Yes, the problem with a bike saddle is the requirement to hold you back on the saddle. I don’t have much of a problem with a normal uni saddle but the most comfortable saddle I have and a solution for this thread title is this:
I’ve seen your post, JimT, and it definitely intrigues me. I’m as reluctant to put something like that in front of me as I am to use clipless pedals. Higher handlebars, on the other hand, I can (pardon the pun) get behind.
But the Mad4One has a similar problem. The handlebar lacks some control in a similar way to riding an ISM saddle, and I’m feeling that on the Mad4One while learning to ride muni - particularly right after mounting. The handle is enough to get back on the seat properly. I’m thinking I might one day make a hybrid bike seat with a Mad4One style handle and see if the same applies.
The KH Free Ride is a very comfortable saddle. I placed a Nimbus Air Saddle Cover on it, and that made it even more comfortable for long rides on my 36er.
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I have tried a few saddles. I did not like the Zero at all. The Stadium is OK but feels too hard and it gets uncomfortable on longer rides. The older KH Fusion Freeride is ok, but because it was wide i got some chafing on the inner thighs. Although I have not owned one, but only tried them, I did not have a good impression of the Mad4One handle saddle because the seat is small and totally flat so you have no “position” on the seat and pretty much need to use the handlebar to keep you back in the seat. Although the low weight is impressive.
My favorite is the QX Eleven (I think it has a KH base or something) with the Ursli bar. Even though I use the bar a lot, I don’t need it to keep the seat in place. The saddle just feels comfortable all the time. I think the QX Eleven alone weighs more than the Mad4One Handle Saddle M, and thenadd the Ursli bar to it. So not the lightest weight but great comfort and control.
I love the KH Freeride (I think that’s what it’s called) on my 26 and 36. For me it’s all about lift and adjust lol.
If you’re really uncomfortable, maybe try out an air saddle? Also, I’ve seen great reviews of the M41 handle saddles. While made for trials, apparently they offer an easy to alter foam base that only hits your gooch (don’t know another word), and buttocks. Basically the saddle has a lot of free space in the front because the middle of the solid metal handle in front is open. Still provides pedal control because the sides are solid, but the empty space in the middle gives you room for stuff to breathe.
Your butt might still get sore, but maybe the gentleman would be out of the way lol.
No, the gentlemen still need to adhere to the plan and assume their positions. It’s not a free for all. What’s missing on a handle saddle (the physical portion of the saddle that is missing) is the portion of the saddle that your inner thighs push against to keep the uni straight.
However. . .
As much as we would like to assign strict standards or definitive aspects to any particular saddle, the fact is that we all have unique riding postures, positions, styles, and disciplines. Because of this, one saddle may work wonders for one rider, but be terrible for another.
On the heels of that monologue, some saddles lend themselves to be “bollucks crushers”, but sometimes our unique riding style adds to that as well.
I will end by saying that I learned to ride in 2018. I “got semi-serious” in 2020. I got a little more serious in 2022. In 2025, my dudes have learned to “find their place”. I’m not sure how, but I’m not crushing the bollucks any more.
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Try lowering your seat-stem height or angling your saddle. this will take pressure off the saddle a little bit, I always do a “scoop motion” between the legs with the saddle across the top of the seat before i get on. That helps a lot for me, no matter what I wear.
Even with a normal saddle, as long as I have a handlebar, I use the handlebar to steer and maintain lateral balance. With at least one hand on the handlebar you do not have to steer the uni with the saddle.
I agree. But before I was able to ride with a hand on the handle, there was a lot of input given to the saddle by my inner thighs.
I gave this topic some more thought, and realized that I have two older “banana saddles” that, if I mount incorrectly, will squash “the general” but not necessarily squash the gentlemen, as long as the gentlemen go sit in their assigned seats. Those older banana saddles also result in me getting more of a workout in my lower abs, so I think I must naturally tighten my abs more, to keep the front part of the banana from causing a problem.
Just recently I’ve gotten to experience the joy of getting saddle sores 
Although I’ve gotten used to staying in the saddle for longer periods of time, I guess my skin isn’t quite there yet. Stadium saddle btw. I’ll probably give cycling shorts a try at some point
I have found that Chamois Butter works well to keep things from rubbing and creating hot spots or saddle sores.
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Has anyone tried the Nimbus Air Saddle Cover on the stadium?
Arent you always steering with the hips, even if you have a handle bar. Sure it shifts the balance point, but handlebars will never feel lije a steer. It would twist the uni away from my balance. To me the add comfort and another place to keep my hands, which normally are all over the place (on the seat, hanging beside my body, crossed arms in front of my chest etc)
I don’t always steer with my hips and it is kind of interesting if you think about it. Without a handlebar and your hands/arms are in front of you, to steer to the right you throw your hands/arms to the left. When steering with a handlebar it is exactly the opposite as everyone learned to ride, to steer to the right you move your hand(s)/arm(s) to the right.
On this setup steering with the hips is not an option (this set up is very comfortable but not recommended because it takes a lot of force to stay on the noseless saddle):
It will prolly take a while to be able to mount your contraption. Doesnt that hurt your thighs with the bar between the legs. No doubt the seat is comfy
You can give inputs with a handle bar. As to how, I just couldn‘t wrap my head fully around it, yet. It feels like I can force my uni to make sharp turns by just pushing fiercly to the desired direction. But yesterday I did a comparison with and without using the handle. Result: My turns without the handle were even slightly sharper and they were more „fluid“.
My current level of (mis)understanding is that the handlebar is probably helpful when doing vigorous corrections, but for planned maneuvers I can do at least as good without the handle.
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The handlebar is primarily used to balance out sudden bumps, and like you say does not improve left-right steering. I rest about 10% of my weight on it with straight arms, so I get 10% less saddle sores. I release it only in sharp turns to improve left-right steering.
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No not on the stadium but I can tell you I have the air cover on three unicycles with KH saddles, street saddle and free rides. For me The air cover makes longer rides very tolerable. I am a fan you should give it a try if you can. It is still $50 at UDC and is in stock.
You should also try an athletic supporter, it simply keeps things in place.cheap and easy.
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Thanks for the advice. $50 for some air is quiet a lot. And with this info I know that sadly this air will be worth it. Because the stadium lags padding, I already have padded bicycle trousers and some relaxing cream for long distances. The stadium is not as wide as the KH freeride, so my legs are not scraping on the side of the saddle and I do not get sores so easily. The stadium is my main saddle for years now.
I use the extended handlebars on my 36er for nothing more than support, in multiple directions. Sometimes on a really flat surface they give me the chance to lean a bit farther forward casually and relax my back. On steep downhills, they usually provide nothing more than something to clench with my hands whilst trying to pedal slowly (no brake on my 36 lol). But i find them to be the most helpful for steep uphills. They allow me to distrubute my upper body weight farther forward while still having full control with my legs. Instead on having to just rely on my weight in the saddle or my legs on the pedals, my arms can do half of the work. Basically just giving me a stump to lean on while I make the next pedal.