As an overweight person, you’ve probably been shamed for riding a bike or trying to do so. One of the most common excuses is that the seats aren’t suited for you.
We’re here to tell you that’s not true!
If you’ve had a bad experience with bike seats and think they are uncomfortable, you should know that most bike seats are super uncomfortable. That’s just how this bike part is.
People don’t know much about what makes a bike seat good and keep investing in bad ones.
This article will cover a couple of topics regarding this concern, including why bikes are generally uncomfortable, what you should be looking for when getting a bike seat, and the best bike seats available for overweight people in the market.
Are Bike Seats Only Uncomfortable for Overweight Riders?
No, bike seats are uncomfortable for everyone. They are usually more uncomfortable for overweight riders because they lack knowledge about what factors to look out for in a bike.
Heavy riders have to look at how wide their saddle is, how fast they want their bike to be, the terrain they’re riding on, and whether their seat is stiff enough.
Why Bike Seats are Uncomfortable
Bike seats are uncomfortable because people don’t pay much attention to the things that matter concerning comfort.
Your weight is not the deciding factor. Instead, it is things like:
- The saddle
- The seat’s angle
- Height of the seat
- Seat type
1. Why saddle is important
The saddle supports your sit bones. All kinds of saddles will do this, but some will also put pressure on the pubic bone area, leading to a lot of discomforts.
So try out your saddle before purchasing it, and make sure it isn’t touching your perineal or pubic bone region.
2. Why bike seat angle is important
Let’s look at why the seat’s angle is important. This determines how the bike seat feels under you.
If it tilts too far, you will have a numb butt.
Lower the nose slightly to make sure you aren’t placing all your weight on the seat. This is important because the seat is only designed to support your sit bones. The tires etc., are meant to hold the rest of your weight.
You can use the handlebar to spread your weight onto the tires. If you’re angled in a way such that your weight falls on the seat entirely, you’ll get uncomfortable, and the seat will get damaged.
3. Why seat type is important
Seats made for mountain bikes aren’t designed the same way seats are made for road bikes. So you can’t use them interchangeably.
Road cycling and racing saddles are usually lightweight, slim designs. On the other hand, comfort saddles are thicker and have a lot more cushioning.
4. Why seat height is important
Keep your seat high. It allows for greater ground clearance and steeper turns.
Beginner riders may feel comfortable riding with their seat low since they like to be able to touch the ground. However, this leads to low pedal efficiency and can lead to knee problems over time.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Right Bike Seat for Overweight Riders
Irrespective of your body weight, you must weigh the same factors before getting a bike seat. It’s more important to know about these factors as an overweight rider because most products are made to cater to thin people. So they can usually just get any seat, which will probably work for them.
You have to be more careful about your purchases so you don’t end up with a seat that doesn’t do much for you.
There are four main factors you need to think. These include:
- Bike saddle width
- Riding style
- Different terrain
- Cushioned seats
These factors are listed in order of importance. Thus start with the top one and then make your way through the rest. Let’s take a closer look at each of these factors so you can know what to look for.
1. Bike Saddle Width
Bike seat width is the most important factor in determining what seat is right for you.
You’ll find that the best mountain bike seats are always weirdly shaped. They’re narrow and slender. While you’d think this is bad, it is great because only your sit bones are supposed to get support from this structure.
You aren’t sitting on the seat to stay dormant. You have to support your weight as you move, so the seat needs to be as slender as possible.
The wider and softer your seat is, the more uncomfortable you will be when going on a bike ride.
If the seat is too wide, you and your adductors will constantly push against the front of the saddle. However, if it isn’t wide enough, the saddle will go straight through the bones and pressure your soft tissue.
Both will hurt a lot if you keep using the poorly sized seat.
2. Riding Style
If you’re looking for a bike for recreational uses, you should look into thin saddles with hard surfaces. This applies if you’re a road cyclist, too, because the idea is that you should have a sturdy bike seat when traveling long distances.
On the other hand, you’ll need the exact opposite for aggressive riding.
3. Different Terrain
When riding on uneven terrain, you’ll need mountain bike saddles. They’re designed to have just enough padding to mediate blows and jolt. The rear is shaped to move back easily to help the person on the bike go forward.
4. Cushioned Seats
Soft seats aren’t a great idea because soft areas on a bike will move and ache in the long term. Therefore, it is better to have a stiff and hard seat to sit on, so the only thing they support is your sit bones.
The Best Bike Seats for Overweight Riders
Here are 4 of the best seats and saddles for overweight cyclists tired of being uncomfortable on their bikes!
This list was created by applying the criteria mentioned above to the top bike seats in the market.
1. Mango Super Wide Comfort Bike Seat
The first bike seat on our list isn’t made for a particular demographic. It’s meant to be versatile and work for as many people as possible.
This product has a straight seat post and will work with any bike with such a post. This seat saddle won’t work if you only have a seat post that clamps to the rails.
The saddle is about 10.5 inches at the bottom and bulges out to 11 inches in the middle. It comes with an elastomer chassis and is comfortable to sit on.
It has plush padding, which isn’t special, but it is firm, thick, and durable. You can ride a bike on this saddle for around 10 miles before starting to feel bike seat soreness.
Overall, it is a great option for an overweight person who is 250 pounds or above. It’s well built and is quite strong.
2. Giddy Up! Bike Seat
The Giddy Up bike seat is the best option for women. It’s wide and comfortable. You can go on 5-mile rides without feeling any discomfort.
Once you can get the adjustment right for what you need, this seat is great. It is super comfortable for people who weigh above 200 pounds.
The seat has some extra features like waterproof and lights, which are pretty cool.
3. Bikeroo Bike Seat Cushion for Women
The Bikeroo bike seat is another great option for women. It has a waterproof seat cover and uses marshmallow foam. Thick padding is great for biking in rough terrain because it absorbs shocks.
Moreover, the bicycle saddle is designed to be prostate-friendly. So you don’t have to deal with saddle discomfort or butt numbness.
The seat is soft, mid-weight, and has a pre-mounted attachment that tightens perfectly. With regular bike seats, seat sores usually kick in within 30 minutes, but you won’t feel even a little pain with this one because it is super comfortable.
4. Fizik Aliante Gamma K:ium Rails Road Bicycle Saddle
The last bike seat we’re mentioning is meant for road bikes. It is so comfortable that no matter how aggressive you ride, your sit bones don’t get sore.
Some users report using the seat for 45 miles and not feeling uncomfortable afterward.
Tips for Making A Bike Seat More Comfortable
Once you get the appropriate seat for your needs, you can do some things to make the seat more comfortable.
Considering the above factors, you won’t have an uncomfortable bike seat when picking a product. But that doesn’t mean you have the maximum level of comfort.
To get maximum comfort, you can do the following:
- Wear padded shorts
- Sit with the correct posture
- Start riding while standing for a few minutes at a time
- Adjust the bike seat and handlebar
Small things like your riding position can significantly affect how comfortable you are on your bike—riding while standing will increase comfort. So will sitting straight.
Conclusion
Now that you know what makes a good bike seat, you’re bound to get your hands on a good one soon.
The most important factor to look at is seat width. Understand that the seat is only meant to support your sit bones, so buy the one that does this.