I've just put a SPM Glider saddle on my bike and so far it's pretty sweet. Plus I reckon it's worth about 5 minutes off my bike split which is the same you'd get from a $3k set of race wheels.
How can a saddle cut your ride time? Well 85% of drag when riding a bike comes from the rider. Only 15% comes from the bike. The biggest 'bang for buck' is going to come from reducing the impact of the 85%.
How does the saddle help? Most saddles will give you 1 - 2 hours comfort but after that, it starts to feel like you've got your entire genetalia riding on the edge of a metal ruler. So you stand up and shift around on the seat to relieve the pressure. After a while it gets really painful to hold an aero position so you tilt your pelvis to reduce the pain which raises your head and shoulders - up into the wind, which increases drag and slows you down (even with fancy race wheels!).
So if you can stay aero for as long as possible, you'll bike easier, use less watts, save your legs for the run and bike faster. Simple.
The SPM saddles are designed so you sit 'into' the saddle rather than 'on top'. Your tender fleshy bits that carry the nerves and blood supply to 'throbbing manhood' (as Mills and Boon would say) sit in the cut out so you can stay in the aero position for longer which equals faster.
I'm trying it out tomorrow on a long ride so I'll let you know how it goes.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Springvale Rd,Wanganui,New Zealand
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