Terry Peloton.

  • Sidesaddle Blog
    • Cycling Savvy
    • Brooklyn Fit Chick
    • Bikecast
    • From Georgena
  • Pressroom
    • Terry in the News.
  • Ride It Forward
  • Videos
    • How To Videos
    • Short and Sweet Videos
    • Bicycle Design Videos
    • Odds and Ends Videos
  • Terry Home
You are here: Home / Sidesaddle Blog / HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT BIKE SEAT FOR ME? – FINDING YOUR PURRFECT SADDLE.

HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT BIKE SEAT FOR ME? – FINDING YOUR PURRFECT SADDLE.

May 18, 2016 By Paula Dyba 2 Comments

HOW DO I FIND THE RIGHT BIKE SEAT FOR ME? – Three cats on a bicycle answer the question by helping you to find your purrfect saddle.

One of the most common questions we hear: how do I find the right bike seat for me?

Here’s a tip-filled article from Bicycling magazine that has a particular “Terry” point of view…

Don’t Make These Saddle-Buying Mistakes

Molly Hurford, Bicycling 2015
Choosing the best bicycle seat doesn’t have to be intimidating—or painful. Here’s how to get it right.

Finding a perfect bicycle saddle is like finding your life partner: It can be a long journey and you’ll probably have a few missteps along the way. Some people find the perfect saddle (or soulmate) right away; for others, the journey can take years. But while we can’t offer great dating advice, we can make the quest for the perfect saddle easier by looking at what you might be doing wrong in your hunt, and what you should be doing instead. To get the inside scoop, we talked to Paula Dyba, vice president of marketing at Terry Bicycles, who shared some of her best tips—and worst mistakes that she sees—when it comes to buying saddles.

Not Taking a New Saddle for a Test Ride
Using your hands—instead of your rear—to test the saddle is a common problem, Dyba explains. But you should always take it for a test ride, if possible. “Many bike shops allow you to test a saddle, or give you a return option if you’re not happy.”

Equating Soft with Comfortable
Just because a saddle is well-cushioned, it may still be the wrong size or shape for you. Since our sitbones are always looking for a solid place to sit, cushiness can mean more pressure on your sensitive bits. “You want your weight to be supported by your sit bones, not by your soft tissue area,” says Dyba. “A soft saddle feels good for about 20 minutes, but then all that weight distribution on soft tissues can really start to hurt.”

Assuming You Need XYZ Saddle
All cyclists have different body shapes—and that applies to butts, too. That’s why saddles come in different lengths, widths, and levels of firmness. “There are definite differences in sensitivity issues, rider style, and bike fit among riders,” says Dyba.

Ignoring Pressure Points
There are many ways a saddle can work with your anatomy, explains Dyba, and it should provide relief in areas that come in contact with soft tissues. That may mean a cutout, or a thinner nose. Focus on whether the saddle pushes on sensitive soft tissue; if it does, you’ll want to try another style.

Not Checking Sitbone Width
Sitbone width isn’t tied to pants size, so some companies have developed measurement tools, available in many bike shops now, to measure the distance between the sitbones to find the perfect saddle for you. “You definitely want a saddle that is wide enough to support your sitbones,” says Dyba. “That’s where the bulk of the weight and pressure on the saddle should be.”

Not Explaining Your Ride Style
You might be tempted to walk into your local shop and start grabbing saddles to test. But before you do, think about what problems you’ve had and what kind of riding you’re doing. Mountain bike saddles make it easier to shift your weight way back, and road saddles are narrower to avoid chafing. If you have a lot of pressure problems and in-ride numbness, you may want to consider a saddle with a cutaway or a depression to take some pressure off, Dyba suggests. And if you’re planning on going on ultra-long endurance rides, looking for a saddle with a thin layer of gel on the top may make those miles feel less taxing.

Men and women also have different needs. “I suggest that women look for saddles that are flat along the top as opposed to curved upward from outer edge to edge, which can make you feel like your bones are being forced apart,” Dyba says.

Rushing into a Decision
It may seem annoying to swap between saddles until you find “The One,” but saddle testing is worth the effort. “Don’t get discouraged,” Dyba says. “The right saddle will become the one you won’t even remember after the ride!”

 


A great answer to the question “How do I find the right bike seat for me?”

The Terry team hears the question, “How do I find the right bike seat for me?” a lot, so we did something about it! A great place to find the right saddle for you is our Saddle Selector, an online tool that gives a personalized recommendation based on how you ride. It’s quick and easy: answer a few questions and see exactly which Terry bike saddles are right for you.

Read more about Terry bike seats here, and browse our saddle lineup here.

Filed Under: Sidesaddle Blog Tagged With: Bicycle saddle buying tips for women, Bicycle Saddle Selection, Buying the right bike saddle, Finding the right bicycle saddle


Comments

  1. Alice Winters says

    May 25, 2016 at 7:59 am

    The advice in this article is all very well, but what if I can’t find a saddle that will meet all these standards? I did once, but that saddle is no longer made, apparently. I bought it 20 years ago. It had “Terry” stamped on the back, and “Molto Liberator” stamped on the side.

    I could ride on this saddle for 60 miles, or 6 hours, whichever came first.

    It wore out, it broke, and I have tried a number of saddles since. They are all PAINFUL.

    I wish I could attach pictures to this e-mail. I wish you could tell me how to repair this saddle, or how to get another one, the very same model.

    Reply
    • Paula Dyba says

      May 25, 2016 at 10:34 am

      Oh DANG – yes I know that saddle well. I’m sure we’ve turned our archives upside down trying to find one for you as there really isn’t one we make currently that’s similar enough to recommend. I need to find you one and promise I will try. Stay tuned…

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

CYCLING SAVVY

best women's bike shorts
How to fit a bike helmet properly, dad fitting child's helmet strap
Model wearing Terry Soleil Flow cycling jersey, text reads sun protection for cyclists
photo of woman climbing a hill on a bicycle, smiling, with dramatic nountain scenery in the background
cyclist riding past blurred city buildings - tips for urban cycling
Spring Bicycle Maintenance Tips - for both bike and rider
Everything you wanted to know about choosing Bike Bottoms
10,000 miles on the wrong saddle - Photo of a San Marco racing saddle
Image with art from a vintage poster featuring a smiling woman riding a bicycle with energy, and text reading 7 things you need to know for more comfortable cycling.
How to choose your go-to cycling tops
Everything you wanted to know about choosing Bike Bottoms
Why choose a Terry bike saddle?

Copyright © 2025 Terry Precision Cycling, LLC | Shop The Best In Cycling Apparel For Women, & Saddles For All Riders.