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For the majority
of cyclists choosing a high performance seat, fit for their
personal needs and able to prevent disturbances, is perhaps
the most complicated passage in defining the technical
equipment of the bicycle, therefore finding a compromise is
often the norm. Let’s analyze the various elements at play
and the possible solutions in order to provide the cyclist
with practical assistance.
The crucial
importance of the seat among all bicycle components is due
to the particular function persistently carried out on a
very complex anatomical part from the point of view of bones
and particularly rich in circulatory vessels. Furthermore,
the physical-skeletal conformation of the pelvis bone and
the musculature around it, like every other physical
characteristic, is unique and specific for each individual
(not even twins are absolutely identical). Even if
anthropometric statistical studies have enabled identifying
“classes” of pelvic width, within them the morphological
variability of the various structures is quite limited.
Analyzing the
pelvis structure and its interaction with the seat surface
shows that the bone complex involved in sitting is the iliac
bone, consisting of the ischium, ilium and pubic bones. The
lower-back part of the iliac bone is characterized by an
ischial tuberosity, which, together with the superior ramus
of the ischium, bears the weight of the body in the normal
sitting position.
Let’s take a look
at the photos. They illustrate the ideal position of a
pelvis on the seat: the area where the majority of the
cyclist’s weight rests is the ischial tuberosities and the
superior ramus of the ischium.
The resting
surface is therefore a few square centimeters in which there
are bones, muscles, tendons and cartilage. During a normal
bicycle ride these organs and structures are subjected to
stress from prolonged compression and traumas from impact.
Stress from prolonged compression:
its extent depends on the shape of the seat, how it
interacts with the morphology of the pelvis and the type of
padding it has.
Traumas from impact: impact
and danger are directly correlated with the absorption
capacity of the padding, with the shape of the seat and the
way it interacts with the pelvis.
Riding on a
well-paved flat road leads the cyclist to constantly sit on
the seat and a consequent prevalence of compression stress.
On the contrary, riding a mountain bike on a rough and
uneven trail, characterized by frequent sprints and
technical descents leads to even violent impact and sitting
less on the seat.
For these reasons
Selle SMP recommends more padded saddles for off-road
cycling (ex. BMX, cross-country, free ride, downhill, all
mountain, etc.) and for all those specialties that involve
jumps and stunts (street, urban, trial, etc.). In reality,
according to our experts, using a SMP seat with at least
light padding is in any case always advisable. SMP seats
with padding are on average more comfortable and better
absorb the roughness of the terrain, more effectively
protecting the cyclist from the risk of micro traumas caused
by the terrain and asphalt, both off and on road.
Apart from the
type of cycling, numerous other factors must be considered
when choosing the right seat. The athlete’s physical
morphology, height, the interaxis/width of the ischial
tuberosities, age, weight, pelvis conformation, which by
correlating pants size to weight and height can be defined
as narrow or normal or wide.
To support the model choice, go to the Saddle Selection Table.
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