• Cushioned bike saddles work great for everyday riding. They have a lot of padding, so they provide a lot of comfort for rides around town.
• Performance saddles are great if you’re into road biking. Keep in mind that these bike saddles are narrower with less padding. This is because riders are often riding in tucked positions when doing road biking (think the biking seen in the Tour de France) since it gives them more power and cuts down on chafing.
• Mountain bikers should look for a bicycle saddle that’s mountain-specific. Because the conditions are rockier, bikers want something that provides padding and is durable.

Determining the right saddle for your preferred type of riding is important, but so is the type of cushioning for your bike saddle. After all, if you’re going to be spending hours on your bike, you want to be comfortable:

• Foam cushioning works great for road riding because it springs back to shape pretty easily. It doesn’t compact quickly and saddles with different degrees of firmness are available for riders to purchase.
• Like insoles for your shoes, gel cushioning provides probably the most comfort of any cushioning material. Gel cushioning conforms to a rider’s body and everyday riders have found this works great for after-dinner rides around the neighborhood. One thing to keep in mind though is that gel compacts quicker than foam does.
• Another option is a saddle pad, which can be put over a saddle for extra cushioning. It does offer comfort, but it probably won’t be as contained as a regular bike seat and may not give you comfort in areas where you’re wanting it.

Whether you’re looking at leather bike saddles, carbon saddles or some other type, here are three things to keep in mind before you plunk down money to buy one:

• Testing: Before buying anything, you want to make sure you’ve got a bike saddle that’s going to give you the comfort you want. That’s best determined by testing out a few bike saddles.
• The price: These days, there are bicycle saddles available by the dozen to buy in all sorts of materials and sizes. With that in mind, there are also a variety of prices depending on what you’re wanting to spend. Keep in mind that the price on a bike saddle goes up as the materials improve and the weight goes down.
• The rails: For novice riders, the rails are the two posts that connect a bike seat to the seat post. On general use bikes, the rails are usually made of chromoly, but performance bikes usually have titanium rails for their strength and flexibility.

With the right bicycle saddle, your everyday bike rides will be more enjoyable. You’ll feel great riding on a comfortable, padded seat and you’ll be doing your self a great service by getting a durable piece of essential equipment.

The post What You Need To Know Before Buying A Bike Saddle appeared first on Health and Fitness Tips.

For a number of reasons, the sport of bicycling is growing in popularity. It’s great exercise, it’s an ecofriendly way to travel, and you get to see some beautiful scenery. Worldwide, there are twice as many bikes as there are cars, and many amazing routes to take. To get the maximum enjoyment and health benefits from your biking activities, comfort is important, especially when it comes to the relieving pain and pressure in the perineal area. Bicycle saddles, such as c series bike seats and x series bike seats should be suited for the purpose of the trip.

The growing popularity of bicycling
The popularity of biking, for exercise, for practical purposes, and to help the environment, has grown around the country and around the world. In the U.S. alone, the number of bicycle commuters has increased by 46%. For people who are environmentally conscious as well as health conscious, bicycles are the cleaner alternative to mechanized transport.
There are over one billion bikes in the world. That’s twice the number of cars. With the multiple benefits of bicycling, the numbers are likely to grow.
The bicycle industry in the U.S.was estimated to be worth $6.2 billion by 2015. Annually, bicycling enthusiasts spend $81 million on gear. For comparison, total spending airplane tickets and fees is $51 billion. Total annual spending on bicycling gear, accessories, and vehicles adds up to more than $10 billion.

Finding the right seat
Bike seats are essential to overall comfort, and should be chosen for specific types of bike rides. For example, the c series bike seats and x series bike seats are completely different types of bike saddles. People often believe that a softer or wider saddle is more comfortable, but that is a mistaken belief.
The truth is that bike saddle should be matched to the goals of the rider. The c series bike seats are lighter and more energy efficient, with less sit bone pain and bruising. They’re suitable for sprints and uphill work. The x series seats are made of leather, are soft and comfortable, and are made for a comfortable day of touring by bike. Or even a month.

While the c series bike seats make for a more energy efficient riding surface, the x series seats are comfortable over long distances. Choosing the right bike seat can help you derive the maximum benefit and enjoyment from your biking activities, whatever form they take.

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