The Right Bike Saddle for MTB, Road Bike, E-Bike & Gravel Bike – Here’s How You Find It!

The Right Bike Saddle for Your Sitting Position 

Even though there have been proven all-rounders on the market for years, many cyclists swear by specific saddle models optimized for their particular area of use. Here, your sitting position is crucial. The rule of thumb for saddle ergonomics is: The sportier and more stretched out you are on your bike, the more your pelvis tilts forward, and the narrower is the distance between the left and right sit bones. Consequently, the saddle should be narrower in the seating area. Also, in this sitting position, more load is distributed to the front area of the saddle. Therefore, many saddles suitable for stretched sitting positions have a cutout (specifically, a hole or a slight channel) for pressure relief in the perineal and genital area. The more upright you sit, the further apart the contact points of the left and right sit bones are. Also, the pressure rests further back on the saddle and thus more pointedly on the sit bones. A touring saddle is therefore wider to distribute the pressure on the sit bones (and not in between). 

This significant influence of sitting position on the right bike saddle means that with a sporty sitting position on your XC mountain bike, you might well be happy with a road bike saddle. Or with a more upright sitting position on your gravel bike, with an MTB saddle – just to name a few examples. 

Find out more about the influence of sitting position and how you can find the right bike saddle depending on your area of use in our saddle advice specifically for MTB, road bike, and comfort.

The Right Padding 

How much padding you need on your saddle depends on various factors: 

• Sitting position 
• Area of use 
• whether your bike shorts have a seat pad 

The sportier you sit, the better the pressure is distributed over the length of the saddle, and the more weight is borne by your hands and arms, which relieves your bottom. In this case, the saddle can and should be harder. The more upright you sit, the more pointedly your sit bones are loaded. A softer padding better distributes the pressure on the sit bones and reduces pressure peaks. But beware: The padding should not be too soft, otherwise your sit bones will sink in too deeply, and nerves and blood vessels can be irritated or pinched. The more often and longer you ride, the firmer the saddle can be, as your bones get used to the pressure, and you won't sink as deeply into the saddle padding. This ensures that the surrounding structures are spared. Those who use padded shorts – with or without suspenders – while cycling, by the way, also need less padding material on the saddle.

The Materials of Saddle Shell and Frame

Another question arises regarding the materials of the seat shell and saddle frame, also called "Rails". For weight watchers, carbon is popular: full carbon saddles often save 100 grams or more in weight. In addition, carbon shells usually offer good flex – which they need, since they are often very thinly padded or not at all for weight reasons. In the entry-level, mountain bike trail, and touring segments, plastic shells are common. They are a bit heavier but also cheaper and less susceptible to damage if you happen to crash now and then. 

For the saddle rails, you can also choose between different materials: carbon, titanium, aluminum, and steel are available. They differ in weight, sturdiness, and ultimately in price. With carbon, you should note that, unlike metal rails, it is not round but oval shaped and therefore cannot be accommodated by every saddle post.

A Saddle Especially for E-Bikes? 

E-bike-specific accessories can improve ergonomics while cycling. Especially with E-MTBs, a special E-MTB saddle makes sense if you're tackling extremely steep ramps that a non-motorized bike wouldn't be able to manage. Learn more in our Mountain bike saddle guide.