If the saddle doesn't fit perfectly, trouble is inevitable. We tell you what's important.
The main load of the body rests on a particularly small surface, the saddle. So it's no wonder that 60 per cent of cyclists complain of sitting problems. But be careful: just because your sit bones hurt doesn't necessarily mean the saddle is the wrong one. SQ-Lab founder Tobi Hild explains: "The solution is not a soft saddle, because the soft material often presses against the blood vessels and tendons, which cannot tolerate pressure or friction." This is because there is a lot going on in the perineal area: nerves, blood vessels and tendons. They are all sensitive to pain, but that is not the problem. It becomes dangerous when numbness develops in the long term. It is important that the saddle is adjusted to the sit bone distance. In most cases, this is ten to twelve centimetres. Hild explains: "If you can feel the sit bones when you try it out, the saddle fits, and if the perineal area is relieved by a lowered saddle nose or a recess, the rest is just a matter of getting used to it." With a hard saddle, it's important to get used to it over the long term. You should ride a longer distance at least once a week so that your sit bones don't become sensitive again.
For women, the genital area and the low pubic bone are the problem. Soft saddles, high saddle noses and a stretched sitting position lead to pressure points and numbness. Relief, as shown in the picture on the right, can help. Men have a similar problem. In their case, however, the protruding genital area presses against the saddle. In most cases, a cut-out in the saddle helps to prevent pain and numbness.
PRODUCTS: Saddle with slot or trough?
