Grip and saddle fit for touring

February 06, 2025

 

When touring especially on longer distance segments, the type of saddle and grip does affect our comfort and performance. Saddles can help increase comfort as well and enforce good posture, grips and lighten the strain on our wrists and improve weight leverage while riding by giving us a wider surface area to put our weight on.

Why you should properly set saddle height and tilt.

 

Height: Riders legs should be near fully extended while stepping on a paddle at it’s lowest point. This helps to straighten posture while riding and reduce soreness and cramping. Having your leg as extended as possible also adds leverage while riding as it will be easier to push forward.

Tilt: Saddle tilt affects performance by leveraging on your body weight, shifting it toward the front of the bike. Pushing your weight onto the handles will drive momentum forward making slopes easier, as well as making downhills faster.

Different types of saddles.

Standard Saddle: The standard Brompton saddle has a standard and wide variant. Riders may consider switching to a wider seat if they like the extra surface area.

C17: The C17 saddle is harder, more durable and weather resistant  than the standard brompton saddle. It is a recommended model for those who do not have the time to consistently maintain their bikes.

Brooks saddles: Brooks saddles offer a timeless and classic design. It’s high quality dark brown leather design is perfect to add onto your Brompton. However due to the seat being made of leather, it will need consistent care and maintenance, as well as proper cleaning especially after wet weather rides.

Other Third Party Brands: Others may find these more comfortable as it is based on user preferences. 

Handles:

 

When touring we should maximise comfort especially for longer distance segments. Based on experience, we would recommend the ergon GPL-1s which are designed for touring on the Brompton.

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