IN MY OPINION: the RIDO saddle
by Ed Pavelka

Price: $33 for U.S customers (includes shipping)
Source: website
Weight: 360 grams
Colors: black, blue, greenish
HOT!…..excellent sit-bone support
Designed to reduce crotch pressure
Inexpensive

Marketed by a UK company for both men and women, the Rido (saddle) is interesting for several reasons:-

First, unbelievably it costs just £17.99, which includes shipping. At the current exchange rate that’s about $33 USD.

Second, it’s injection molded. A pliable material is bonded to a more rigid plastic “skeleton.” There’s no shell like under a conventional saddle. No gel or foam padding, either. Instead, the Rido supports a rider comfortably by making some sections flexible while others are firm. The company terms this “pressure shift geometry.” The Rido didn’t feel harder than a typical saddle, which is good, and nothing on me got numb. There are lots of glowing customer testimonials on Rido’s website.

The look is almost as unusual as the construction. The Rido resembles a pudgy Stealth bomber with a nose. The wide rear section is almost guaranteed to support sit bones no matter how wide or narrow they’re spaced. That was my first sensation—excellent support. The taper to the nose is acute enough to keep the saddle away from pedaling thighs. A slight dip in the center (when looked at in profile) helps you sit in the saddle so it doesn’t feel like you’re astride a log. Too bad the saddle doesn’t look more conventional. On the other hand, you can’t see the Rido when you’re riding, and comfort is definitely worth more than sleek good looks. Fortunately, the saddle’s weight, at 360 grams, isn’t quite equal to its bulky appearance.

I liked the Rido’s sit-bone support well enough to keep it on my training bike.

Ed Pavelka, Chesapeake Wheelmen, Mt. Washington, USA, July 2005