Are there any saddles out there designed to be very gentle on the area between your legs (for long distance cycles for example i.e across countries)
If so please link me or point me in the right direction
many thanks, chris
Kris Holm Fusion Freeride
Nimbus Gel
both available from www.unicycle.uk.com
you can argue all day which is better, I have both and I’m not sure, they both can be very comfortbale if set up right and aclimatised to.
I prefer the fusion freeride, and I liked my old fusion air saddle a lot, but more important than the saddle, I found, is the clothing. Get a nice pair of bike shorts. They make any saddle more comfortable.
But, no matter what, when you’re putting all your body weight on your taint for an extended period of time, it’s a-gonna get uncomfortable and sore.
IMO the KH FF is much more comfortable.
The best for comfort, although a bit $$$, is a Scott Wallis.
What’s your experience been with this saddle?
I’ve heard mixed reviews and haven’t been swayed one way or another…
Personally, I’ve ridden a good 1,000 km on my Fusion Freeride and think it’s the cat’s pajamas.
Zero. Ask Munivision, he has one and loves it.
Way more comfortable for long distances or those who are really sensitive. But I’m just going by what I’ve heard, most of it before the '07 KH saddle came out.
For me, even w/ a KH FF, it gets uncomfortable after 45-60 min of road riding. The only reason I haven’t gotten a SW is I’m always broke.
I made this saddle modification tutorial vid a while back. IMO it makes the FFR saddle even more comfy than it already is:
+1
I went to winter park this weekend (a ski area) to unicycle/mountain bike and I definitely forgot to wear my biking shorts. I did two runs on my bike and I was completely fine, but after about a mile on my unicycle, the area in question was on fire, and by the end of the uni ride my ass was completely dead.
Because of the nature of unicycle seats, there will always be a greater area of rubbing than bikes, and therefore you need extra protection for longer rides.
I would definitely invest in a pair of nice biking shorts, it makes all the difference. And if you’re worried about looks, just wear them under your normal pants when you ride.
Anyway, that’s my two cents
currently i own a nimbus gel which is nice and comfortable but it doesnt really take long before i get the dull ache in that region (only after a few miles)
Are air pillows any good?
Also, would having handlebars fixed to the uni take much weight off the parts on the saddle?
ta
KH fusion freeride is a great seat, the dull ache goes away the more you ride. Having a handle helps a lot because you are able to change your body position while riding and take some pressure off your crotch.
Air seats are good for short distances, but I have found them to be uncomfortable for long rides. Some riders disagree and swear by the air seat, so you can never know how it works for you until you try it.
Also, just to add to the discussion, having a geared hub helps remove a lot of pressure from your crotch because you put more force into the pedals.
Scott Wallis seats are not only comfy, they are lighter, stiffer and stronger than anything else. I made my own seat with his base(saved a lot of $) and rod the lobster with virtually no discomfort.
Great tutorial!!! I shaved my seat don significantly. I didn’t like the thickness of the stock Kris Holm. Heres a picture.
Great tutorial!!! I shaved my seat don significantly. I didn’t like the thickness of the stock Kris Holm. Heres a picture.
Is this what you get for 170 $
It wasn’t really clear to me from the lists, if that package includes the foam, cover and assembly ? It does look like an excellent seat though.
I usually get off my freeride and walk a bit every 4-5 miles or so. The air seats can be nice, but you have to take it apart and duct tape the tubes in place, every 1000 miles or so as it squishes out of shape.
I vote KH free ride as the best all around seat, unless you can afford the fancy carbon seat ^, which does look very nice.
I watched Terry’s seat mod vid. He might be onto something, but I’m to lazy to do that much work without trying it first.
I had a Nimbus gell that was just OK. Not so much uncomfortable, but it often felt a little like the seat was on crooked, no matter how I twisted it. The more rounded shape didn’t suit me I guess.
The most recent (I believe) of the SW seats is a multichamber air air saddle (different sized sections and different size bleaders connecting them).
You can get just the base or the whole saddle. I believe the cf bumer, handle, and ss brake mount are extras. The way I read it just the base is $170 w/ all inserts, bolts, etc. The base and seat is like $350 or 375.
Everybody’s body is different and no one saddle will be the best for everybody.
Personally I think the KH freeride is pretty decent but a bit soft. If I was going to be getting a new saddle for maximum comfort I would get a Nimbus HiTop and carve the foam to the shape that suits me the best. The shape that I like best is very similar to the Fusion freeride but a bit flatter in the back and a slightly wider channel in the front.
I am a believer of the theory that you only want your seat soft if it does not fit you, firmer saddles give better support and control. I really disliked the brief experience of having an air seat.
is there anybody out there that has good luck with an airride saddle? I was thinking about switching over my nimbus gel to an airride. If you situated the tube in the pouch that unicycle.com sells in such a way that there was a large open spot in the middle, I think you’d have something similar to the saddle pictured above. http://www.unicycling.org/airseat/ check out part 9 here, something like that.
You may need a smaller tube, but I think it may work, I’m just hesitant to rip apart my saddle if it ends up being uncomfortable, but right now I don’t care to ride more than 10 miles at a time becuase of the comfort factor.
I don’t think the fusion freeride will be so much more comfortable as to warrent buying it over the nimbus. If anything I could just modify the foam underneith. Either way I’ll need a pullstring saddle cover.
Anybody have any tutorials on air ride saddles? (other than the one posted)
is there anybody out there that has good luck with an airride saddle? I was thinking about switching over my nimbus gel to an airride. If you situated the tube in the pouch that unicycle.com sells in such a way that there was a large open spot in the middle, I think you’d have something similar to the saddle pictured above. http://www.unicycling.org/airseat/ check out part 9 here, something like that.
You may need a smaller tube, but I think it may work, I’m just hesitant to rip apart my saddle if it ends up being uncomfortable, but right now I don’t care to ride more than 10 miles at a time becuase of the comfort factor.
I don’t think the fusion freeride will be so much more comfortable as to warrent buying it over the nimbus. If anything I could just modify the foam underneith. Either way I’ll need a pullstring saddle cover.
Anybody have any tutorials on air ride saddles? (other than the one posted)
Airseats are comfortable to sit on for about 5min. After that, they feel squishy and form pressure spots in all the wrong areas.
You want a saddle that support your ischial tuberosity (the bony protrusions on your pelvis).
Bicyclists never use airseats, and they spend a lot longer in saddle than unicyclists.
The best seats are flat, thin and low profile (I’ve been cutting back KH seats for years). I think the best one out there is the Impact Naomi saddle. About to get one to try out.
For shorter rides, but less good the farther you go. They spread the pressure evenly, but this lowers the circulation down there.
Oh, you’re new to all this. Yes, I consider a handlebar essential to long ride comfort, possibly more important than shorts. Just possibly though. Start with a good pair of bike shorts. Then a handlebar that takes some of your weight off the seat (which eliminates the T7 for most people). After that, it comes down to the seat.
GizmoDuck is a doctor, so take his word for the name of that “key area”. Handlebars will also help tilt your pelvic area to an angle closer to what it would be on a bike, making actual bicycle seats more of a possibility depending on your handlebar setup. Like he said, the most comfortable roadie saddles are hard, and support the key areas without putting too much pressure elsewhere.