Best Road Bike Seats 2021 Buying Guide
You can have the best road bike in the world but it would still not be comfortable enough if you don’t have the right bike seat for yourself. A seat is an important component of any bike, as it determines the level of comfort that you can expect while riding your bike. An uncomfortable bike seat would ruin your bike riding experience and you certainly do not want that.
Bike seats come in various types, designs, and options. Different bike seats suit different body types, body weights and heights, which is why it’s really important to understand how to find the right bike seat for yourself. While choosing the best road bike seat might not be as easy as you think it is, this guide lays everything out clearly for you to be able to understand and choose one of the best road bike seats in 2021.
Which is the Best Cushioning that You Can Get for Your Road Bike Seat?
Cushioning is one of the most important things that you need to consider while looking for the best road bike seat. The cushioning is responsible for providing you with a comfortable riding experience and appropriate cushioning will ensure that you do not get tired even while travelling for longer distances. There are multiple variations that you can opt for while selecting a cushioning for your road bike seat and you can choose the one that suits you the best.
Zero Cushioning
Some people prefer absolutely no cushioning at all, which means that it’s just the frame of the saddle and a cover made of leather/cotton over it. Riders claim that new saddles without any sort of cushioning are likely to adjust according to the shape of the body over time, which makes them more comfortable to ride. Moreover, bike seats with no cushioning also tend to stay relatively cooler and would make you sweat less. While this type of saddle might not work for everyone, it comes down to personal preferences and subjective comfort.
Foam
Foam is one of the most popular types of cushioning that you can get for your road bike seat. It is quite comfortable due to the adjustable nature of the material, which also provides a lot of support while riding the bike. Foam is also preferred for longer distances as it is sturdier and its shape does not get compromised that easily.
Gel
Gel cushioning is also quite popular due to the sort of comfort that it offers. It’s arguably the most comfortable cushioning that you can opt for, given the nature of gel. While gel is more likely to lose its firmness, it is preferred for shorter rides.
Bike Seat Pad
A bike seat pad is an additional layer of padding or cushioning that you can place over the seat if you believe that the existing cushioning is not working out for you. While a bike seat pad does allow you to add or remove the additional layer whenever you want to, it is also important to consider that a bike seat pad would not be stable enough as there would be nothing to firmly hold it in place.
Which is the Best Road Bike Seat Cover Material?
Another one of the most important components of a bike seat is the seat cover. The cover is the surface that is going to come into contact with your body, hence it is important to understand which material would be the most suitable for you. While each material has its own pros and cons, the choice depends on your preferences, requirements, and needs.
Leather Cover
Leather is a commonly-used material for road bike seat covers. As discussed above, leather is often used for seats that use no cushioning, as leather is capable of adjusting according to the rider, making it comfortable to ride. Leather is also sometimes preferred due to the look and feel that it provides.
On the other hand, leather lacks water resistance/proofing capabilities, which means that it can get damaged due to moisture if not cared for properly. Leather would also not be the most suitable material if sweat is something that bothers you during road riding.
Cotton Cover
Cotton is another material that is often used for road bike seat covers. Cotton is more stretchable and relatively more comfortable compared to leather. It also adjusts according to the rider’s weight and height quicker than leather does, which is why some people prefer cotton over other materials.
Synthetic Material Cover
Synthetic is one of the most popular materials that are used to make bike seat covers. It is easy to produce, lightweight, and easy to maintain, making it the go-to choice for a lot of riders.
Which is the Best Road Bike Seat Rails Material?
Road bike seat rails are amongst the most important things that you need to consider while purchasing the best road bike seats. These rails can be made of several materials and you can choose the one that suits your requirements.
Carbon is one of the best materials that you can opt for due to its lightweight and better shock absorbing capabilities; however, carbon is usually expensive and would not be feasible for all price ranges.
Alloy is one of the most popular options that are used to make bike seat rails, followed by steel and titanium. While steel is quite strong, it is also very heavy at the same time, which is why people prefer alloy over it. Titanium is quite suitable for the best road bike seat rails but it is also very expensive.
Are Non-slip road bike seats worth it?
Some people find bike seats really slippery, which makes it difficult for them to ride, especially over longer distances. If you do not have a good grip over your saddle, you will not be able to ride comfortably and it might also become dangerous if it gets too slippery.
Consequently, you can opt for non-slip bike saddles that come with some sort of gripping mechanism to make it less slippery and easier to grip. Non-slip bike saddles are quite easy to find. All you need to do is look for what you want, try it out, and you’re good to go.
FAQs
Does more cushioning mean more comfort?
Not necessarily. Excessive padding can also make your ride unformattable, which is why you need to find the right type and amount of cushioning for the best road bike saddles.
What is the difference between Men’s and Women’s Road Bike Seats?
While most saddles are unisex, some of them are designed specifically to suit a specific gender. In our opinion, gendered saddles aren’t exactly perfect for you, as there are a large number of different body types, weights, and heights that fall under a single gender, which is why it’s better to try it out and choose the one that is comfortable enough.
Do the best road bike saddles come in different sizes?
The width of a road bike seat is important and you should certainly consider it while buying one. The seat should be wide enough to provide sufficient support to your body, otherwise your ride would become uncomfortable.