How To Choose A Bike Seat For An Exercise Bike

By Robbie Ferri CPT

CPT & Indoor Cycling Instructor

When it comes to training indoors on an exercise bike, it’s of utmost importance that you stay comfortable. A big part of that is focusing on the contact points of the bike, and the most important for many is the saddle. What a lot of indoor cyclists don’t know is that practically every bike has the ability to change the saddle. 

Finding the right saddle for you can be very challenging, and it’s not always easy when you don’t know where to start. Having the wrong saddle can really ruin a good workout and leave you much less excited to return to the bike. 

In this article, we will tell you everything you need to know when it comes to finding the correct saddle for your exercise bike. We will be discussing the following:

• Why Is It Important To Have The Right Saddle
• Understanding The Different Types Of Bike Seat
• Ways To Find The Correct Bike Seat
• Tips For Improving Bike Seat Comfort

Why Is It Important To Have The Right Saddle

There are many reasons why you want to have the right saddle. Here’s what you need to know:

Comfort

The first and most obvious reason is comfort. It’s important when you’re exercising that it’s not uncomfortable. Many indoor cyclists get saddle pain, and it’s not something you should have to suffer with. 

Correct Support

Saddles are not just about comfort, but they have to support you properly. Saddles come in all different styles to offer different support and even come in men’s and women’s versions. 

To Prevent Injuries

If you use the wrong saddle too much and push through all the warning signs it’s not right for you, it can eventually result in an injury. The easiest way to avoid this is just to use the correct saddle in the first place.

Understanding The Different Types Of Bike Seats

Bike seats come in all shapes and sizes, and thousands are available to buy (check also the 5 best seats that we tested). We have split them down into three groups. 

Sports

You will find a sports saddle on a typical road or mountain bike. They have a traditional shape to them and are by far the most common type available. These saddles are a mix between performance and comfort. 

Ideal for people who also ride bikes outside

Split / Noseless / Short

Then we have split nose saddles, which you will typically see on all kinds of bikes but most commonly on road racing bikes and time trials bikes. They are great for a more aggressive position and take the pressure off the front.

Ideal for people who want to cycle in aggressive positions leaning forward

Comfort Saddles

Then we have comfort saddles. You typically find these on general exercise bikes and comfortable bikes such as shopping and cruising bikes. They are very comfortable and wide, offering a lot of support alongside a lot of padding. 

Ideal for exercise bikes and upright riding positions 

Ways To Find The Correct Bike Seat

The first thing to mention when it comes to getting the right bike seat for you is not a perfect science. Everyone is different, and some riders are more sensitive than others. You might get it right the first time or take a few tries. 

When it comes to finding the right saddle for you, it can be challenging. There are a few different ways you can go about it, here’s what we recommend to give you the best chance.

Bike Fitter

The first thing you can do is to go and see a bike fitter. This is someone who is going to be able to measure your sit bones and help you find the right saddle for you. This is the best way to go, but when it comes to exercise bikes, they typically don’t come out to your home, and going to them isn’t cheap. 

Seat Bone Measuring

Another interesting way to find the right saddle for you is to measure your sit bones. You can do this by sitting on a piece of cardboard while wearing your cycling kit then measuring the indents. Using this measurement, you can pick the saddle of the correct width. 

Trying Lots Of Saddles

Finally, the last thing you can do is to test some saddles. Many bike shops have test saddles you can borrow to try. Or you might want to consider just trying a few to see what works for you and what doesn’t.

Tips For Improving Bike Seat Comfort

When it comes to getting the correct bike seat for your exercise bike, a few things will help you make it more comfortable. Here are our tips!

Give It Time

When trying a new saddle for the first time, you need to give it a good five rides to see if it will work for you. I personally find the first few rides just getting used to a new saddle a little uncomfortable. 

Padded Shorts

If you’re not using them already, we highly recommend investing in a set of padded shorts. They make the ride so much better and often can be enough for you not to change your saddle. 

Correct Saddle Height

Often, people think they have the wrong saddle when the issue is actually the height of the saddle. If a saddle is too high, you end up rolling side to side, which can cause irritation. 

A Final Note

Getting the right saddle for you can be challenging, and many indoor cyclists struggle with it. Once you have found a saddle that works for you, it can really make the experience that much better. We hope you enjoyed our article and welcome you to check out the video.