| The better your exercise bike seat, the more | | | | your weight is on your arms and legs with a road bike |
| comfortable the ride. Nobody will continue an exercise | | | | especially if you ride hard and fast. But the trade-off is |
| bike fitness program if every ride is agonizing. Choose | | | | the narrow seats put pressure on the pelvic bones |
| a comfortable seat and keep on pedaling. | | | | with the related nerves and blood vessels. That can |
| What are the choices for a comfortable bicycle seat? | | | | cause numbness in the groin area. |
| First, most any exercise bicycle can be modified to | | | | Usually a wider exercise bicycle seat is better and the |
| use a regular bicycle seat. So if you find a comfortable | | | | feel is improved with padding. Gel padding is what you |
| bicycle seat, it can become your exercise bike seat. | | | | want for the best feel. There are different types of |
| Usually it's just a matter of loosening one nut under the | | | | gels with different feels. You can get a gel padded |
| seat and pulling one seat off and slipping on another. | | | | seat or buy a slip-on gel pad for your existing seat. |
| Many exercise bikes come with very wide seats, | | | | You can see gel pads and seats at your local bike |
| much wider than regular bicycles. Most of the weight | | | | shop. Discount stores often stock gel pads. Or shop |
| of the rider is supported by the seat. Less weight is | | | | online for a seat or pad. Since the size and fit of seats |
| supported by the arms and legs. That's usually more | | | | varies, make sure you can return the seat if it doesn't |
| comfortable, but not always. The major muscles in the | | | | work for you. |
| hips are very involved in bicycle pedaling. Over a long | | | | Don't quit using your exercise bike because of a poor |
| pedaling session, if you're sitting on those muscles, you | | | | seat. A new seat or even an inexpensive seat cover |
| can develop cramps in the muscles. | | | | may be all you need to keep you pedaling toward |
| That's why racing street bicycles have such small | | | | better fitness. |
| seats, to take the load off the hip muscles. More of | | | | |