Nobody likes getting a sore bum when cycling. The Air Seat is made with that fact in mind, as it adds what is described as a “full-floating” coil suspension system to existing saddles.
Nobody likes getting a sore bum when cycling. The Air Seat is made with that fact in mind, as it adds what is described as a “full-floating” coil suspension system to existing saddles.
Are you aware of an overview of what anatomy fits which saddle? E.g. what does my fat ass need to not hurt for days after a couple of kilometres on my gravel bike?
Fizik does a good job of breaking down the shapes into 3 primary types. You are likely aligned with “the Bull” (Aliante) basic type shape, although this is in terms of road riding. A more upright geometry requires a different shape overall, but something with more curve and contour that extends a bit lower on the sides will likely help. In their terminology, you’re probably “less flexible.” This is all marketing mumble jumbo that is designed to get you locked in to the brand illogically. However, the principal of threes dictates that retail customers are happiest when they are offered three options in any product category. When I did my preseason ordering for saddles in the shops, regardless of what brand I was buying, I thought about the products overall in terms of the three types Fizik markets the road saddles under. These shapes also have an associated width difference. This is how I think of saddles and would stock the stores: 3 choices in the 3 types, plus 3 mountain, 3 triathlon, and 3 absolute lowest price I could find options.
There is an element of tolerance. Like it is debatable whether you break in a saddle or a saddle breaks in you, at least initially.
Here are the basic shapes just to show you the profiles:
The Aliante is on the left, middle is snake, right is chameleon. Marketing of flexibility below. Lastly a side profile showing how the saddle has more curve front to back as well.
Remember this is road bike specific where exact fit is far more important than elsewhere. Mountain saddles are less exaggerated in shapes. You’re expected to spend far less time on the bike and in the saddle so the fit is different and less pronounced. On mountain, your riding position is more upright for visibility and that is a compromise in your riding position. I ride the same saddle on road and mountain because I rarely ride mountain and my saddle fits me well. There is also the factor of bike fit with height and setback causing potential issues. If your seatpost is set too high, your hips will rock and can cause saddle related issues; if it is too low, you’ll feel it in knee pain.
Hopefully I have communicated the abstract principal and context that will help you develop productive expectations overall when looking at the various saddles available.
Wow thanks a lot!