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review
£29.99
VERDICT:
Well worth a look if normal saddles make you suffer… unless you're a weight weenie
Weight:
480g
Contact:
www.rido-cyclesaddles.com
At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.
What the road.cc scores meanGood scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.
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We've all seen amusing, noseless 'medical' saddles, but have you ever tried riding a bike while sitting on one? It's only then that you appreciate how much of your control is down to the nose of your seat. But the science behind the twin-pad designs is pretty sound - you're sitting on it using your sit bones, rather than perching on your perineum.
The Rido is the happy middle ground, a saddle that's more or less a conventional looking beast but with what Rido call 'Pressure Shift Geometry'. Essentially you're shifting your weight further back to sit on the shoulders of the saddle, and you're not in contact with the nose: it's just there for control.
The first time you sit on the Rido it feels, well, weird. It's immediately obvious that you're using a different part of your behind. It's not uncomfortable though, your weight is just supported a bit further back, and after a few rides you get used to the position. You do notice that there's no pressure up front, and the bits of your rear that you are sitting on are well suspended by the dual density base and padded sections. It's a lot more comfortable than it looks.
The main aim of the Rido, though, is to eliminate pressure where it's not wanted. I have to say I'm impressed, and convinced that it's an improvement: even on long rides there's no issues with pain or numbness. I'm not a big sufferer in this regard anyway, but if you are then the R2 is definitely worth a punt: it's not an expensive unit and could be the answer to your prayers.
One thing it's not is a race saddle. Rido claim that "It is no larger or heavier than a top-end sports saddle", but at 480g it's a weighty bit of kit when compared to even a bog standard road perch. That'll put off the sportive set, which is a pity as they're possibly the ones with most to gain here. When I mentioned this to Rido they confrimed that they're working on a feathery Carbon version that'll incorporate the same pressure shift shape into a much lighter seat. I'm looking forward to that one.
Verdict
The Rido is designed to relieve the pressure on your parts and it's a success. If numbness or discomfort is an issue for you, you should check out the R2. Weight weenies might want to wait for the Carbon version, as the heavy R2 is more suited to commuter or leisure bikes.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Rido R2 saddle
Size tested: n/a
Rate the product for quality of construction:
7/10
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
5/10
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
Rate the product for value:
8/10
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? No, I'm waiting for the Carbon one
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes, especially those with 'issues'...
About the tester
Age: 36 Height: 190cm Weight: 98kg
I usually ride: whatever I\'m testing... My best bike is: Trek 1.5 with Ultegra 6700
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Every day I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mtb, Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling, track
Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.
Latest Comments
- mdavidford 6 sec ago
There's one that's always lurking outside our house at night.
- mdavidford 18 min 22 sec ago
When these were designed in to the new development near us the excuse was 'well if we didn't it would be impossible to get a rubbish truck in to...
- Rendel Harris 1 hour 16 min ago
I should get onto the Guinness Book of Records people then, as they have the world record slowest heart rate for a healthy person down as 26bpm,...
- chrisonabike 1 hour 41 min ago
Add Scotland to that list. You won't even find a dashcam reporting portal in Scotland either so you can forget that also.
- E6toSE3 2 hours 25 min ago
And years ago Laura Trott, Daniel King, Joanne Rowsell, as theyvwere after Olympic gold, got lots of being and Jaguars, when Jags were very...
- Hirsute 3 hours 40 min ago
I made a complaint within an hour of the story being published. I have zero faith that they will amend anything....
- chrisonabike 4 hours 1 min ago
TBF I think that's before she saw the light and got on her bike. Not so great if her views have been informed by Mr. Briggs though.
- Saracen888 4 hours 41 min ago
That's a great price. Just bear in mind Import duty and handling charges will be applied pre delivery.
- Griff500 6 hours 3 min ago
Yep, I appreciate your problem. I wouldn't buy a bike without at least sitting on the same frame configuration on a trainer in the shop, something...
- Secret_squirrel 7 hours 17 min ago
One less thing to clutter up your jersey pockets no? Though difficult to retrieve in a hurry...
Add new comment
12 comments
I purchased this Rido saddle after it was recommended in a forum I posted on about my problems of numbness while riding my indoor trainer. It did not live up to my expectations. I only used it a few times to find out it was very uncomfortable and wasn't going to work to solve my problem and now it just sits in a box of components I no longer have use for.
I'm with Fringe, the Charge Spoon is a genius saddle for the money, i've got two. anyone seen a review of the bucket?
Ergonomic or not, I wouldn't let anything that butt ugly (see what I did there?) near any of my bikes.
and again, barry fry up, i just got myself a Charge Spoon saddle and it is very good, esp. as they are only 25 squid and are very comfy. recommended
Barry Fry-up, I can recommend the Sell SMP I mentioned above, but I did buy second hand (eBay) just in case it didn't suit so I could re-sell without losing too much. They are expensive saddles new! I've found that the few gap-in-the-middle saddles I've tried are pretty good for long rides.
Difficult things, saddles. I've had bad experiences with some that have had glowing reviews, it's all a bit subjective really. reading the above it seems the rido does what it sets out to do, ie change the sit position to stop pressure on your nuts. but i guess it's try before you buy, as always... no good alleviating that pain if it's just giving you another one
Anyone got any suggestions for a new road saddle? I'm in the market. this bad boy looks a bit on the weighty side...
You mean you rub the marmite into the posterior to alleviate the pain caused by the Rido? Wish I'd known that the time ...
Saddles and Marmite. you know the drill.
Worst. Saddle. Ever. Had to ride the last 10 (of 25) miles home standing up to avoid excruciating pain.
As ever, saddles divide opinion
To be honest I wasn't expecting to find it comfortable at all and was pleasantly surprised. Sounds like you had the opposite experience, TiNuts...
I tried one of these and got rid of it almost immediately. Just plain uncomfortable - for my derriere, at least. It's also heavy. Settled on a (very different) Selle SMP. If possible, try before you buy as there is a very different feel to this seat.
Been using one for about a month on my Cube Cross and it definitely does everything it claims, even after a 50mile excursion first time out. It did take a bit of trial and error adjustment (get it wrong and there's some definite chafing) but once sorted it's strangely comforting. No trouser area issues at all now and I am not what you would call svelte or taut of buttock.