Padded vs Firm Saddles — The Ugly Truth Nobody Wants to Admit

Subscribe to the channel! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHeCe_SPdX7YTH96mUXdsCQ?sub_confirmation=1 ⚠️Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, you support the channel at no additional cost to you. Resources & Links Bell Comfort 625 Gel Seat 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B082FYPV58?tag=cycleworth-20 Zacro Gel Bike Seat Cover 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01H71AZ36?tag=cycleworth-20 Brooks B17 Leather Saddle 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HZA918?tag=cycleworth-20 Brooks Proofide 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09TBGY75T?tag=cycleworth-20 ISM PR Noseless Saddle 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OUR59SC?tag=cycleworth-20 ISM Comfort Saddle 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RFAA9E?tag=cycleworth-20 Selle SMP TRK Gel, Medium 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FFZ6JFA?tag=cycleworth-20 Selle SMP TRK, Large 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0069HRSGC?tag=cycleworth-20 SQlab 612 Ergowave Active 2.1 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09DLFG6Z5?tag=cycleworth-20 SQlab 611 Ergowave 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073RL5ZTX?tag=cycleworth-20 Terry Butterfly Gel 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BB11BQE?tag=cycleworth-20 Terry Butterfly 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DN35JNI?tag=cycleworth-20 WTB Volt Saddle 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07X2TSH9N?tag=cycleworth-20 Planet Bike ARS Classic 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C17L2W?tag=cycleworth-20 Selle Italia Flite 1990 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WX13Q2L?tag=cycleworth-20 Selle Royal Respiro 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GN3FVZNL?tag=cycleworth-20 Pearl Izumi Quest Padded Shorts 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09N2FG6CT?tag=cycleworth-20 Pearl Izumi Quest Bib Shorts 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09N2DYZ6Q?tag=cycleworth-20 Chamois Butt'r Original 🛒 Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HZGTUS?tag=cycleworth-20 Terry Liberator Saddle 🔍 eBay (Best Deals): https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=terry+liberator+saddle&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&siteid=0&campid=5339196185&toolid=10001&customid=cycleworth Why the soft, wide gel saddle often hurts more than a firm one: sit bones, pressure maps, cutouts and padded shorts. Which saddle worked for you? Tell us in the comments. Chapters: 0:00 The $37 gel saddle trap 0:29 The 1997 saddle scare 5:34 Why soft looked right 8:54 Sit bones and the soft middle 15:17 The 30-minute flaw 22:20 Wide is not wide enough 28:06 Cutouts: fix or new edge 31:40 Padded shorts stack, not add 35:40 Follow the incentives 42:46 The honest verdict Sources: BikeRadar — The science behind Specialized Body Geometry — https://www.bikeradar.com/features/the-science-behind-specialized-body-geometry-2/ BIKE Magazin — 20 MTB saddles in laboratory and practical tests — https://www.bike-magazin.de/en/components/saddle/bicycle-saddles-in-the-test-from-tour-to-race-20-mtb-saddles-in-laboratory-and-practical-tests/ ScienceDaily — Noseless saddles and bicycle police officers — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080807175444.htm road.cc — How to avoid saddle pain and get comfortable on the bike — https://road.cc/content/feature/how-avoid-saddle-pain-and-get-comfortable-your-bike-284135 BikeRadar — How to avoid and treat saddle sores — https://www.bikeradar.com/features/how-to-avoid-and-treat-saddle-sores European Urology — Cycling and penile oxygen pressure: the type of saddle matters Journal of Urology — Cycling, and Male Sexual and Urinary Function Cycling Weekly — Beginner cyclists are finding themselves numb after minutes Int J Sports Med — Overuse injuries among recreational cyclists Journal of Sexual Medicine — The bar sinister: does handlebar level damage the pelvic floor in female cyclists You can write me at: cycleworth@proton.me CycleWorth is run by a cycling enthusiast and is intended for entertainment and informational purposes only. While every effort is made to ensure accuracy, specifications, prices, values, and historical information may change or contain errors. All trademarks, brand names, and product names belong to their respective owners. Always do your own research before buying, modifying, repairing, or using any bicycle or cycling-related product.