The Ultimate Guide to Gravel Saddles

Your saddle is the most intimate component choice on your bike. It’s the point-of-contact that bears the most weight, and it’s where you can make a huge difference to your comfort.

Gravel riding merges road cycling's endurance with off-road cycling's ruggedness, and grants you access to more diverse riding surfaces. To roll with this changing terrain, gravel cyclists often adopt a more dynamic riding position. A gravel bike saddle needs to accommodate these conditions with features that can absorb shock, minimize discomfort, and support rider movement.

Gravel bike saddles must: endure constant wear without compromising the saddle's integrity; achieve comfort through strategic padding and designs that support sit bones while minimizing pressure points; and balance weight and strength to handle the demands of gravel riding. The following key characteristics will help narrow down your saddle choices.

Gravel bike saddles come in various widths to fit different body types and riding styles. The distance between your sit bones is crucial for saddle selection. A saddle that's too narrow won't support your sit bones properly, while one that's too wide can cause chafing and discomfort. The saddle you choose should fit your sit bones equally on each side without generating friction or causing abnormal pedaling.

Saddle shape affects the rotation of the pelvis and how pressure is distributed throughout the saddle’s surface.

These features are designed to reduce pressure on sensitive areas, thus improving blood flow and preventing discomfort during long rides. They come in a variety of designs and can be wide, narrow, short, or long. The effectiveness of cutouts and relief channels varies between individuals, so consider your personal anatomy and preferences.

Material choices and construction techniques all impact a saddle’s comfort and durability.

Shell — the saddle's shell is what gives it its shape. It’s often made from injection-molded nylon, which provides a more forgiving structure, or carbon fiber or a combination of the two. The shell also serves as the platform to which the rails and padding are attached.

Rails — the rails are how the saddle gets attached to the seatpost. Rails can be made from carbon fiber or metal — all of which change the saddle's capacity to absorb vibrations and shocks from the road. Rail material also affects the saddle’s price.

TIP: Ritchey developed its Vector Wing technology to dissipate stress to a greater surface area of the shell.

Padding — Memory foam, gel padding, and high-density EVA foam are three options for absorbing vibrations and shocks from rough terrain. The saddle should also be firm enough to promote efficient power transfer.

TIP: more padding isn’t always better because it can lead to more movement and chafing over long distances.

Flexibility — the saddle should also offer some flexibility to adapt to rider movements.

Cover — completing the saddle’s construction is the cover, which should provide ample grip to help the rider stay in position.

Selecting the right saddle enhances the riding experience, prevents injuries, and ensures confidence over long distances. No one knows you better than you know yourself, and it’s your own body geometry + the saddle’s shape + its padding and construction that will lead you to the best saddle for you.

If you are flexible and tend to lean forward, you might prefer a flat saddle that allows for greater pelvic rotation. If you’re more of an upright rider, you may benefit from a concave saddle with less pelvic rotation for better sit bone support.

When it comes to gravel biking, the physiological differences between males and females can significantly impact saddle comfort and choice. The female anatomy typically has wider sit bones than the male anatomy. This leads to different requirements for saddle width, shape, and padding. Addressing these differences is crucial for ensuring comfort, reducing injury, and enhancing overall performance.

Ritchey offers a range of saddles that have been engineered to meet the unique demands of gravel cycling. Each Ritchey saddle is designed to prioritize comfort, durability, and performance on varying terrain. Let’s take a closer look at three standout models in the Ritchey gravel bike saddles range: the Skyline, Cabrillo, and Streem.

The is a concave saddle designed for comfort over long distances. Its concave shape offers stable and comfortable support, while its generous length allows for some front-rear movement. The big cutout avoids pressure in the perineal area.

The Cabrillo is a flat, short saddle with a minimalist design approach for flexible performance riders.

The Streem is a flat performance saddle that allows the rider to move around the saddle to find the right position for each type of terrain or effort.

Ritchey’s lineup of gravel bike saddles demonstrates our commitment to delivering high-quality, rider-focused saddles. Whether you require one that provides all-day comfort, or you're embarking on epic gravel adventures, or seeking to optimize your performance, Ritchey has a saddle tailored to your needs.