Common Bike Riding Positions

Make sure that you have the right type of saddle for your style of bike riding. There are three basic riding positions, with three corresponding seat types. Each has a specific purpose in mind.

Upright Riding Position

Ideal Saddle Type: Upright Cruiser Type saddle

Features: Very wide, fully padded, may include springs or gel

Ideal Bike Types: Cruiser bikes; some comfort and hybrid bikes

Ideal Riding Style: Leisure riding, casual, slow pedaling cadence

Notes: Notice how the rider has almost all of his weight resting over the seat. This makes the wide saddle shown perfect because it offers an ample platform for support and includes plush padding to cushion most of his body weight. Plus, this cyclist pedals at a leisurely to slow pace with his feet slightly ahead of his body, so a little extra seat width doesn't interfere with leg movement. This style of saddle would come standard on a cruiser or upright style of bicycle but may have been changed at some time in the past if you purchased a used bicycle.

Regular Riding Position

Ideal Saddle Type: Sport Men's and Women's models

Features: Anatomic/ergonomic design, may have cutout in top, medium padding (possibly gel), narrower nose, width of rear should match your sit-bone width. This is crucial!

Ideal Bike Types: Flatbar road bike; mountain/hybrid bike

Ideal Riding Style: Commuting, Mild Fitness, touring, road and trail use, medium to fast pedaling cadence.

Notes: For recreational riding where you sit upright and lean slightly forward transferring some of your weight to the pedals and handlebars, a medium to narrow saddle with an ergonomic design and a moderate amount of padding is usually best. Riding this type of bicycle you maintain a fast pedal rate and appreciate less width in the nose so it won't interfere with your thighs.

Performance Riding Position

Ideal Saddle Type: Racing Men's or Women's models

Features: The narrowest and lightest seats, lightly padded, sometimes feature cutouts in the tops, rear width matches your sit bones, may be anatomic/ergonomic

Ideal Bike Types: Road bikes; road racing bikes; triatholon style bikes; racing mountain bikes

Ideal Riding Style: Fast, fitness, fun, century, race, fast pedaling cadence

Notes: Cyclists who ride fast and hard or for competition require seats suited to their forward position and rapid pedal cadence. Notice how the rider has much of her weight over the handlebars and pedals. She's so far forward you can see that she's resting near the middle of the saddle, too. This means less weight is on the seat, which is why these riders can get by with such minimal designs. Also, it's the perfect position for fast pedaling, for which a narrow saddle like this is ideal.

Related Bike Saddle Guides

Choosing the right bike saddle
Tips for preventing bike saddle soreness
Types of bike saddle material