When I first started riding a bike, I had one of those classic banana seats that everyone hates to ride. With all the comfortable bike seats that have been made available since then, I wonder why some people still use them. Nevertheless, I put up with that seat for years. It was one of the least comfortable bicycle seats that I have ever ridden. I would actually get blisters on the insides of my legs, and my rear end felt achy for hours after a long bike ride. I hated the inconvenience of that seat, but I thought that it was just a matter of comfort. I did not realize that having a comfortable bicycle seat was not just a matter of enjoying your bike ride ? it was a matter of safety as well.
You see, there's nothing special about comfortable bicycle seats. They simply support your body the best way they can in that position. uncomfortable bicycle seats, however, put some pretty unique stresses on your lower body. They can push on sensitive nerves, cause blisters, and even transfer extra shock to your spinal column. Particularly with mountain bike seats, there is more than comfort at stake. When you are getting the kind of shocks that you get mountain biking, having the right bike seat cushion can make a big difference. You can get neuropathy, spinal column damage, and all other kinds of medical ailments from not having comfortable bicycle seats.
Fortunately, it is easy to figure out what bike seats are safe. In general, a comfortable bicycle saddle is a safe bicycle saddle. As long as you are using comfortable bicycle seats, you probably are not doing any damage to your body. After all, all of the injuries that you can incur bike riding cause a lot of pain. If you are not in pain, you are probably safe. I wish that safety was always as easy.
Unfortunately, with bike riding it is not. Having a comfortable bicycle seat is one of the easiest ways to increase rider safety, but there are many more important things that you have to do. Very few bike riders actually take adequate safety precautions. Besides comfortable bicycle seats, you need reflectors, lights, a helmet, and even knee and elbow pads. Basically, if you want to ride completely safely, you need to be covered head to toe in safety gear. There is no other way to do it.
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