Tri/TT Saddles: Then vs. Now

Bike saddles – what’s true and what’s false in the world of saddle advertising, and how could this thirteen-year-old prototype still be my favorite seat for tri bike builds? Let’s take a brief look at the history of bike saddles in time trial and triathlon, including some important ins and outs of the physiology and fit philosophy that makes such a difference in determining which saddle might be right for you.  

Saddles are some of the most misunderstood parts of the bike, and with good reason. For decades, finding the right saddle was considered a bit of a dark art, and still is in some respects. But it really doesn’t need to be. Most of what makes a saddle comfortable, or uncomfortable, is relatively straightforward. So let’s take a brief look at the history of saddles in our sport, and what makes some saddles a bit better than others.