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Hi all
I finally managed to get my son out for a bike ride yesterday (he's 12) around the local wood. We went up and down a flat, straight path for about an hour. He fell off at least 5 times. Anyway, he was using an old Kona Cinder Cone bike I have that has a saddle I bought from Halfords about 15 years ago. Despite it being a giant gel filled affair it really is quite uncomfortable and not suited to a pre teen boy.
I was wondering if anyone could recommend a saddle that would suit a 5ft 4, 12 year old novice.
Might even have to venture into buying a slightly newer bike of he will keep it up.
Thanks.
That's an almost impossible ask!
That said, I've bought the cheap WTB Speed V or Rocket from CRC - middle width and hadn't had many complaints.
My lad has been running a Madison Sprint youth saddle for the last few years and really likes it.
The big gel saddle doesn't help anyone really. An ordinary saddle may be all you need.
Though question is why he's falling off so much on straight paths. Even with a rubbish saddle that doesn't seem right.
^this.
Age doesn’t matter, everyone needs a good saddle.
But the bigger issue is why he is crashing. (That is what’s happening right? When I hear falling of, it sounds like you toppled off something that remains upright, rather an unlikely situation on a bike).
If the equipment is the cause, change that, otherwise it sounds like the terrain was easy, So maybe it’s a concentration/fatigue thing? Maybe ride for a shorter amount of time?
Accidents happen, but nobody should crash regularly.
As far as saddle selection, age and height do not affect saddle choice.
Small humans are more likely to have narrow sitbone widths, but it’s not guaranteed.
My 9 year old rides a 155 mm Specialized Power saddle.
Besides the fact that it offers good sitbone support, with very little pressure on the center and nose of the saddle for most people, even when climbing, the biggest reason I put it on her bike is that it’s one of the new ‘snub nosed’ saddles. This frees up more standover space closer to the seattube, where the frame is lowest.
I find my Madison Flux to be comfortable and it is not expensive compared to some. If Mini needed a new saddle I would get a Maddison Trail Youth saddle as first port of call.
Why should a kids saddle need to be cheap? You need to grow a lot to outgrow a saddle. I hesitate to spend money on shoes that only get worn one summer or winter, but saddles can last severely years, even with a growing kid.
Get a good one (doesn’ mean it has to be expensive, just don’t look at price first and performance second) and move it along to the next bike.
Both of mine are happy on wtbs. Rockets, volts, Silverado. There's always someone selling one on from a new build so I have not spent much on them.
SDG Jnr ones are great, but might be too small.
Maddison Trail junior also and the Kids racing HUP ones, all worth a shot.
But 5'4" isn't exactly small or even child sized.
I've got a WTB Volt, used but ideal to try out, and a frog bikes saddle like new, you can have them if you want, happy to post out to you. @Tracey of this parish did the same for us for our daughter, happy to pass on the good will.
Thanks for all the advice. I've been using a WTB speed V for a few years and am very happy with it so will have to look at some other models.
Very generous of you @nobeerinthefridge I will provate message you.