Do You Need A Cutout Saddle? | Saddles Explained | Cycling Weekly
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ก.พ. 2021
- If you’ve ever experienced numbness or pain down below when riding your bike, then this is the video for you.
Today, we're going to talk to you about what different types of discomfort can tell you about what type of saddle you need. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comment section below?
In association with Specialized: www.specialized.com/gb/en
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If you feel discomfort after several hours of riding it’s potentially because you’ve just done several hours of riding.
nah, i can ride my cheap e-bike with the stock saddle for 10 minutes and shit goes numb down there and is extremely uncomfortable. It's not "ow my butt hurts" after sitting for 4 hours, it's "why does that feel that way thats not natural" lol
The theory on cut-out saddles is that "where there is nothing, nothing can cause pressure", but my experience is "where there is nothing, there is something around that nothing that causes pressure", because I would always feel the edge of the hole cutting into my butt. That's why I prefer saddles with a solid, flat shell to evenly distribute all the pressure.
Thank you! Dr. Schrader and others have definitively proven that saddles with cutouts can actually make things worse!:
Dr. Steven Schrader with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): “When you sit on a bike the pressure on the perineum increases sevenfold. Riders using a classic saddle place 1/4 of their body weight on the perineum. The amount of oxygen reaching the ***** typically falls 70% to 80% in 3 minutes. A guy can have his oxygen levels drop 100% but he doesn’t know it. After half an hour he goes numb.
Saddles with splits or holes may make matters worse because they have smaller surface areas, and hence the rider’s weight presses harder on less saddle. The arteries in the perineum run laterally and therefore they come under more pressure when they come into contact with the cutouts’ edges. It is no longer a question of whether or not traditional bike saddles causes ED, but what are you going to do about it?”
The solution IS The Spongy Wonder No Nose Bike Seat!
They work for some and not for others
@@troycarpenter3675 Wrong. They damage some more than others but everyone gets damage.
The worst thing about this is even after watching these videos you'd probably end up having to buy at least 5 saddles before you find the right one for you
Yes, there is really no way around trying different saddles to arrive at your preferred one by elimination.
If you live nearby Fizik authorised dealer, you can get test saddle, till you found the perfect one for you
Thats why professional bike fit is paramount so it takes out the guess work. Lots of people spend tons on their bikes but aren’t willing to make an investment on getting a proper bike fit that solves lots of issues like finding the right saddle for that individual.
@@PhiyackYuh pretty sure it's us peasants who spent 1000£ on a bike who isn't bothered to spend half the bikes' value on a bike fit
@@turbojigger I just purchased a fizik argo r5 online, read the reviews but could not test. i've never felt so much pain. i'm hoping this is temporary.
Watched a ton of videos and this is the ONLY one I needed to watch. Thank you!!!
I'm not a pro or 'serious' rider. I don't wear lycra. I'm not built like a greyhound. I'm a woman who has to cycle about 70 miles a week, every week, because I can't afford a car these days, and can't afford public transport either.
I've got an old (teenaged) steel-framed road bike. It came from Halfords originally ("Ewww!") and has been DIY-converted to carry cargo (25kg of groceries for myself and my immediate neighbours who are elderly and infirm), so it's basically a mule with wheels.
It's worth about £30. Yes, that's right, bike snobs: thirty quid, not three hundred or three thousand. Don't laugh. It does the job.
I live in the north of England - it's hilly and windy, and cycling for me is a cold, wet, exhausting, miserable chore. Yay for cycling.
My saddle cost a fiver. I don't even know the brand. It's wide and firm, much like my posterior (ho ho), so it's adequate. I spend most of my time out of it anyway, standing on the pedals, so I've not encountered any 'down there comfort issues' over the past 16+ years.
One thing I DO like about this kind of pillow-talk saddle-talk is that it forces everyone to acknowledge that men and women really are DIFFERENT. Hooray! No more tiptoeing about the subject. What a joy that is to see in these ludicrous, multi-sex, optional gender, "we're all identically different on Tuesdays and Fridays" times.
Yes, we're built differently. Ain't biology wonderful. C'mon, now - say it loud and say it proud: I'm a human; hear me roar. I'm a rider who's not sore.
But I am skint.
I'm sure the Specialized peeps are all jolly splendid chaps, but I'm equally sure that a woman who rides a £30 bike couldn't afford any of their products. Yep, cycling on a budget is a pain in the bum, and no amount of new saddle tech will relieve the agony of parting with cash... ;-)
I gave up obsessing over it and just got a Brooks Imperial and called it a day. It's fine.
nice commercial..
I mean that's probably the easiest way to get this many different saddles at once ... though yeah why can't we have a Linus Tech Tips for cycling?
Yes. Have Sworks Phenom saddle at 162~ g and it is wonderful to ride long-distances.
Best saddle selection help video I have seen. For those complaining, the same principles apply to all brands...
A really poor advert for Specialised. The only reason I stuck with it to see if bike fit was mentioned, it wasn’t. Before even considering a new saddle the bike fit should be looked at first, it will solve many comfort problems - even very minor adjustments can have a significant impact. Come on Cycling Weekly, you are better than this.
20-dollar saddle off Amazon keeps my tush feeling really nice 👌
I found I had to ride a different saddle indoors than outside. As you are sitting in the same position.
Ended up with a Selle SMP well M1
Excellent choice of topic, saddles are an important component of a bike, I am glad you made a video on it. Thanks for posting
should be good if you make a list of all the saddles you've show of, it would be fantastic if these are all linked in your description. But video helps anyway. Thanks
Great video
now I see how little I knew about saddles. I use the saddle that came with the bike. After doing some long ride I got nasty boils, sth that never happened with my old bike. On my old bike however I experienced numbness when ridind in low position
I would like to hear more about the flair shape and its design/function theory. I am about to pull the trigger on a Power Pro Elaston or a Power Arc Pro Elaston (sitting on a board vs a log I hear) and my sitbone width is 118 which rates me on a 143 saddle but close to a 155. Trying to decide if I am so close to a 155 saddle if I will be rolling off of the 143 on my Specialized Epic "XC" bike. Any advice or a video discussing this would be helpful. I find that saddle type, height and position are the greatest mysteries of bike fitting ;-P
When I got my bike recently (time to do some sports), it came with sporty saddle almost zero cushioning. Felt mega uncomfortable considering I do all terrain ride (so from smooth new tarmac, thru old bumpy tarmac, gravel roads with many bumps, woods / field trails, etc). Got myself "touring" saddle - so bit wider, shorter, medium cushion and with a cutout. It was a game changer, even 2hour ride on bumpy terrain is no discomfort, or pain after the the ride.
It’s simple. The older you are, the lower your sack has fallen, the deeper the cutout you need.
That's absolutely correct. I'm 74 and it's almost down to my knees......
@@johnrobins6369 😵😂
😵
I'm 29...and use a huge cutout what's that say about me?
@@mazerickd Stop bragging.
LOWER YOUR SADDLE
This should be titled "which SPECIALIZED SADDLE" is right for you. Like most CW output it's just advertising dressed as journalism!
Agree and against that. Journalism needs to be objective and this video was not
„HOWEVER“....thanks for the video ;)
I liked this video, very brand specific but just changespecialized to Pro and it's the same content!
A Selle SMP TRK thats me done for buying saddle after saddle after saddle, have these on three bikes just love it! Ladies listen up !!!
Even gents, SMP Hell works likes a charm for me. 😘
I used to use the saddle that came with my specialized pitch bike, but recently, it's really started to hurt. I've now changed to a different one. But it's strange how it suddenly started to change
Maybe I’ll watch this again, I can spend a lot in the saddle on the basis that if I get the right one, I’ll have it beyond the life of the current bike. How do I know which one is right for me out of the options available ?
The groove in the saddle helps prevent a split ureatha tube which happened to me.
It's gotten to the point that I cannot find a comfortable saddle. It's sad, because I want to ride. Used to be able to ride all day with no issues.
Regarding Bicycle Seat Maintenance:
Any info/Products regarding "proactive maintenance" of SYNTHETIC LEATHERS (i.e. aging, weathering or stress cracking). I realize it's nonporous and guess it's "material quality" specific but how to generally keep it as pliable and soft as possible over time if possible. Thnx in advance :)
Really interesting video, I have watched many videos & read reviews as it’s an area I always struggle with.
I’m fairly narrow with sit bones, have limited amount of padding overall & as I have had 2 lower spine operations to remove discs I now have very limited movement in my lower spine which means reduced ROM. Most of my riding is done with hands on the top of the bars because of this.
I do find the flare at the rear helpful, don’t have an issue with a longer/shorter nose, however always have issues with 2 specific aspects.
1. Pinching on the upper inside of the legs (both sides) where the pelvis presses against the saddle.
2. Sit Bones almost feel like they are wanting to pierce through the skin.
I ride mostly Gravel/MTB events so use a mix of bikes.
Any suggestions/considerations would be greatly appreciated. The best saddle so far has actually been a completely plastic (No cushion) option which cost approx. £20 lol
i bought power, romin & toupe. for me toupe is the best comfort for longer ride. however romin is best for fast shorter ride. the power just not fit me, found it too small..
Anything narrow, flared, minimally padded, kicking up on the back and cutting out/channelled works for me
I didn't know there was a specification for the kick up in the back. It's common in all of the saddles I've found comfortable!
Just because a saddle doesn't have a cutout doesn't mean it isn't comfortable. My favorite saddle is the Fizik Kurve. I recently bought a couple extra since Fizik stopped making them. And, I do have a pretty aggressive position.
Cutouts aren't for everyone and saddles are a really personal choice! Glad you've got a seat you love
@@cyclingweekly I would go so far to say cutouts are nonsense. Nobody is going to squish the crown jewels through them. A relief area, definitely, but cutting a hole is pointless
Hi, I have a question. Why enduro and downhill bikes use long nose saddle?. I heard that people say some UCI rules, But I was thinking to to use short nose saddle for downhill and enduro as the swork power saddle or the bisaddle, that is 23 cm or 9 inches length. I think that, because the weight saddle, free space for pedaling. Thankyou.
Tip for next time, wear a light colour top so there is a contrast between the black saddle and the background
Yes.
Don't know if that's just marketing but in longer rides I experienced numbness "down there" I will try a shorter nose and hollow seat, not an ultra expensive one though
I love the original 168mm Romin. It's a real real pity Specialized have discontinued it, The Romin evo just doesn't fit the same
How do you set your Romin up? Level from end to end or just in the middle section. I find it's really comfortable for about two hours then I get an irritating ache in my pelvis area which I can only put down to set up.
So, is Cycling Weekly owed by Specialized?
6:42 is that a dropper seat post?
They're real and they are spectacular.
Hi there, Could you please identify the saddle model (w/ kickback ) at 7:09. Many thanks.
Which one would you recommend for a tailbone pain ?
A donut
And what about tailbone soreness
i got so numb down there on rides that i gave up cycling and took up running ....
It was that or finish every ride looking like i had a defrosting Cumberland sausage in my tights
running however is bad for your knees
@@tad2ik maybe
but i’d sooner hobble than have a dead knob
Well now… such an interesting image.
for those who always expound "get a bike fit", please realize...the Human Body CHANGES each day. Grumpiness, good lovin', big meal, changing weather/topography conditions,.... all require a "tweak" to one's saddle, even bar height, now & then. simple as that...from an old North Italiano cyclist's experience of...gulppp... 70+ years! Stay young :-) ahemmm...what is NEVER discussed is...how a man's "junk" should be lubricated (any cheap lotion) AND pulled UP flat against one's tummy before a ride. Makes a BIG difference in comfort, yet never mentioned, oddly! Course, it might be cause North Italianos carry a bigger "load" there? haaaaaaa
Can I use it for racing
Thought this might be of interest. Didn’t realise it was a commercial. Goodbye
Sorry you didn't enjoy it Chris Voss! By partnering with brands that have the correct products, we're able to make content that we know the channel is interested in. Feel free to have a look round the channel - we've got plenty of content.
@@cyclingweekly Here’s an idea.Why not compare these products with other brands that have “The correct products”?That way idiots like me who are sucked in by the suggestion in your header that you’re reviewing a cross-selection of saddles ( from different brands)can make an informed CHOICE 🤷🏻♂️
@@cyclingweekly I should add that it’s not that I didn’t enjoy it. You must surely see that unless I’m Mr Specialized it’s difficult to “enjoy” a presentation of a monopoly of merchandise.
“Everything you need to know”? Really?
Can you comment on power mirror vs non-mirror?
I had both. The mirror has a flatter shape to it and your sit bones will sink in a few mm. For me, the saddles felt different, but not significantly, and I ended up preferring the regular sworks version.
i just bought the ISM touring saddle, ugly saddle, weird to ride with as there is NO NOSE so there isnt something wedged between your legs to help you control the bike,
the end result is that you have a bike that kind flops left and right of the bum...but i spent 6 hours on it riding ...it was so comfortable
As a novice in this area, all those seats look basically identical with only a few changes. I've seen dozens and dozens of different designs so this video isn't comprehensive in any way. It's a good basic understanding of seat design/features, but wouldn't use it to choose a set based on those presented.
Chances are a thin hard saddle will hurt after a few miles despite all the marketing.
Isn't that a Bridge Mimic you're holding and not a Romin?
Excellent vid, it's a shame more LBS' don't do test saddles.
Ironically, given this is sponsored by Spesh, I didn't get on with the Spesh saddle on my SL6!!
Saddles are a very personal piece of kit and we agree test saddles would be brilliant. Glad you enjoyed the vid!
How come there is no "includes paid promotion" in the video? The ad for Specialized is intense.
Thanks for your comment! We notify TH-cam when we make a video in partnership with a brand and also add our own 'in association' label at the beginning. By partnering with brands that have the correct products, we're able to make content that we know the channel is interested in.
@@cyclingweekly Oh fair enough, I had gotten so used to that, I thought those are mandatory. Anyway, very informative video, I now know what two things to test (wider and the upward curve), thank you!
I thought short nosed cut out saddles were the way to go, but for me the edges of the cutout causes even more discomfort.
That is explained on our Health Page right here: spongywonder.com
Fizik saddles are better.
Selle Italia SLR TM Flow L2 I've got bundled with my new canyon is best saddle I've ever had. I don't event need padding in my pants or bibs to ride less than 20km. It's really awesome and I'm angry at myself I didn't bought any cutout saddle earlier.
Dr. Steven Schrader with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH): “When you sit on a bike the pressure on the perineum increases sevenfold. Riders using a classic saddle place 1/4 of their body weight on the perineum. The amount of oxygen reaching the *** typically falls 70% to 80% in 3 minutes. A guy can have his oxygen levels drop 100% but he doesn’t know it. After half an hour he goes numb.
Saddles with splits or holes may make matters worse because they have smaller surface areas, and hence the rider’s weight presses harder on less saddle. The arteries in the perineum run laterally and therefore they come under more pressure when they come into contact with the cutouts’ edges. It is no longer a question of whether or not traditional bike saddles causes ED, but what are you going to do about it?” @t
I ride horses, motorbikes, mtb and road cycles and row c2, dont have a fat arse, any old saddle will do Race saddle, dressage, cut out, non cut out, no padding , gel.....they all feel the same....but get in a car and drive for more than an hour and the back of my legs give me jip......work that out ?
recommend a bicycle saddle pls
Spongy Wonder health page or say "hello" to your urologist for me!
I am kinda desperate. ISM looks like the safe option but is very pricey...
This bike was really easy to assemble th-cam.com/users/postUgkxMesz3KOGEmwmvyKQfLfrRSUXLFzfVHZA and required very few adjustments out of the box. The wheels did not require any truing/adjustments. The frame had some small scratches, but nothing major.I did replace the seat though - the seat it came with was very uncomfortable. The tires need to be re-inflated every 4-5 days, but this appears to be quite common for the narrow 700x25 tires.Overall, in my opinion, this bike looks and rides like a much more expensive bike.
Numbness & pain? Then get a SQLab saddle. I have tried at least 25 saddles, Specialized, PRO, Fizik, SelleItalia, Ergon, SMP... from cheap PRO to Fizik 3D... For me, a good test is the ability to sit on a Kickr indoor set up and do a 2+ hour session, only seated and not have any pain, numbness or discomfort. SQLab saddles, not the prettiest, but they work, for me anyways.
The nose looks pretty long on the SQ saddles, but if it works, it works! I'm shopping around because I've had the same issue as you, 40mins on the trainer and I get numbness, on the road same
@@independentmind1977 The 612R is with a short nose and for riding aero or in the drops. Despite the harder saddle and carbon rails, I use it for 200km rides without any issues.
I still have no idea if I need a cut out lol.
I got a short nose Profile Design TT saddle because it looked very confortable but at the time of sitting in it, it is a nightmare in the @ss
I gave this a thumbs up because it has some useful info. Still a big promo for Speshy lized. With so much commercial interest it is hard to be impartial and keep integrity,which is why I unsubscribed a long time ago.GCN is not much better.
Why not say that this is just an ad
Hi Monty Richardson, thanks for your comment. We notify TH-cam when we make a video in partnership with a brand and also add our own 'in association' label at the beginning. By partnering with brands that have the correct products, we're able to make content that we know the channel is interested in.
@@cyclingweekly Hi, Actually, the explanation were well done. Thank you
Oh c'mon... I am not a pro rider , but i do nice distances, sometimes over 100km / day.
I tried saddles that cost 200 euros , tried pro, cutout, and after seeing me desperate , one friend told me - cut the cr*p , your weight is ditributed over some area. If area is small, pressure is bigger. Take the foamy , wide seat , that narrows in front, also that front mustn't be bumpy on top, strait , short for smaller friction and wide and soft behind. They are cheap , you can have them for max. 30 euros and enjoy. I was sceptical but now i see that these saddle thing is kind of marketing scam. Listened to him, and after many "opinions" from "pros" and cycle philosophers - bought "forbidden" extremely wide , soft , short nosed saddle and was AMAZED. I ride with 29 euro saddle and no pain , it's sooo comfortable that i cannot believe !!! In my opinion, saddle CANNOT cost more then 10 euros/dollars , when you consider material weight and mass production. Our parents drove thousands of km on cycles with old school 5 euro saddles and survived with less pain than today's fiziK - ScHmizik etc. saddles. They made a science of a simple thing...Okay, nothing is simple in this world, but BELIEVE ME , buy bike that costs 200 euros, take wide and comfy saddle , enjoy .. I made thousand of km's with crappy bikes , and i am finally sure - NOTHING on bike should cost more than 50 euros and you should enjoy ride more than you enjoy spending money.
Cheers !
Anything more than $5 is a scam.
So basically i need a specialised saddle
No lol fizik is pretty good too
I’m a Trek bike owner, but I find more helpful products and information from Specialized. Brand be damned. I’ looking to solve the problem, and Specialized is stepping up with reasonable solutions.
I want to know why road bike saddles have to feel like some kind of medieval torture device?
1:04 where do i get the free saddles? please sign me up
I wonder when we'll start using numbers for sizes instead of male of female. Males typically have closer sit bones and women wider, and some are in between. Do i have to first find of if im unisex size? Why not jump straight to the numbers.
Not gonna lie I kinda freaked out the first time my ball sack felt a little numb after getting into cycling
Another Cycling News video bought....oops, brought to you by Specialized.
the shelf is where the seat bone seats on? seems incorrect
don't need a cutout... but need a groove...
Is this a specialized promotion channel? They advertise every time.
So rarely do 'roadies' even consider the different needs of mountain bicycle riding.
title pretends like it's giving you information.
Fuck all these saddles I’m buying an all wing saddle
Every one of these saddles misses the point. They need to totally eliminate the horn.
Only noseless saddle solve this issue.
I developed “the problem” after 17 years of road cycling. And my seat was a cut out design.
Research Irwin Goldstein for the truth.
All contact points are overpriced but saddles are really the worst offenders. Specialized ones are really expensive for the quality and materials...
I wish people would stop saying “down bellow” and just name the anatomy properly! We are all adults here 🤦♂️
Chill lol
Republicans cannot handle real words.
Also, for people who arent like some "pro biker" or something doing ACTUAL races, why have we just accepted that seats must be hard and uncomfortable to the point where we have to wear pads in our ass? why not just kill that archaic standard and start making ACTUAL comfortable, padded seats?
Not really impartial
Cutouts don’t work that great. SQ Labs are the only saddles that provide real relief. Took me decades and thousand of dollars of trial and error to figure that out.
I follow this page as it does objective reviews from a client perspective not from a brand perspective. You loose a lot of your credibility when you offer co Mercian information and package it in a way that you are helping us. Your are heading towards GCN way....
Thanks for sharing your feedback! By partnering with brands that have the correct products, we're able to make content that we know the channel is interested in and find useful.
@@cyclingweekly it felt like a commercial. Nothing wrong with that and I understand that you need sponsors. My request is to maintain objectivity towards riders. I tried the power saddle some time back and it did not suit me at all. Bought the vent shoes and caused me some problems. There are always advantages and challenges related to products and brands. You do a very good jobs objectively reviewing bikes and computers. Hope that will be the case with other products. Thank you
It's gotten to the point where I can't even watch GCN. I'm sure I'm not alone in this .
Advert for Specialized pretty much. So blatant.
the 'short nose' saddle thing is a scam... e.g. i have a 26cm long 'normal' saddle (a specilaised romin)... but there are 25cm saddles that are being marketed as short nose and will change the world
@Cycling Weekly... Saddles with cutouts are one of the dumbest ideas in cycling. By reducing the saddle area you are effectly increasing the stress (pounds per square inch) on the rest of your posterior that is in contact with the saddle, creating chaffing hot spots. If a cyclist needs to reduce pressure towards the front of the saddle he or she should simply rotate the saddle downward a few degrees to move the center of pressure towards the rear of the saddle.
WRONG.
The hole in the saddle is for your horses comfort not yours. I like to hang my nuts through the saddle for cooking.
Excuse me, what exactly is a woman?🤣
TOTAL FARCE ! This is just an advertisement for Specialized masquerading as an detailed authoritive subjective topic.