Saddlepain can be classified in five categories:

1. sitting bones
2. perineum (prostate)
3. genitals
4. tailbone
5. skin

Saddlepain is usually caused by pressure on above mentioned bodyparts. The complaints in relation to skin-irritation is caused by extreme warming of the saddle, as a result from friction heat. Modern plastic saddles and in particular gel saddles retain heat. (for instance gel is used in many physiotherapeutic -thermal treatment- applications such as hot and cold packs.) This heat retention leads to very high surface temperatures and weakening of the skin and thus causing the same symptoms as bedsores. However with one big difference, being time, in cycling the sore can already occur in less than 45 minutes!

The other complaints are all pressure related. The start of any solution is to determine if the frameheight is correct. Too large a frame will always lead to complaints and no saddle can solve those. Cycling pleasure starts with the choice of the right frame, followed by the choice of the correct saddle.

In most plastic gel saddles, the foam is compressed by the body, caused by the hard plastic baseplate. The foam surrounding the pressure points will harden, causing ne unwanted pressure points. Matrass-sprung saddles can prevent these problems. (for instance the Lepper Comfotech range)

Sitting bone problems are often caused by too narrow saddles. Especially women have this problem. By nature sitting bones of women are slightly wider set than of men. (on average women 13cm/5.2 inch, men 11cm/4.2 inch) Women need therefore slightly wider saddles than men, albeit that most men prefer the same width. The nose of the saddle should be relatively short and narrow, else frictioncomplaints may develop in the thigh and genital area.