Bicycle Saddle Technology

Elements Of Comfort - Bicycle Saddle Rails


bicycle saddle rails
Koobi PRS - Bicycle Saddle Rail System


Function of the Bicycle Saddle Rails

These hard workers of the underworld suddenly become indispensable when you hit rough terrain. Granted, all the components of a well-designed bicycle seat work together  to soften the impact of the bumps, but this is where a quality rail system really makes a difference.


Bicycle Saddle Rails Are Like Leaf Springs

The leaf spring design is simple, reasonably lightweight, durable, and inexpensive. The majority of well-designed bicycle saddles use this design. However, along with the advantages come the liabilities. Flexible springs absorb more energy and have a nice ride, but are less strong. Strong springs are stiff, absorb less energy, and have a poor ride quality. To add to the problem, spring rails will fatigue and can break, and excess weight and improper mounting can even cause the rails to break prematurely.


Stiff Standards

The International Manufacturing Standard requires all saddles to function for a 220-pound (100 kilo) rider.  Most cyclists weigh less than this standard, so the bike seat rails are usually too stiff for the rider. Bicycle saddle rails that are strong are stiffer than necessary.


The Koobi PRS Solution

Koobi solves the problem with the Personal Ride System. First, an interchangeable elastomer spring is inserted between the saddle base and the rails. Then each saddle is custom built with one of 5 elastomer springs tuned to the rider’s weight. This way, the cyclist sits on a saddle that has a much greater ability to absorb bump energy relative to their body weight. Koobi offers this on all PRS models.


More Elements Of Bicycle Saddle Comfort

Learn more about the elements of bicycle saddle comfort in this series of articles.