Not everyone has the same requirements for comfort, fit, looks, etc. With that said, the following information is offered in an effort to help you find the most comfort in a saddle for you. The final shape, cover, material, padding is like the color - it is your choice.

1) The more flex the rail of the saddle has the more comfort. Flex absorbs road vibrations and impacts rather than being passed on to the rider. The most flexible rail material is Titanium (it is also the most expensive.) The least flexible rail material is steel (it is the least expensive.) Cr/Mo, Manganese, Vanox and Forged are other materials that vary in flex and price. Also, the rail should be as long as possible. The longer the rail the more flex and shock absorbing it will be.

2) The base of the saddle should be nylon (or nylon composites) not plastic. The flex of the nylon will provide more vibration and shock absorbing than a plastic base. You can usually see the difference by pushing against the saddle base with your thumb. If it is nylon, the saddle base will move. Plastic will not move.

3) Padding alone is not enough to judge comfort. Have you ever sat on a pillow or cushion on a bleacher? You will eventually feel the stiff bleacher even with lots of padding. It is the same with a saddle. If the saddle has lots of padding but the base and rail don't flex it will become uncomfortable.

4) Make sure your saddle is adjusted properly. This will take patience and cannot be done by anyone but you.

A saddle must be positioned so that you don't reach too far forward or sit too upright. This cannot be done by sliding your seat forward or aft on the rails more than a few millimeters. (Your saddle should be mounted as close to the center of the rail adjustment as possible.) It may require a different handlebar stem than your bike is equipped with.

The angle and height of the seat is important as well.

The height of the seat should be adjusted so that your leg is straight out when your heel is resting on the pedal at the bottom reach of the crank. Don't over extend the leg and don't have it curled.

If you have any concerns about the best fit contact the fit specialist at Re-My Sport and the staff will arrange an appointment.

The angle of the saddle should adjusted to fit "you". If you find yourself getting sore on the "sit" bones, tilt the seat down a little. Try it again and adjust it a little at a time. If you find yourself getting sore in the front soft tissue area, raise the nose a little. Try it again and adjust it a little at a time. Don't go from one extreme to the other. It won't help.

5) Leather covers don't sweat like synthetic covers. Because leather doesn't sweat, it causes less friction and less irritation. The leather costs more but it provides more comfort

6) Shape is important! There are 2 basic "shapes" for middle-high end racing MTB saddles - flat or curved. Analyze your riding style so that you ride the saddle that best fits your style of riding. If you move around a lot and ride in several positions, a flat saddle should be more comfortable. If you have a tendency to sit in 1 or 2 positions, a curved saddle should be more comfortable.

RAIL CRITERIA:
None of the materials have a rider weight limit! They will all work extremely well used in a normal course of riding.

Most riders have problems with bending or breaking rail: a) when impacting the saddle during landing after becoming airborne! The earth won't move or give so the saddle must.

This usually happens during aggressive MTB riding when the bike gets airborne, the riders foot slips off the pedal/rider loses balance/or ? and the rider impacts the seat when the bike hits the ground.

Bent rails can even happen when road bikers "jump" a pot hole/curb/railroad tracks/? and don't time the jump correctly impacting the saddle.

b) Stress riser caused by the seat post cradle (sharp edge of the seat post cradle creates stress riser, which will eventually cause the rail to break.)

As with most things that can bend or break (stems/handlebars/rims/seat rails), the riders riding technique or riding circumstance when it bends/breaks has more to do with durability than the product material.

The advantages of Titanium are it is lighter and it flexes more than other materials. The advantages of Cr/Mo and/or Manganese are they are lighter and flex more than steel.

Re-My Sport will help you find the best saddle and guarantee hours of comfortable cycling.