Tag Archives: bike saddle

Every so often, I run across a product that is truly unique. The Ergon ST Core bicycle saddle is one of those products. Read on to see why the Ergon ST Core is both unique and great!

Out of the box review of a revolutionary bicycle saddle

By John Brown, HaveFunBiking.com

Every so often, I run across a product that is truly unique. The Ergon ST Core bicycle saddle is one of those products. Before we go any further, I know what you are going to say, “Unique isn’t always good john”. Fair enough, but in this case, the unique features of the Ergon ST Core saddle immediately jumped out to me as a great idea!

What makes the core bicycle saddle different?

The Core saddle is actually two saddles in one. As an example, a typical saddle is made of 4 parts, the rails, the base, the padding, and the cover. The rails are the metal part that attaches to your bike. The rails need to be ridged in order to hold the saddle stable on the bike. Next, the base is the plastic portion of the saddle that holds the rails and padding. It also needs to be ridged. The padding mounts to the base and the cover holds the whole thing together. Basically, traditional saddles rely completely on the padding to keep you comfortable while protecting you from the ridged rail and base.

The Ergon Core saddle is similar but adds a new dimension to comfort. like a standard saddle, It has a rigid rail and base as well as padding and a cover. However, Ergon inserts an all-new concept in-saddle comfort – “the Core”. The core is made up of what appears to be a closed-cell foam and a flexible plastic base material. Effectively, Ergon has isolated the seating portion of the saddle from the rigid base in order to make a more comfortable saddle.

Core saddle

The traditional saddle on the left is made of four pieces. The Core saddle on the right adds an additional base and foam layer.

How it works

By isolating the rider and padding from the rigid base, the core saddle does two things a traditional saddle cannot. First, the Core saddle can oscillate from side to side, equalizing pressure, as you pedal. This limits the pressure on your sit bones that can increase from side to side as you pedal. The second thing it does is absorb road shock. The isolating foam does an amazing job of eliminating road shock.

As pressure is increased on the right side of the saddle, the Core can accommodate.

Sizes

While the Core saddle offers more comfort than other saddles, it still needs to fit you. In an effort to fit riders best, the Core comes in four sizes in total. There are two sizes for men (Small/Medium & Medium-large) and an additional two for women. The shape of the saddle is changed to meet the different anatomies of men and women.

Testing

I am really excited to try this product out. Additionally, I was measured out to fit into the large and will be commuting on it through our Minnesota spring thaw.

The right bike seat is essential to enjoying your next bike ride. Finding the right one that allows you to spend more time on your bike comfortably can be easy with the following tips!

Choosing the right bike seat is easy with these few tips!

John Brown, HaveFunBiking

The right bike seat is essential to enjoying your next bike ride. Finding the right one that allows you to spend more time on your bike comfortably can be easy with the following tips!

Find Your fit with the right bike seat

Before you get too far into determining what the right bike seat for you is, make sure your bicycle fits properly. Having a professional ensure your fit is correct, or checking it yourself (Bike fit) will make the process of finding the right seat a lot easier.

Bigger isn’t Always Better

A bigger saddle is not always more comfortable. In fact, a saddle’s shape determines more of the saddles comfort than the size. With that being said, the ideal saddle shape depends on where a pelvis contacts the saddle. Typically, riders sit on either their sit bones (Ischial Tuberosity) or pubic arch (see diagram).

      – Sit Bones

Your sit bones are the pointy ends on the bottom of your pelvis. They are situated just below your gluteal muscles while riding. If you have an upright seating position, your pelvis is positioned so that your weight is placed on those sit bones. For a sit bone rider, a saddle with a flat profile from left to right typically ends up being more comfortable.

      – Pubic Arch

Riders who lean forward toward the bars and rotate their hips forward usually rest on their pubic arch. For these riders, a saddle that is curved from right to left offer a more comfortable perch on which to sit.

How do You Tell the Difference??

The easiest way to figure out which saddle might work for you is to view the saddle from behind (if it were on the bike you could look down the length of the saddle and see the handlebar). Is the saddle shaped in a constant curve from right to left, with no flat sections, or flat? (see pictures)

The right seat curved the right seat flat

More Shapes

Saddles will also have other shapes that contribute to the comfort. Lots of saddles will have holes or depressions down the center of them. These shapes are designed to relieve pressure on areas with both nerve clusters and sensitive arteries. For some riders, these shapes make all the difference, while for others, there is no difference.

The right seat with cutout

Time for a Test Drive

Once you find a few saddles that match your riding position, try them out. Most local bike shops offer some sort of service for saddle fitting to help you out. Install the saddle on your bike for a test and focus on how it feels. It’s a good sign if you can rest in one spot comfortably. Keep in mind, although the new saddle may feel unfamiliar, you should feel evenly supported without any one localized point of pressure. If you find yourself shifting around frequently to find a good spot, that saddle probably doesn’t fit too well.