Bike seat cushions might be overlooked when it comes to choosing the best bike, but it won’t be too many minutes before riders realize how important a good bicycle seat is, especially if you’re planning long rides. Not to mention bike saddles and the seat post that feels OK to begin with can gradually turn into a rock after a few hours of riding in Lycra bike shorts over long distances. Most avid bikers have at least one story about cutting a long ride short because their backside dictated it was necessary.

So, what should you be considering when it comes to upgrading your bicycle seat?

Everyone is different and is going to have different preferences, but if you consider some of the following factors, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices.

Construction

The materials made to construct bike saddles not only affect how durable it is, it also affects the comfort for distance riders. One negative aspect is that adding cushion material for superior comfort will add weight and must be taken into consideration if that is a factor. There’s a lot to consider when it comes to bicycle saddle construction with added cushion, but it’s best to start here:​

You’ll also want to pick a seat made of high-quality durable materials, which means paying a little more. Keep in mind, buying a cheap seat now could cost you more in the long run if you’re constantly having to replace it.

Shape

Next, you’ll want to look for a seat with a shape that suits your body. Most of the time, the best seats are anatomically shaped, as opposed to a flattened wedge shape. Better seats also feature a lot of padding and feature a high-density construction toward the back and becomes trimmer near the front.

Remember, a thick seat doesn’t automatically guarantee you’ll be comfortable. There are times when chunky seats are poorly designed and you’re better off with something with less cushioning. Ideally, your seat will combine the best of all worlds, and be well-designed ergonomically and be well cushioned.

Choosing the Best Bike Seat Cushion

Now that you have some idea of what goes into making a quality seat you can take on long rides, you can begin to look at your options. We’ve compiled a list of seats we love and hopefully, you’ll be able to find something from this list that works for you.

Zacro Gel Bike Seat

This is a gel seat made from anti-slip materials and features a drawstring that lets you secure it to your bike. It weighs just under three-quarters of a pound and works best on indoor bikes. It’s easy to install and is water-resistant, which makes it great for long, sweaty workouts. We love it for its extra soft gel support and good ergonomics.

This seat cushion retails from around $8 to $13.

Kyson 3D Soft Gel Cover

This seat cover is gel-based and made of breathable stretchy materials. It weighs half a pound and can be used on both indoor and outdoor bikes. It features anti-slip grip, dual gel pads, and an easily adjustable string. It fits most bike seats, so you don’t need to worry about getting something that needs to be returned because it doesn’t fit.

We consider this a great “compromise” option. It’s moderately priced and offers pretty much everything a rider could want, without a lot of extra bells and whistles. It’s a great option if you’re just getting into cycling or if you know what you like and want something tried and true.

This seat retails for around $11 to $13.

Fit Tek Gel Bike Seat Cushion

This cushion is best for outdoor bikes and features anti-skid materials and a soft gel padding. This seat cushion is versatile and fits most bikes. It’s easy to install and features a concave design that reduces pressure on the bottom and provides maximum comfort. It has a spacious central well and has a bit of a custom-made feel, which is surprising at this price point. Its slimmer front end allows for free legal movement without reducing comfort in any way.

This seat cushion retails from around only $4 to $6, making it a great bargain.

Domain Cycling’s Large Bicycle Gel Seat Cover

This seat offers both gel and foam, so you get maximum support. It has a non-slip underside, so you don’t need to worry about the cushion sliding out of place while you ride, even for long periods of time. It weighs one pound and can be used for indoor and outdoor bikes. We love it because it’s suitable for large bike seats and offers a great deal of support. It’s lacking in the sit bone support and padding, but overall we think it’s still a good choice.

This seat retails at the higher end at around $25 to $27.

Daway A33

This seat cushion is made from breathable silica gel and memory foam. It features anti-skid particles to prevent slipping and has an antibacterial outer layer. It weighs a little more than half a pound, so it’s one of the lighter options on our list. We love how comfortable it is and are impressed by its memory foam padding that maintains shape. It’s also easy to install, versatile, and functional. It also comes in fun colors, so you can add a little style to your ride.

This seat cushion retails for around $11 to $13.

Acacia 3D Foam Saddle Cushion

This seat cushion features high-bounce memory foam and a Lycra cover. It weighs just .02 pounds and can be used on both indoor and outdoor bikes. It features reflective stripes which makes it safe to ride outdoors at night and has a no-slide friction surface that prevents you from slipping and sliding. We love the fact that this seat is so durable with high-quality stitching and materials. It’s also available in five different colors.

This seat retails for around $10 to $12.​

Arguably one of the best things about biking is customizing your bike with tons of neat accessories. A plain bike, whether it be a road bike or mountain bike, is like a blank canvas. Part of what’s so wonderful about owning a bike is being able to show your personality by choosing the gear that goes along with it. That perfect bike accessory can make all the difference. It’s also extremely satisfying to find the most practical, lightweight, interesting items around to affix to your bike or to wear yourself.

Finding a good, useful accessory is one of the greater parts of life; it’s akin to (for those of you who have played Zelda) the feeling of encountering a treasure box and hearing the sound it makes when it opens. For those of you who haven’t played Zelda, you should stop what you’re doing and buy an N64 and the Ocarina of Time game right now.

One thing about bikers is, they have a certain look about them. You can tell if a biker walks into the room by the little cap with the words on the flip-up brim, the tight outfit, or the rolled up pant leg. Bikers have style. And they streamline their outfits, their electronics, and their shoes so that they go well with a biking lifestyle. Whether you bike for exercise, work, fun, or as a method of commuting, you can always benefit from a good accessory. And if you don’t bike everywhere yet, these are a great inspiration for those wanting to get into the sport.

So, without further ado and with no more “faffing around,” as the British say, here are our top 5 (and boy, was it tough to choose only five) bike accessories:

5. Turn-Signal Cycling Glove

This amazing glove is the perfect illustration of marrying style and practicality. Made by Zackees, these gloves both keep your hands warm and help you cycle safely. They’re made right here in the US. A Google engineer, no doubt a person commuting by bike to those fantastic Google offices (with secret doors and ice cream trucks that have been transported to one of the top floors), came up with the idea. We like these because it’s when you’re turning that you’re often putting yourself in the most danger; drivers aren’t necessarily paying much attention to cyclists (depending of course on where you live), and it can be tough for them to see a raised hand in the early mornings when they’ve just woken up or in the evenings when they’re coming home, maybe, after a long day of work.

A pair of turn-signal gloves is a great investment, because they show you’re serious about your safety. They also make a good gift for the cyclists in your family, and they will probably help our moms feel better us being out on the road. Who wouldn’t want that? Plus, they add to your overall visibility on the road, and can be used to indicate a downed cyclist or to attract roadside help in a pinch. They cost just under a hundred dollars.

4. Litelok

Next on our list is something a little more exciting, but also useful: a lock. We’ve chosen this one for its versatility and for its lightweight nature. It’s both light and incredibly strong. The Litelok was made by a man named Neil Barron, who graduated from the Royal College of Art and London and was previously an Aeronautical Engineer.

Now, Barron focuses on industrial design. He came up with the Litelok be-cause he was sick and tired of carrying around heavy bike locks, but he’d also had more than one bike stolen in his home city of London. The lock weighs just over 2 pounds, and it’s simple to put on your bike thanks to its pliable strap!

3. Flair

This item is nothing specific. We recommend thinking long and hard about your personality, then wan-dering through a thrift shop on your day off and selecting a few pieces that will make you happy every time you look at your bike. Many people used cards as kids, for instance, and stuck them in the spokes. We’ve seen colorful horns, ribbons, interesting tape on the handles, and even fun paint jobs. In Brooklyn we’ve seen entire sets of pronghorn antlers attached to bikes for an ominous, ride-to-the-death type style. Whatever it is that makes you smile, attach it to your bike, so that your friends know when you’ve parked it outside a coffee shop or bar and can come inside to say hi. These also could help prevent someone from stealing your bike, if they’re permanently attached.

Some people may prefer a sleek, professional look, especially if they’re biking to work or to a meeting with a client. If you are one of these, then you might prefer to add a gorgeous leather bike seat or nice custom handlebars or a chrome water-bottle holder instead of anything flashy.

Make sure, of course, when applying them, that they don’t get in the way of your riding!

2. Multi-Purpose Bike Tool

These are essential. Whether you’re heading to work (or happy hour) or on a long day tour of the countryside, you’ll want to make sure you have one of these around in case your bike breaks down. They’re affordable and versatile, and they’ll save you a long weight for a ride if you break down in a remote area.

1. A Biking App

Our top pick for biking accessories in 2017 is an app that turns biking into a game. The Cyclemeter is our favorite. It works for cycling and mountain biking as well as running. It uses GPS to map your rides, create stats charts, and help make your biking experience more fun.

It was so hard for us to name just five! Other accessories on our list included paniers, a good trailer, re-flective socks, a DIY package that allows you to convert any shoe into a cycling shoe, and, finally, a device called The Atom (Siva Cycle) that lets you charge your electronics while you ride.​

So, it's that time of year again. Summer's here and you're back into all those outdoor sports you've always loved and especially cycling. Are you a mountain biker but don’t like the hassle of outfitting yourself for the sport? Well, you should know that the mountain bike clothing you wear can be crucial to your safety, comfort, and health—and this very much includes cycling shorts! The best Lycra or Duraflex shorts will offer you protection with extra padding and an additional liner while you ride—and prevent abrasions caused by friction. After all, we know just how sore we can get from long periods on the saddle! Furthermore, they will provide cyclists a shield from the weather and help you stay warm on chilly days and cool in the heat. Here is a list of the top five mountain bike shorts presently available for riders:

5. Zoic Ether Stretch

If you need to watch your dollars, but don't want to purchase a low-quality pair of shorts that you simply won't enjoy wearing, then the Zoic Ether Stretch is the brand you want. These shorts perform quite well for most cyclists and are also very cheap without sacrificing quality for the sake of saving. Even on short rides, you will feel the difference. They use Duraflex material, better quality zippers, and an improved method of waist adjustment. Some of the best features of the Zoic Ether Stretch are:

Just about the only negative concerning the Ether shorts is that their durability is slightly compromised because their fabric is more lightweight than that of other brands.

4. Troy Lee Ruckus

The Troy Lee Ruckus mountain bike shorts have many positive points to them. Designed more for the rougher and more rugged courses, they are also excellent for use in the bike park and shuttle runs. Made to be pedal friendly, these shorts are heavier than the Airmatic or the Zoic brands. This means that while they provide great protection as well as durability, they might not be the best option for gruelling days in the sun. Some of the top features of Troy Lee Ruckus mountain bike shorts are:​

One of the negatives about these shorts is as follows:

3. Pearl Izumi Elevate

​While these shorts are great for shuttle runs and downhill biking, they do exhibit less pedaling ability. This is the result of an attempt to make them easier to use with knee pads. The amount of leg covered is great, but the overly long inseam works against the user's pedaling capability. However, they are extremely durable and provide a lot of protection. Some of the best features of these shorts are:

There are some other negatives to consider too:

2. Kitsbow A/M

These mountain bike shorts make for great trail and cross country biking. Also, don't let the baggy appearance of these shorts fool you. They still fit excellently and pedaling is no problem. The style is sleek and durable while it will provide protection from the rain or any moisture. The Schoeller material has been treated with 3xDRY and you can sweat and still remain cool and dry.

One of the positive features of these shorts is:​

There really aren't any negatives to point out about these shorts. Most people who wore them had no complaints.

All in all, these are considered to be top of the line mountain biking shorts that are excellent to wear for just about any biking purpose.

1. 100% Airmatic

Although it may be a little expensive the 100% Airmatic raises the high bar when it comes to quality for all endure and trail shorts. If you are a true blue-blooded mountain bike rider, who enjoys a dynamic trail and endurance riding, then these are the shorts for you. With easy to use Velcro pull tabs, these shorts manage to be both comfortable and offer protection, so you need have no worries about the brand's durability. Here are some other quality features that the 100% Airmatic mountain biking shorts have:

When all is said and done, what you need to keep in mind is that the best mountain biking shorts are really the ones that you like the best and that suit your purpose. But one of these brands should appeal to you and if so, don't hesitate and go buy them today.