Pain in the butt? Your bike shouldn’t leave you feeling uncomfortable.

If you’ve dusted off your bike and taken it for a spin, but been left with an achy neck, hands, or butt, you might want to consider a few simple upgrades to customize your bike for the ultimate ride comfort!

Bike Seat

Saddles aren’t one size fits all. If you have an older saddle on your bike, or a stock one from the manufacturer, it might not fit your needs. Men and women’s pelvises are sized differently, and our sit bone widths impact the size of your saddle. The wrong saddle can cause chafing, pinching, or cause numbness in your genitals.

Your style of riding and body position also impacts your saddle choice. A low profile, lightweight saddle can be great on a road or cross country mountain bike, and due to a more upright position and more weight on your seat, wider and shorter saddles are likely more comfortable on hybrids and city bikes. Visit your local independent bike shop for assistance in choosing the right saddle for you and your bike.

Saddles to check out:

Phorm S/300 (men’s & women’s): For fitness and leisure riders who have a moderately sporty sitting position. Wider rear section allows for increased weight distribution but overall narrower design for more freedom of movement. MSRP $34 CAD.

Serfas RX (men’s & women’s): Twin bar design to realign sit bones. Designed to reduce numbness. MSRP $50 CAD.

Freedom Greenbelt (men’s & women’s): City and hybrid saddle with full centerline relief. MSRP $60 CAD.

Phorm S/410 Flex Gel Max (men’s & women’s): Designed for riders with a more upright sitting position. Ergofoam padding and ComfortGel inserts for greater pressure distribution. MSRP $68 CAD.

Grips

Whether your grips are worn out or the wrong style, a new set will make your hands happy! Ergonomic designs, like those by Ergon, Phorm, and Serfas, minimize compression of your ulnar nerve, which can lead to pain, tingling, and numbness in your hands and arms.

Grips to check out:

DLX Lock-Down Ergonomic Comfort Grip by 49N: Gel rubber offers excellent durability while diamond pattern produces great grip. Ergonomic shape reduces nerve pressure. MSRP $16 CAD.

Phorm G210: Ergonomic shaped lock-on grip for hybrids, city bikes, mountain bikes and flat bar road. Available in black and black with blue core. MSRP $24 CAD.

Ergon GP1 / GC1: Both the GP1 and GC1 are designed to reduce pressure points with Ergon’s patented wing shape. GC1 model is optimized for cruisers with swept back handlebars to reduce the kinked wrist position. Available in standard black and biokork models. MSRP $37.50 (regular); $50 CAD (Biokork).

Tires

You might not pay much attention to your bike’s tires, but they have a large impact on your traction, control, and overall comfort while you ride. It’s often said that a new set of tires is easiest way to upgrade your bike!

Road and performance hybrid bikes which stay mostly on asphalt can benefit from durable and lightweight tires, which enhance puncture protection and also reduce your rolling resistance and overall weight of your bike.

City bikes and cruisers on the other hand can be far more comfortable with a set of larger tires with lower volume, which help to absorb vibrations from the road.

Tires to check out:

Freedom Thickslick: The Thickslick is designed to withstand the harshest urban elements with twice the puncture protection of a standard rubber casing tire. Available in a variety of sizes in 700c, and now 26”. MSRP: $40 – 60 CAD ea, depending on casing and size.

Schwalbe Marathon: Excellent puncture protection, all-season tread, and reflective sidewall for excellent visibility in low light conditions. Wide range of sizes for 700c, 29”, and 26”. MSRP $50 CAD each.

Schwalbe Big Apple: Built in air suspension for urban / city bikes! Puncture protection belt and reflective sidewalls makes the Big Apple suitable for everyday urban life.  26” & 29”. MSRP  $60 CAD each.