Saddle sore already!

Not sure if saddles are technical, but here goes.

We just bought a couple of Kudos bikes and went on our first decent ride this morning ( around 25 miles with a stop midway for breakfast, mug of tea and a "99")

While the bikes performed brilliantly and the batteries still show as full ( we pedalled a lot) the saddles themselves turned out to be very uncomfortable. I know saddle choice is rather subjective, but can anyone recommend a nice comfy armchair type saddle?

With my other bikes ( MTB and a Brompton, fitted with Brookes saddles) I was more concerned with aching legs and trying to get my breath back rather than how my saddle felt, but with an electrically assisted bike, I don't have the aching legs and lungs and notice the saddle. I have tried the stock padded saddle and one of my Brookes saddles, both hurt after a few miles.

So, any suggestions for a nice comfy armchair type saddle please?

Both bikes are low step types, we are 5'11" ( me ) and 5'4" and probably packing a couple of pounds more than we should!

 

Allan

try a big bum saddle with a gel cover works for me

regards alan

If the Brookes is comfy on the Brommie, it ought to be OK on the Kudos - both bikes have a similar upright riding position.

 

Do you wear cycle shorts, padded or otherwise?

 

Ordinary underwear tends to ruck while cycling and scrape against the tender bits.

I've had a few saddles over the years, and I just got a Brooks B67 as an early birthday pressie. It's really comfortable.

 

You don't say what model Brooks you have, but I find the springs help a lot on bikes with no suspension.

I have a new saddle on the Brommie and an older one that I took off my MTB. Its fine on that bike but after about 10 miles today, I was getting numb. I guess I don't spend as much time sitting on the MTB....

Both Brookes are B17's and I have a suspension seat post on my Safari.

I might look at a B67, I used to have one many years ago, but at that time, any saddle was comfortable!

I like Alan's idea of the big bum saddle, what make is it?

Allan

I've gone for a Gel saddle cover from Lidl and find it really makes a difference.

At the start of last year I owned several saddles from the stock sports type to a big fat sprung specialized armchair. The sports thing felt like riding a brick and I went numb after only a few miles.

The armchair was oh so comfortable to start with but as my trips got longer my bits got sorer, it turned out the softness of the saddle was increasing the chaffing effect.

 

I found out from my local dealer that Specialized have a money back if not satisfied policy., so I brought one, took it back, tried another and changed that one as well.

Anywho, including the ones I already had, it took six saddles to get the right one (for me that is)

Now when I ride it doesn't matter wether I'm going 4 or 40 miles as long as I have my padded shorts and my specialized Milano Sport Gel Saddle.

A specialized dealer should have a but pad thing to sit on, this will tell you the width of saddle you need

its a selle smp big bum sprung comfort , got mine from amazon. just type that into amazon.

Just noticed Lidl getting these air pump cushioned saddles in next week.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?action=showDetail&id=15509&ar=11

I had the same problem of sore bum when I first started electric biking. I tried the Big Bum Comfort saddle, but it didn't work for me. It was great for short journeys, but bum-ache soon set in. I've tried just about everything else since, and it seems totally random which ones are comfy. My neighbour got a roadbike for nothing. It was advertised at £10, but when he got there, the bloke let him have it for nothing. On it was a lovely well-used and supple Brooks B17, which is now on his electric bike. It's the most instantly comfy seat I've ever tried, and he confirmed its long-ride comfort when he tested his new 30ah battery capacity from full to empty in one ride. My B67 and B17 should come today.

My B17 is over a year old but hadn't been used much. I used to ride to work, about 7 miles, but is was mostly on an old railway track, and I didn't usethe saddle much. I just adjusted the tension, it looked a bit loose, so I will see how I get on with it. I also ordered a Big Bum for Mrs A, should be here next week.

I'll be interested in how you get on with the B67

My Brooks Swift is still being run in at almost 1000 miles use, it may be just my backside that needs a few more miles. Time will tell, I have patience.

My B17 came today. It's hard as nails, and doesn't seem to be very comfortable. Saneagle's is beautifully compliant, and just moulds to your bum perfectly. I guess I'll have to wait about 40 years for mine to become like his. I wonder who'll reap the benefit?

My B17 came today. It's hard as nails, and doesn't seem to be very comfortable. Saneagle's is beautifully compliant, and just moulds to your bum perfectly. I guess I'll have to wait about 40 years for mine to become like his. I wonder who'll reap the benefit?

 

Mine took about 100 miles to to break in - that was 3 or 4 years ago.

 

I can honestly say I never even think about my bum when cycling. That as good as it gets in my book !

My B17 came today. It's hard as nails, and doesn't seem to be very comfortable. Saneagle's is beautifully compliant, and just moulds to your bum perfectly. I guess I'll have to wait about 40 years for mine to become like his. I wonder who'll reap the benefit?

 

Bear in mind they really don't like being rained on.

 

A lot of owners stuff a carrier bag underneath to deploy if the bike might be left out in the rain.

I think mine needs a bit of rain. It's slippery as ice and shows up that my bike is too small for me. I didn't notice with the old saddle.

You could have a mess around with the Proofride stuff.

 

My advice there would be to use a scrap pair of trousers/shorts - some inevitably rubs off on the crotch, making it look like you've had a little accident.

Thanks for the warning. That's as good as having a "kick me" notice on your back.

The bottom of my spine is shot from years of using tractors with metal seats and some days its so painful I have to roll onto my front to get off the sofa..

My bike has the standard Halfrauds saddle on which was uncomfortable so I got a Lidl MTB gel cover and that made it a bit better.

The following week when back in lidl I noticed they had the same cover but in "touring" size so bought one and it fits over the other and its a lot more comfortable now although I do have to spend some time hanging over the rear of the seat but thats down to my spine,not the saddle.

I am going to get one of these air saddles to try next week.

The Proofride works well, I used it underneath to stop the saddle getting wet from underneath and on top to soften it a bit. After a while, it does get comfier but riding now a more upright position, mine lost its appeal!

I ordered a Selle Big Bum saddle that came today. Mrs A didn't like it, said it was too wide at the front, so I fitted it to mine.

Just rode a couple of miles and it is more comfortable than the Brookes B17, but I'll wait till I have done a longer ride ( tomorrow) before I pass judgement.

Still fancy the B67 though.

Alan

I've now put about 80 miles on the Brooks B67. I have not had R's ache once.

 

I regularly ride with a laptop in a back pack, a load of other gubbins, and I'm no seven stone weakling.

 

Can't recommend it highly enough.

Thanks Mike, looks like one will be heading my way soon. If I like that more, the Big Bum will be going on my Mother in Laws bike.

Allan

My B67 came today. I put it on my touring bike. It's a lot more comfy than the B17, and better than everything I've tried so far apart from Saneagle's worn in B17.

My B67 came a couple of days ago. A rode a few miles on the SelleBig Bum, and comfy as it was, I noticed it was there. I fitted the Brookes. Didn't feel as comfy to start with but after a few miles, you forget you are sitting down.

I think that's the mark of a good saddle. I'll keep it on the bike and do a few more miles before passing judgement, but it certainly seems right to me.

Looks like I'll be having a saddle sale soon

I was browsing the Juicy website, when I noticed this plus a load of other Juicy stuff:

http://www.juicybike.co.uk/electric-bikes/leather-saddle

It looks like a Brooks copy at a fraction of the price. Who's going to buy and review one for us? I wish I'd seen it before I spent £140 on a pair of Brooks.

 

BTW The B67 is instantly more comfortable than the B17.