Are you sitting comfortably?

Why a new saddle was an essential first purchase

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After a couple of weeks of cycling 11 miles every day for five days a week, it quickly became clear that no, I really wasn’t sitting comfortably. In fact I was somewhat chafed, even with a gel cover on my saddle.

The original seat (left) and the gel cover (right).
Even combined these two couldn't compete with the Velo.
Photo by The Happy Commuter.

It wasn’t agony, exactly, but my backside wasn’t happy, and even trying to find a comfortable position on the sofa in the evenings was getting more challenging. It would seem that the saddles supplied with bikes really aren’t that great.

If I was going to be spending an hour every day on my bike, I needed a more comfortable seat. An internet search revealed a bewildering array of choice. Where to start? The first bit of advice I received was to go for a saddle with a centre cut-out. My brother – who rides a lot more than me – said he wouldn’t buy one without these days. Then it was to Amazon to read some reviews.

My arse stopped hurting almost immediately

The type of saddle you need depends on the kind of riding you do. But as I aim to do my shortish road commute as well as longer rides off the road, it was quite a challenge to find one right for me. In the end I went for an inclined plus women’s saddle from Velo. The reviews were nearly all very positive and it seemed the perfect compromise – good for both longer-distance and short rides.

I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and it really is a good seat. My arse stopped hurting almost immediately and and I’ve had no problems since. The saddle is much smaller than the one that came with the bike, which surprised me. I thought a bigger saddle would be more comfortable, but it seems not.

The centre cut-out relieves pressure on sensitive nerves, and it really seems to work. With the old saddle, my bum would be numb by the time I got to work, but isn’t the case with the Velo. It also provides excellent shock absorbency. I previously could feel every bump and dip in the road, but the Velo offers great protection.

I still need to test the saddle on longer rides, but so far I’d say it’s a comfortable bike seat that is a great upgrade from the saddle supplied with your bike. It also costs just £17.99, so it won’t break the bank either.

The Velo in action. So far the saddle has been
comfortable throughout my whole commute
to work. Photo by The Happy Commuter.