Road vs. Mountain Bike Saddle – How To Choose the One That’s Right for You
There are two main types of saddles namely road bike saddles and mountain bike saddles. Road bike saddles are designed with aerodynamic features, while mountain bike saddles optimize rider comfort for longer and bumpier rides. Different saddle designs have advantages and disadvantages, that need to be considered according to the type of terrain and rider’s preferences and so it is important to decide between a road vs. mountain bike saddle.
Saddles for road bicycles are designed for speed and pedaling efficiency, while mountain bike saddles are designed for comfort and stability. Road bike saddles have narrower designs that are best suited for riding on roads, while mountain bike saddles are slightly wider at the rear in order to accommodate various riding styles and positions.
In this article, we will discuss the differences between road and mountain bike saddles as well as what features to look out for when deciding which type of saddle is best for your needs. This video tutorial by Bike Radar explains a bit more about what saddle you should choose for your type of cycling.
You might also find interest in learning what to do if your mountain bike handlebar keeps twisting. If so, be sure to read our related article for more information.
Differences Between Road Vs. Mountain Bike Saddles
When comparing road vs. mountain bike saddles, remember that road bike saddles are made for speed and efficiency while mountain bike saddles are made for comfort and stability. Bicycle seat manufacturers understand the demands of various types of trails and design specialized saddles to ensure riders are safe and comfortable when riding.
Road bike saddle features include cutouts, flat tops, long-nose designs for an aerodynamic position, are made from lightweight materials like carbon fiber or titanium, and tend to have little to no padding. Mountain bike saddles have thicker padding for cushioning, gel inserts for extra comfort, raised rear tails, and built-in rain covers that offer protection against the elements.
Our article comparing trekking saddles and mountain bike saddles explains what features are integrated into the designs so that the saddles meet riders’ particular needs.
Advantages of Road Bike Saddles
Road bike saddles have aerodynamic designs, as well as deep middle cutouts to improve rider comfort. They are typically designed with less padding, flat tops, and long narrow nose protrusions in the front of the saddle.
1. Light and Aerodynamic Design
Road bike saddles like this one are designed to be as light and aerodynamic as possible. This increases pedaling speed and makes it easier to hold an efficient cycling position. As this excerpt from High Tech Cycling explains, road cyclists typically adopt a forward-leaning position to improve their aerodynamics and speed when racing. A narrower saddle design ensures cyclists can maintain this position for long periods without strain.
2. Deep Center Cutouts
Many road bike saddles have deep center cutouts to reduce pressure on your perineum, which is the area between your sit bones. This can help prevent numbness and pain in these sensitive areas. Our tips to reduce mountain bike saddle pain include various ways to limit pain in the perineum from cycling on a hard saddle.
3. Flat Tops
Road bike saddles often have flat tops to help cyclists move around on the saddle while pedaling. This allows riders to adjust and find comfortable positions, which is especially helpful during long rides. Another way that riders can adjust positions is by changing the location of their hands when riding. Our article about drop handlebars and their benefits explains how installing drop bars offers riders more hand positions when riding.
4. Long-Nose Designs
Some road bike saddles like this have long noses that offer more support when you are in an aerodynamic position. This can help reduce fatigue in your arms and shoulders.
5. Less Padding
Road bike saddles like this usually have less padding when compared to mountain bike saddles. This reduces weight and makes it easier to pedal because the seat isn’t rubbing on the rider’s inner thighs.
Disadvantages of Road Bike Saddles
1. Uncomfortable For Some
Because road bike saddles are designed for speed and efficiency, they may not feel as comfortable as mountain bike saddles which have more padding. Our steps to improve mountain bike saddle comfort explains how to select a saddle that has adequate padding without hindering proper pedaling.
2. Can Cause Numbness and Pain
If you are unable to find a good position on a road bike saddle, you may experience numbness and pain in your perineum or sit bone area. If you are experiencing discomfort or pain, then read our article about how to improve your saddle comfort by adding a saddle cushion to improve comfort and performance.
Advantages of Mountain Bike Saddles
You’ll notice that road vs. mountain bike saddles are completely different designs. Mountian bike saddles are more comfortable than road bike saddles because they have more cushioning and wider rear designs. They are also adjustable so that riders can change their angles and positions for better comfort. Mountain bike saddles are made from durable materials that contribute to rider comfort and endurance.
1. More Comfort
Mountain bike saddles like these are usually more comfortable than road bike saddles. This is because they have more padding and come in a wider variety of shapes and sizes. The choice of materials and designs in mountain bike saddles means they will suit any budget. Read out our mountain bike saddle price guide for price and design comparisons across various ranges.
2. Better For Rough Trails
Mountain bike saddles are better for cycling on rough trails because they often have extra features like raised rear tails and rain covers. These additions offer protection against the elements, keeping you clean and safe.
3. Easily Adjusted
Mountain bike saddles tend to be easy to adjust and being customizable in a wide variety of positions is helpful when searching for the optimal saddle position for your riding style. To optimize your saddle position, consider checking out our article on how to choose mountain bike saddle height properly.
4. High Durability and Stability
Mountain bike saddles are known to be highly durable and stable. This increases safety as you do not have to worry about the saddle breaking or slipping during a ride. Mountain bike saddles like this one are built to withstand rough terrain while also ensuring rider comfort.
Disadvantages of Mountain Bike Saddles
1. Heavier
Mountain bike saddles are usually heavier than road bike saddles because the latter is optimized for speed whereas the former is not. This means pedaling is more arduous on mountain bike saddles when compared to road bike saddles. Mountain bike riders typically overcome this harder pedaling by riding in a semi-standing position as explained in this article from the Journal of Vehicle Mechanics and Mobility.
2. Not as Aerodynamic
Mountain bike saddles are not as aerodynamic as road bike saddles. The latter are optimized for cycling on long straight roads where an aerodynamic design provides optimal benefits for performance. Mountain bike saddles on the other hand are primarily designed for rough trails where stability and comfort are more important than aerodynamics.
How To Find the Optimal Road Bike Seat for Road Biking
Road cyclists are more concerned about their speed and pedaling efficiency than about comfort and stability because they ride on flat even road surfaces.
When selecting a saddle for a road bike choose a narrow saddle with a long nose. A center cutout will improve rider comfort on a road bicycle because there is less padding on these types of saddles. Road saddles are typically priced between $25-$300 depending on the materials used.
These tips will help you to find the optimal road bike seat for your needs:
Tip 1. Consider the Width and the Shape of the Saddle
The right road bike saddle will be wide enough to support your sit bones without being too wide. It should have a shape that is narrower in the front and wider in the back. This will help the rider maintain an efficient pedaling position.
Tip 2. Look for a Road Bike Saddle With a Deep Center Cutout
A deep center cutout will help reduce pressure on your perineum, which can lead to numbness and pain. It is especially important to look for a deep center cutout if you are a man. This is because, according to this article from European Urology, men have a narrower sit bone width than women and are more likely to experience perineal numbness.
Tip 3. Consider the Amount of Padding
Road bike saddles often have less padding than mountain bike saddles. This helps to reduce weight and makes it easier to find your sweet spot on the saddle. However, some people find road bike saddles uncomfortable because they feel hard. If you are one of these people, look for a road bike saddle with more padding like this one.
Tip 4. Budget Is Important
Bike seats range in price from around $25 to $300. While it is important to consider your budget, we advise against compromising comfort for the sake of the price as you will likely be spending a lot of time on your saddle.
Summary of Road Bike Saddles
| What to Look for in a Road Bike Seat | Why Is This Feature Important? | Example Saddle With Feature |
| Design with a cutout or recess | Saddles with a cutout or recess provide anatomic relief from painful bumps and/or long rides | Planet Bike A.R.S. Classic Bike Seat |
| Made from durable and light material | Material determines the durability and overall quality which is important when optimizing for speed | Speralv Saddle Carbon Saddle Bike Seat |
| Long nose length | Longer nose length saddles provide more support making it easier to keep an aerodynamic position | Kootu Road Bike Saddle |
| Ultra-lightweight | Be as light as possible when optimizing for performance | Selle Italia, SLR Boost Superflow Ti316 |
How To Find a Great MTB Saddle
Finding the most comfortable MTB saddle is a process of trial and error. However, there are a few things you should keep in mind that will help you find the perfect saddle.
When selecting a mountain bike saddle choose one that has enough padding for maximum comfort on long and rough rides. A wider saddle is not always better, and the rider’s sit bones need to be considered when choosing the saddle width. Choose a saddle with a shorter nose that is better suited to handle bumpy terrain.
Our suggestions for choosing a mountain bike saddle can help you select the ideal saddle for your needs.
These tips will help you to find a great MTB saddle for your needs:
Tip 1. Padding Is Key
Mountain bike saddles like these have more padding than road bike saddles. This is because they need to be comfortable enough to handle the bumps and vibrations of riding on rough terrain. However, too much padding can make a saddle uncomfortable. It is important to find a balance between comfort and support. Our article about fixing a mountain bike seat that is too hard explains the significance of proper padding.
Tip 2. Wider Is Not Always Better
Mountain bike saddles are often wider than road bike saddles. This is because they need to be stable enough to handle the bumps and vibrations of riding on rough terrain. However, a saddle that is too wide can make pedaling more difficult because the rider’s inner thighs will rub and chafe on the saddle. It is important to find a saddle that is wide enough to support your sit bones while not being so wide that it impairs pedaling.
Tip 3. Do Not Forget About the Nose
Mountain bike saddles like these often have shorter noses than road bike saddles. This is because they need to be able to handle the bumps and vibrations of riding on rough terrain. This research from the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise Journal explains that a shorter saddle nose reduces the risk of injury. However, a nose that is too short can make it more difficult to keep your balance when climbing hills.
Summary of Mountain Bike Saddles
| What To Look for in a Mountain Bike Seat | Why Is This Feature Important? | Example Saddle with Feature |
| A shape that is wide but not too wide, and short but not too short | Shape affects comfort and safety | Wittkop Bike Seat I Bicycle Seat for Men |
| The saddle should be made of material that is both light and durable | Material affects weight, durability, and stability | Ergon Sm Ergonomic Comfort Bicycle Saddle |
| Length | Nose length affects comfort, safety and positioning | Serfas RX-921V Road |
| Price | Price is determined by the materials used and the additional padding | Fortop Most Comfortable Bike Seat Bicycle Saddle |
Our related article will explain how to measure a mountain bike saddle correctly so be sure to take a look at that one as well.
Can You Use a Road Saddle on a Mountain Bike?
If you already have a saddle on your bike you might be considering using a road saddle on a mountain bike rather than buying a second saddle. It is important to remember that road vs. mountain bike saddle designs are specific to the terrain. Road bike saddles don’t offer proper cushioning for bumpy terrain, so you will need to adjust your riding position to prevent injury to the perineum.
It is possible to use a road bike saddle on a mountain bike, but it is not advisable due to the fact that they are narrower than mountain bike saddles, and are often less padded than mountain bike saddles, which makes them uncomfortable when riding on bumpy terrain.
There are a few reasons why someone might choose to use a road bike saddle on their mountain bike:
Reason 1. A Road Bike Saddle is Lighter
A road saddle may be lighter in weight than a mountain bike saddle, which can be advantageous for climbing hills.
Reason 2. A Road Bike Saddle Has Deeper Cutouts
It may have a deeper center cutout than a mountain bike saddle, which can help reduce pressure on the perineum.
Reason 3. A Road Bike Saddle May Have More Padding
A road bike saddle can sometimes have more padding than a mountain bike saddle, which can make it more comfortable for longer rides.
Is There a Difference Between Mountain Bike Saddle Height vs. Road Bike Saddle Height?
Road cyclists have different postures and riding positions compared to mountain bikers. This means that their saddle positions and heights will also be different to accommodate these riding positions.
There is a difference between mountain bike saddle height and road bike saddle height. Mountain bike saddle height ranges from about 60-70mm, while road bike saddle height ranges from about 65-80mm.
The main difference between mountain bike saddle height and road bike saddle height is that mountain bike saddles are generally positioned lower. This is because they need to be able to handle the bumps and vibrations of riding on rough terrain. However, a saddle that is too low can make it more difficult to keep balanced when climbing hills. Read our guide on how to choose mountain bike saddle height to learn more about correctly positioning your mountain bike saddle for optimal performance and comfort.
Is There a Difference Between Road and Mountain Bike Saddles?
By now you should know the answer. Road bike saddles are thinner and lighter in comparison to mountain bike saddles. This is because they are designed for speed and efficiency when cycling on paved roads. Mountain bike saddles, on the other hand, are wider and thicker than road bike saddles. This is because they are designed to support the weight of a person who is seated in a more upright position. They also have grooves and protrusions to help keep you stable when cycling on rough terrain.
The difference between road and mountain bike saddles is that road saddles are designed for speed and efficiency, while mountain bike saddles are designed for comfort and stability.
Road saddles are best for racing and long-distance cycling, while mountain bike saddles are optimized for comfort and control when riding on rough terrain. Mountain bike saddles have more padding in strategic areas so that cyclists remain comfortable on rough terrain. Our article about choosing a mountain bike saddle to reduce saddle numbness explains the problems associated with hard saddles and how to improve saddle comfort.