"No Pressure Bike Seat" ?

Posted by: goatpacker

"No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/10/08 04:57 PM

Anyone use one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Schwinn-No-Pressure-Bicycle-Seat/dp/B000DZGLVY

Considering getting one for an older style Mountain Bike. To be used mostly on forest service type roads and on paved roads.

Thoughts or other suggestions welcome.

Steve
Posted by: Dryer

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/10/08 07:33 PM

Don't waste your money. You get what you pay for with bike seats. I ride split saddles on both road and mtb's and tried them out at a shop before forking over the bucks. There are another brands out there like the Schwinn but it's split and only makes contact with the sit bones. They are adjustable too which makes a difference. Like this:
http://www.spongywonder.com/testimonials.htm
and this:
http://www.hobsonseats.com/
Posted by: TomD

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/10/08 08:38 PM

This is not the seat I would want on a mountain bike.

Think about it-one way you control your bike is with your inner thighs against the horn on your seat. I read somewhere (can't remember, but it was in a similar discussion about bike seats) about someone crashing with a seat like this because they couldn't control the bike after hitting a bump. Apparently they slid right off of it and down they went. This seat looks like it would be like sitting on a barstool.

I have a Serfa brand seat on my MTB and it's very comfortable. It has a slot down the middle and is well padded.

Read the thread on high rise handlebars-I have a post about the seat there.
Posted by: Dryer

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/11/08 04:56 AM

I somewhat agree but I do know some very good mtb riders with seat like those. They tilt just like a normal seat, which keep 'em on the bike. My split saddles are both ultralite racing seats and I have no problem with them at all, on VERY techincal trails. Like most bike stuff that interfaces with the body, try before you buy.
Posted by: Trailrunner

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/11/08 09:07 AM

That saddle looks huge and it weighs close to two pounds.

But.....if you're a casual rider, if comfort is your sole concern, and if you don't plan to go very far it may work for you.
Posted by: Pika

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/11/08 10:25 AM

The last time I saw a seat like that was on a 1947 Fordson tractor. It was mounted on the end of a spring arm. Given the Schwinn seat as an alternative, I think I'd just as soon walk. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: goatpacker

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/11/08 04:56 PM

Good advice by all--Thanks!

Pika: Looks like I'll need the optional "plow and cultivator attachments" if I go with the Schwinn model <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Steve
Posted by: TomD

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/12/08 12:28 AM

Steve, remember that regardless of what seat you choose, seat position is critical. With what I would call a traditional style seat, the angle it is at makes a big difference. For me, mine is almost level. I have seem them pointed down or up as well; it all depends on the shape of your bottom.

Forward and back positioning is also very important because that determines where your knees are in relation to the crank arms. If your seat is too far forward or back, or set too high or low, you can put unnecessary strain on your knees, especially if you ride in big gears. You can really chew up a knee quickly mixing big gears and the wrong seat position.

Handlebar position may also be a factor so getting everything right may take some tinkering, but in my experience of doing a lot of road riding years ago, it is worth it.

You should be able to find some articles on proper seat alignment online.
Posted by: Pika

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/12/08 06:00 AM

There is a book by Joel Friel titled "Cycling Past 50" that covers properly setting up a bike as well as training, riding and racing for people in, and approaching codger-hood. I found it quite helpful and recommend it to any older rider. Actually, it would be helpful to a lot of the younger riders I see as well.
Posted by: azcanyon

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/12/08 09:11 AM

TomD wrote
Quote:
Think about it-one way you control your bike is with your inner thighs against the horn on your seat.

I don't have first-hand experience with those no-nose seats, but this reasoning makes sense to me. Or rather, it's not that you control the bike with your inner thigh against the nose, but that you feel where the bike is beneath you. This seems important especially on a mountain bike, where you might be in and out of the saddle.

Also, I don't think we should let a thread about bike saddles go this far without someone recommending a Brooks. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: TomD

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/12/08 12:20 PM

Anyone who can ride a Brooks saddle earns the nickname "iron bottom" in my book. My road bike has a Sella Turbo, which is hard enough.

I think AZ's description is right on-when I lean into a corner, I have my outside leg down and against the saddle; I can feel what the bike is doing. If it starts to hop around a bit, which is bad enough, I can at least feel what it is doing. I'm not adventurous enough to try one of these new designs because what I have works pretty well.
Posted by: bmisf

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/13/08 11:40 AM

Another vote against the tractor seat here, for all the reasons given - you'll be way less stable on that seat, and I'm betting it will really only be comfortable when you're in an upright position riding on easy, level terrain.

I've been using the Specialized "body geometry" saddles on my bikes (a Bianchi cross bike and a Bianchi road bike); they are pretty slim and minimal, but have a cutout in the middle to take pressure off of your perineum, and they come in different widths to match your body's sit bone spread (they even have a gel thing you can sit on in the bike shop to measure your sit bones).

Did a 45-mile bike ride yesterday on a road bike with the "Toupee" model and had absolutely zero soreness - great saddles! The Phenom and Alias models are similar in concept but made for mountain and touring bikes.
Posted by: finallyME

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/14/08 01:17 PM

I think Tom is right on. A properly fitted bike doesn't need a super cushioning seat. You should evenly distribute your weight between seat, pedals and handlebars.
Posted by: BarryP

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/16/08 01:06 PM

“…To be used mostly on forest service type roads and on paved roads.

Thoughts or other suggestions welcome.”

Well, here’s the other suggestion. I think I’m the only recumbent rider here. I easily put 3,000 miles/year on mine. When I had a wedgie bike, I did way less miles.

From day one, I never had sore gludials. And I don’t need padded biking shorts. I have a Bacchetta Giro 26. It has the most comfortable seat I ever sat in. There are many other health benefits of a recumbent which I won’t go into here.

This is my commuting bike and touring bike. I still use a mountain bike for the hills. However, my biking buddy uses his recumbent for mountain biking using 2” knobby tires.

My wife, after about 3 hours, will stop and take a nap on her bike w/o getting off. She rides/drives a Catrike Pocket.

Most recumbents are hand made so they cost a pretty penny.

-Barry
Posted by: alanwenker

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/18/08 02:02 PM

Once you break in a Brooks saddle you never go back. I have 3 bikes each with a sprung Brooks saddle and would not change these out for anything.
Posted by: bestianera

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/25/08 04:21 AM

I was warned by Ms. Juliane Neuss, a german constructor of special bikes and researcher of a cycling institute against those kind of saddles: allegedly they promote an anti- ergonomic cycling position, one which ultimately provoke distress and pain. She was answering a question of mine during a lecture in bicycle ergonomics.
If you have issues with your body while cycling, I suggest you look into the recumbent bikes (and trikes) to see if you can find a model that fits your body and your cycling aspiration

Otherwise, like others have suggested, try a leather saddle that conforms to your riding style (more or less upright). That's what I seat on on my upright bicycle

ciao
Posted by: jshannon

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/25/08 07:23 AM

A different view at these sites.

http://www.drmirkin.com/fitness/8733.html

http://www.sandiegosexualmedicine.com/?page=male/sexual-health-problems/bicycle-riding
Posted by: jshannon

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/25/08 07:36 AM

J Sex Med. 2008 May 7.

Cutting Off the Nose to Save the Penis.

Schrader SM, Breitenstein MJ, Lowe BD.

Division of Applied Research and Technology, National Institute for Occupational
Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

Introduction. The average bicycle police officer spends 24 hours a week on his
bicycle and previous studies have shown riding a bicycle with a traditional
(nosed) saddle has been associated with urogenital paresthesia and sexual
dysfunction. Aim. The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of
the no-nose bicycle saddle as an ergonomic intervention and their acceptance
among male bicycle police officers.

Conclusions. (i) With few exceptions, bicycle police officers were able to effectively use no-nose saddles in their police work. (ii) Use of no-nose saddles reduced most perineal pressure. (iii) Penile health improved after 6 month using no-nose saddles as measured by
biothesiometry and IIEF. There was no improvement in Rigiscan(R) measure after 6 months of using no nose saddles, suggesting that a longer recovery time may be
needed.
Posted by: bestianera

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 07/30/08 02:55 PM

maybe I should have articulated my message with more detailed:

the anti-ergonomic issue has nothing to do with perineal pressure, sore sit bones or impotence. The issue is with the back; I'm not able to go into details, but basically I was told that that kind of seat promotes an anti-ergonomic position of the spine. That's all I can offer to the discussion
Posted by: schweinhundert

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 08/24/08 04:28 PM

Looks mighty odd...how do your thighs clear it?
I'd go with a terry butterfly (yeah it's a woman's seat, tough). It's the best mtb seat I've ever ridden, super comfy, notched in the middle to protect your precious prostate...
Posted by: nimby

Re: "No Pressure Bike Seat" ? - 10/05/08 09:44 AM

While I do not have a very wide experience ( although that may describe my backside-glad I can't see my own rear view while riding) with different bike seats, I recently replaced the worn out el cheapo that came on my second hand bike with a Terry women's seat. The improved ventilation alone is great. It felt a bit too firm at first, but either my rear and/or the seat seem to have adapted to each other and are very happy together. I agree with the thigh control comments.