SHSSC

The slow flow of traffic is a common scene especially during morning and late afternoon rush hours. As such, the use of bicycles as a mode of transportation is becoming widely popular today among students and workers, alike. Among the important parts of a bicycle that contributes to the preference of most motorists to this type of transportation is the bicycle seat. This part, which is now available in the market in a multitude of types, contributes to the cyclists comfort, or lack thereof, when cycling.

Attached to the seat post, the bicycle seat is a part of a bicycle that provides support to the cyclist's buttocks and back when riding. This part is one of the three contact points of the bicycle to our body-the other two are the handlebars and the pedals. Most of these seats have adjustable heights that allow the rider to choose the best position that will make him/her comfortable when riding.

The shell, cover, and rails are the three main parts that make up a bicycle seat. Usually rounded in shape, the shell is the part that creates the shape of the seat. Molded pieces of plastic such as nylon, as well as carbon fiber, are the materials often used in manufacturing this part. On the other hand, closed cell foam, gel, or gel-foams are often used for the cover. This part of the bike seat uses some form of padding that has an outer covering made from Lycra, vinyl, artificial leather, or leather. Lastly are the rails that provide fore and aft adjustment to seat and which connect the seat to the rest of the bike. These rails can either be solid or hollow and can be made from carbon fiber, magnesium, aluminum, titanium, or steel.

Various types of bicycles seats are available in the market that one can choose from. They usually vary in their materials, width, and overall construction with each variation designed for a different type of person with specific sit bones and personal specifications. The most common type of bike seat is the racing seat. This features a narrow, lightly padded saddle that's ideal for a pro cyclist's riding position and fast pedaling. Secondly is the mountain bike seat which is also usually lightweight but is not as narrow as the racing seat. It has a little more padding to help absorb the beating you take on tough terrain.

The third type of bicycle seat is the cruiser seat which is usually heavy, wide, and well-padded and designed for casual or everyday riding. The ample padding of this seat type is needed by the riders as most cruiser riders sit upright and put a lot of their weight on their seat. Longer rides with this type of seat however can cause chafe inner thighs and uncomfortable riding. Finally, there are also the alternative seats which come in unusual new designs that increase comfort and decrease physical problems. There are some which have inflatable padding and others with articulated parts that can move with your body.

Traditional bicycle seats usually cause numbness and discomfort after use. However, with the different technological innovations used with modern bike seats, these are no longer a problem. The important thing to do is to learn how to examine the seats and be able to tell the differences between them.