Men's Journal

We spent a month testing six new bike seats, each designed so that your next ride ends in triumph, not Tylenol.

By Josh Fulmer

Allay Racing Sport 2.1

The Allay’s killer app — an inflatable bladder under your perineum made to relieve pressure — seemed to be more gimmick than godsend. Even after one rider feverishly prodded the under-nose pump, “the seat felt mushy, especially when I shifted my body weight,” he said. ——————————————————[$115; allaysaddles.com]

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Selle Italia Max Flite Gel Flow Team Edition

With a layer of subcutaneous silicone and a center cutout for reducing perineal pain, the Selle Italia delivers a soft ride that will appeal to joyriders but not racers. “It felt bulky and wide,” said one tester, while another disliked the gel’s give under hard pedaling. [$170; selleitalia.com]

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Bontrager inForm RL

The Bontrager, available in different widths with size-specific curves, divided testers. “I like how the dual-density foam offers varied levels of support,” said one rider. “I found my new saddle.” But another tester knocked the inForm for looking cheap. Verdict: It’s a smart buy for racers on a budget. [$100; bontrager.com]

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Specialized Alias

The size-specific Alias (different shapes for different-size saddles) features a center cutout and padding that’s ample but not sloppy, making it a great seat for riders who want a balance of comfort and performance. “The Alias’s subtle curves fit my pelvis well,” said one rider who is averse to doughnut-shaped saddles. [$110; specialized.com]

Fizik Arione CX

Fizik’s lightweight saddles are always popular in the peloton, and the 205-gram Arione CX shows why. Testers found it surprisingly comfortable in multiple positions despite barely-there padding. “I completely forgot about it, which might be the best compliment I can pay a saddle,” said one tester. A winner for competitive weekend racers. [$159; fizik.it]

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Brooks Swift Chrome

Beautiful, ain’t she? Out of the box, the handmade Swift rides like you’d expect from a stiff chunk of cowhide riveted to steel — “like straddling a brick,” said one tester. But after about six months of riding, Brooks’s saddles mold perfectly to one’s nether regions — and they will last well past then with proper care. [$165; brookssaddles.com]

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This article originally appeared in the June/July 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.