How do you make a bike saddle more comfortable?

Every cyclist has had the conversation with their saddle. It usually happens on day two of a cycling holiday, or about forty minutes into the first long ride of spring, and it goes badly for both parties. The good news is that most saddle discomfort comes from a few fixable things, and very little of it requires buying a sofa cushion for your bike.

Check the height

A saddle that is too low makes you sit heavily and pushes more weight onto your seat; set it too tall and you rock side to side, which rubs. A simple starting point:

• Sit on the bike, leaning against a wall, and put your heel on the pedal at its lowest point.
• Your leg should be almost straight.
• When you ride normally, with the ball of your foot on the pedal, there will be a slight bend at the knee.

If your hips rock from side to side as you pedal, lower it a little. Move in small steps, a few millimetres at a time, and ride between changes.

Check the tilt

Most people are comfortable with the saddle roughly level. Nose tilted up tends to press where you least want pressure; nose tilted down makes you slide forward and push on the handlebars. Put a spirit level or a phone level app on it and start from flat, then adjust by a degree or two if needed.

Check the position

Saddles slide forwards and backwards on their rails. A common starting point is that, with the pedals level, your forward knee sits roughly above the pedal. If you find yourself perched on the nose, or shuffling back all the time, the saddle may be too far forward or back, or the handlebars may be too far away. Our guide to choosing the right bike size covers reach.

Why softer is not always better

It feels logical that a big squishy saddle would be more comfortable. For short rides in normal clothes, on an upright city bike, a softer, wider saddle can indeed be lovely. On longer rides in a more leaning position, deep padding can compress, bunch up and press into soft tissue, while a firmer saddle of the right width lets you rest on your sit bones, the two bony points you sit on.

Many bike shops can measure your sit bone width with a simple pad you sit on, then suggest saddles that match. Many also lend test saddles, which is worth asking about: saddles are personal, and the one your friend swears by may not suit you at all.

Padded shorts, worn properly

Padded cycling shorts make a big difference on longer rides. Two rules that everyone learns the hard way:

• No underwear underneath. The pad is designed to sit against your skin; seams under it cause the rubbing you are trying to avoid.
• Fresh pair every ride. Wash them after each use.

Chamois cream, an anti-chafe cream for the pad area, helps some riders on long days. Our page on padded cycling shorts goes into detail.

Give yourself time

Some soreness at the start of the season, or when you first start riding, is common while you get used to sitting on a saddle again. Build ride length gradually rather than jumping straight to a long day. On longer rides, stand up on the pedals for a few seconds every so often, especially on gentle rises, to take the pressure off.

When to get help

If you have numbness, sharp pain or soreness that does not settle between rides, it is worth seeing a professional bike fitter, and speaking to a doctor if symptoms persist. A bike fit looks at the whole position, not just the saddle, and can make a surprising difference.