding style.

Just like when you are first choosing your bike for a reason, you need to think the same when buying a bike seat. Maybe you want to ride a bicycle for exercising, commuting, touring, mountain biking or just cruising. Select a bike seat based on your riding.

2. What type of cushion are you looking for?

Since you already know your riding style, you should easily be able to choose your cushion. By cushion I mean “cushion or not cushion”, which means either hard saddle or soft and comfortable saddle.

Maybe your riding is performance focused. In that case you should get a hard saddle, the type of saddle which forces you to keep pedaling.

Or, if you are more of a weekend rider or just want to relax cycling, then get a cushion saddle. They are comfortable and will keep you up right the entire ride.

Speaking of comfort you should go check out the SGODDE Comfortable bike seat. I recommend it if you are looking for a good bike seat.

3. Do you want a cut out?

Cut out seats are made to protect your perineum area. To make sure that part of the seat does not mess with your groin. Since everyone’s anatomy is different, it is good to try out a seat before buying.

By trying one out, you will know whether the seat is comfortable for you or not. You can go for cut out ones, noseless ones or padded cut ones.

4. Which material should you go for?

Bike saddles or seats are made of different materials.

Synthetic ones are the most popular ones right now. They are lightweight and they require very low maintenance. They can have cushioning like gel or foam.

Leather saddles are made of leather as they said. Since they have leather on, they don’t have any cushioning and they are hard. Leather saddles have one problem and that is they are not waterproof. 

And lastly, cotton bike saddles. Cotton as a cover material is great. It is soft and stretchy and breathable. Cotton cover bike saddles are actually very comfortable.

Now you decide which one you want to go for.

5. What size should you go for?

Now, everyone’s anatomy is different. Everyone has different sizes. It is better to try out physically and find the best suit for you.

I hope now you have an idea. You can use these questions to evaluate or justify which bike seat is best for you. You can also just give the answers as information to the sales person. They will be able to help you out too.

Should I buy a noseless bike seat?

Noseless bike seats or no nose bike seats are basically bike seats that have their front part cut out. The front portion of the bike seat has been removed to give more freedom to the thighs to pedal. Also, the noseless portion absolutely leaves the groin area untouched.

This is great for those who have a hard time adjusting to the seat. Some people have problems in their perineum area trying to sit on narrow bicycle seats. The cut out portion helps a lot in this case.

Now, are they any good or not? Yes and no. They are good for people who have trouble in their groin area with sitting on their bike seats. Problems like:

1. Sexual Dysfunction

A problem created from sitting on a bike seat for too long. The nerves and veins of the groin get squeezed and damaged from the pressure of sitting on uncomfortable bike seats. This causes sexual organs to become insensitive or not function fully.

2. Blocked blood flow

Pressure on the blood veins of the groin area blocks the blood flow to the thighs and hips. This causes discomfort, numbness and changes in overall body blood flow.

3. Numbness

Obviously the first problem you are going to face from this kind of problem is numbness in the groin area. You might even feel delayed soreness in that area later in the day.

To avoid these types of problems, a noseless bike seat is very effective. But for those who have to slide pushing their bike seat like in mountain biking, a noseless bike seat is not ideal.

Since noseless bike seats have little support on the front portion of the seat, it is hard to move forward on the bike seat. It is hard to perform some of the acrobatic maneuvers on a noseless bike seat.

So considering these factors you decide whether you want a noseless bike seat or not. My advice would be the same as before, try it before you buy it.

Are gel bike seats any good?

Gel bike seats are basically bike seats that are cushioned with soft gel. It is basically foam with gel infused in it.

Gel bike seats are very comfortable when they are freshly bought. They stay soft and puffy for the first few months. Then the gel starts to wear out over time. Basically the gel dries out and loses its capability to form a cushion.

This causes the bike seat to become hard. The bike seat won’t feel as comfortable after that. You might have to switch to a new one after that.

These bike seats are great for beginners to let them adjust to bike riding. Once they understand the nook and cranny of bicycle gears they will be able to pick a new seat for themselves.

Tips to make bike saddles more comfortable

Maybe you don’t need to buy a new saddle. Maybe you can make your current saddle a bit more comfortable. I am assuming you are not going into some marathon race and you just want to enjoy your ride.

Well in that case, you can try out some of my tips to improve your saddle. Give them a try, what’s to lose?

Tip# 1 

Check your saddle positioning. Is it too high or too low? Make sure your saddle gives you an upright posture when you sit on it.

How will you check it? Sit on your bike saddle with your hands on the handlebar. Now check if your back is arching or not. If it’s not arching then your seat is in a good position. If your back is arching then your seat needs to be adjusted.

Tip# 2

Don’t sit on your bicycle all the time while riding. When you go over bumps or road cracks, try to stand on your pedals. This way your legs will absorb the shock and not your bum.

Also, when you are riding try to get off your saddle every few often. This will allow blood to flow back to your legs and gluteus again.

Tip# 3

Get good bicycle shorts. Bicycle shorts are padded so you don’t have to worry about the cushioning on your seat. Bicycle pads will work as your underwear and your cushion.

And that’s about it. These tips worked for me especially the cycling shorts one. Bicycle shorts are a life and money saver. So invest in one.

How to get the right size for bike seats?

Bike seats come in different sizes to match and support the different anatomy of our bodies. This is why finding the right bicycle seat size is quite the challenge but not impossible. Generally we all need a bicycle seat that fits perfectly under our sit bones.

The ideal bicycle saddles are wide enough to seat comfortably on them but not too wide to restrict leg movement. Some times when the bike seat does not suit our anatomy, they can cause chaffing on the skin. However, the material of the bike seat cover is mostly responsible for the chaffing.

Bicycle seats vary based on gender as well. Bicycle seats that are made for women are typically wider than men’s seats. Their differences allow them to comfortably support the Ischial Tuberosity or the sit bone.

A saddle or bike seat dimension is easy to figure out. Most manufacturers give the dimension of the bicycle seat on the package. However, in order to find the perfect match for your body needs a little try out.

Yes, you will literally have to sit and try our bike seats to find the right seat for you. The one that doesn’t cause you discomfort.

F.A.Q.s

Do all bike seats fit all bikes?

Yes, I can tell you surely that you can change any bike seats. All bike seats or bike saddles are changeable.

Is cycling bad for your balls?

Cycling in general is not hurtful to your testicles. Cycling is just an exercise just like any other exercise. Unadjusted bike seat positions are the ones that hurt your balls while riding.

Are gel bike seats any good?

Gel bikes are great when they are new. As you use them more and more the gel dries out and so does the soft comfortable feeling. Gel bike seats are great for newbies, to encourage them.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bike seat depends heavily on your body type, size, shape and weight. But most importantly, your riding style. After all, you are going to sit on it for a long time.

However, most people who are new to cycling don’t know these factors. They don’t know how to choose the right bike seat. They often mess up and get uncomfortable ones.

Even more, they don’t know how to fix their seat position. I have written a lot of words explaining why it is so important to fix your bike seat position. It affects your posture.Well, hopefully this blog on the types of bike seats is enough to give you knowledge on choosing the right bike seat. The one that is best for you.