CoachingAnswer

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT CYCLING SADDLE?

By Anthony WalshRoadman CyclingUpdated 10 July 2026

ANSWER

Choosing the right saddle starts with measuring sit bone width, since a saddle too narrow or too wide for your anatomy causes discomfort regardless of padding or price. From there, saddle shape should match your riding position — a more upright position generally suits a wider, more padded saddle, while an aggressive aero position suits a narrower, firmer shape that supports the pelvis differently when rotated forward.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Sit bone width, measured properly, is the starting point — not brand reputation or padding thickness.
Saddle shape should match your riding position, not just your comfort at a standstill.
More padding isn't automatically more comfortable — excess padding can increase pressure in the wrong places.
Most bike shops and fitters offer sit bone measurement and saddle trial programmes — use them before buying.

WHO THIS IS FOR

IS THIS YOU?

The rider guessing at saddle choice by price or looks

You've bought saddles based on reviews or brand without ever having your sit bones measured or your position assessed.

The rider with persistent saddle discomfort

You've tried multiple saddles without resolving numbness or pain and suspect the issue is more fundamental than the saddle itself.

THE ROADMAN VIEW

Dr Andy Pruitt spent decades treating cyclists and the pattern he describes is consistent: riders chase saddle brands and padding levels when the actual mismatch is structural — the wrong width for their sit bones, or a shape that doesn't support their actual riding position. No amount of gel padding fixes a saddle that's fundamentally the wrong width.

The riding position piece gets missed constantly. A saddle that feels perfect sitting upright on a hybrid bike can be entirely wrong once a rider rotates forward into an aggressive road position, because the contact points on the pelvis shift. This is why a proper fit assesses saddle choice alongside position, not saddle choice in isolation.

Persistent numbness or pain isn't something to just tolerate through — it's a signal the setup is wrong, not that you need to toughen up. Left unaddressed, it can lead to genuine nerve or soft tissue issues that take far longer to resolve than finding the right saddle would have taken in the first place.

EXPERT EVIDENCE

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Dr Andy PruittCycling biomechanics expert, founder of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine
Saddle discomfort is very often a width or position mismatch, not a padding problem. Getting sit bones measured and matching saddle shape to actual riding position resolves the majority of chronic saddle issues that riders had assumed were just something to endure.
Hear it: The Correct Bike Fit Simplified | Dr Pruitt

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

DO THIS WEEK

Get your sit bones measured before buying
Most bike shops have a simple gel-pad or foam measurement tool that takes minutes. This narrows saddle width choice from guesswork to a specific range.
Match saddle shape to your actual riding position
If you ride in an aggressive, forward-rotated position most of the time, look at narrower, firmer saddles designed for that posture rather than a wide, heavily padded touring-style saddle.
Use a trial or demo programme if available
Many brands and shops offer saddle trial periods. A saddle that feels fine in a five-minute shop test can reveal issues only after a genuine 60-90 minute ride — testing over real distance matters.

COMMON MISTAKES

WHAT CYCLISTS GET WRONG

MISTAKEChoosing a saddle based on brand reputation or price alone.
FIXStart with a sit bone measurement and match shape to your riding position. These two factors predict comfort far better than price or brand.
MISTAKEAssuming more padding always means more comfort.
FIXExcess padding can compress and create pressure points in the wrong places, particularly on longer rides. A well-shaped, moderately padded saddle that matches your anatomy often outperforms a heavily cushioned generic one.
MISTAKETolerating persistent numbness as normal.
FIXOngoing numbness or pain signals a setup mismatch that needs addressing — via saddle, position, or both — rather than something to push through indefinitely.

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I measure my sit bone width at home?

Sit on a piece of corrugated cardboard on a hard surface for a minute, then measure the distance between the centre of the two indentations left by your sit bones. It's a rough approximation — a proper shop measurement tool is more reliable, but this gives a useful starting range.

Do men and women need different saddles?

Anatomical differences mean saddle shape needs sometimes differ by sex, but the more reliable guide is individual sit bone width and riding position rather than sex alone. Many brands offer both 'men's' and 'women's' saddle lines, but fit should be judged on measurement, not label.

Should my saddle change if I change riding position?

Potentially, yes. A significant position change — moving to a more aggressive aero setup, for example — shifts how your pelvis contacts the saddle, and a saddle that worked in your old position may not suit the new one. Reassess saddle choice alongside any major fit change.

RELATED EPISODES

HEAR THE CONVERSATIONS

The Correct Bike Fit Simplified | Dr Pruitt