Bike Fitting Tips with Nicola Amadini and Selle SMP

Experience, technique, and listening: comfort is born from the dialogue between body and bicycle.
In cycling, nothing is more personal than saddle position. With the support of Selle SMP and the expertise of Nicola Amadini – N2 Bike Fit we explore the value of a truly tailored bike fitting and the importance of a saddle designed to respect the body’s anatomy, prevent discomfort, and enhance every pedal stroke.

This interview is for those seeking practical answers, effective solutions, and above all, the genuine pleasure of riding well, wherever and for as long as they want.

1. Let’s start from the end: many people only realize something is wrong after hours in the saddle. What should raise a red flag before it’s too late?

I’d like to begin by saying that bike fitting is a one-on-one service, built on a direct relationship with the person in front of me. Every positioning decision is influenced first and foremost by the individual’s posture, which in turn reflects their personal history: injuries, sports background, work, daily habits, and motivations for riding.

That said, if you’re experiencing discomfort within the first hour on the bike – like tingling in your hands or feet, or saddle discomfort – and those issues don’t occur in daily life, it’s clear the position is not optimized. The weight distribution likely needs adjustment.

This is also where a saddle designed for the human body, like those from Selle SMP, makes a difference: engineered to respect anatomical structure, reduce pressure on sensitive areas, and provide the right support where it’s needed.

2. Many people assume “a saddle is a saddle” until they feel pain. Why wait for discomfort to take action?

Anyone who has tried different saddles, even out of necessity, quickly realizes they are not all the same. The saddle is one of the most crucial components for comfort and directly affects your ability to ride for long periods and actually enjoy it.

Waiting for discomfort to intervene means underestimating how much the wrong choice can impact your ride. A saddle must be chosen based on body shape, but also considering the type of bike, setup, and pedaling style. Pelvic position, overall posture, and support type all play central roles.

Brands like Selle SMP offer a wide range of models suited to various setups and needs – from city bikes to racing bikes. Their products are born from a clear philosophy: comfort is not a luxury but a necessary condition for truly enjoying your ride. It’s not about looks or trends – it’s about fostering an effective interaction between rider and bike.

3. In bike fitting, how much weight do objective measurements (sit bones, flexibility, etc.) carry compared to the cyclist’s subjective experience?

As mentioned, bike fitting is always a balance between objectivity and subjectivity. On one hand, there are measurable data points like sit bone distance, joint flexibility, pelvic tilt, leg morphology, and the amount of muscle and fat tissue in the glute and thigh areas. On the other, there’s the rider’s personal experience: how they feel on the bike, their subjective sensations, and perceived comfort or discomfort.

Objective data provide a direction, but it’s the cyclist’s feedback – during and after riding – that confirms if we’re on the right track. The goal isn’t a theoretically perfect position, but a functional, sustainable setup that lets you ride without discomfort.

4. On a bike trip, the body changes: you adapt, carry bags, your posture shifts. How do you account for this when choosing a saddle?

That’s a complex question – and I admit it challenges me a bit – because while the idea that the body changes during a trip is true, it needs interpretation. Yes, the body adapts: it tires, recovers, and adjusts to new postural habits. But it doesn’t change structurally over a few days or weeks. Your saddle position should be functional, stable, and sustainable from day one.

As for gear, bags shouldn’t alter your fit. It’s actually the choice and placement of bags that must respect your position, not the other way around.

A suitable saddle should be chosen based on your body and riding style – even for travel – offering solutions that ensure long-term support and stability, without waiting for pain to force a change. Selle SMP plays a key role here: their saddles are designed to respect a cyclist’s physiology, reduce pressure on sensitive areas, and promote blood flow even after many hours in the saddle.

5. In the world of bike travel, comfort and prevention matter more than pure performance. What makes Selle SMP such a smart choice for long rides or heavy loads?

I believe it’s a mistake to separate comfort from performance: even bike travelers will “perform” better if they’re in a comfortable and sustainable position. In bike touring, the posture tends to be more static than dynamic, with greater pressure on the saddle – especially when riding at lower intensity or with added weight.

Bike travelers have specific needs: longer hours in the saddle, extra gear, and often a less intense cadence. In such cases, the saddle must provide balanced weight distribution and strong support, particularly because pressure on contact points increases.

Some Selle SMP models, thanks to their structure and carefully calibrated padding, are particularly well-suited to this use. They provide comfort and stability on rough terrain or extended stages, without compromising pedaling efficiency.

6. Bike fitting is often associated with competitive cycling. How can it benefit a recreational or touring cyclist?

Bike fitting is a valuable tool for anyone who rides, regardless of goals or experience. In fact, it’s often the casual rider or beginner who benefits the most: those with less experience are more likely to adopt poor posture, uneven weight distribution, or unnatural movements that can lead to discomfort or injury over time.

A good bike fit improves comfort, efficiency, and the pure joy of cycling, making every journey smoother and more sustainable – day after day.

7. In your experience, has a saddle choice ever “saved” a bike traveler? This is your space to share a story or personal anecdote.

It happens more often than you’d think! It’s almost a cliché: someone shows up just days before a long trip with a new or freshly assembled bike, complaining of numbness, saddle pain, or back issues. The culprit? Almost always the wrong saddle or a quick, careless setup.

I remember a guy preparing to ride to North Cape. He was desperate – couldn’t sit after just two hours on the bike. We swapped the saddle, made a couple of quick adjustments, and… he wrote to me from Oslo to say he hadn’t felt pain since. The takeaway? Sometimes small changes – done right (and not at the last minute) – make all the difference.

8. What’s the difference in fitting between someone doing light touring and someone doing extreme bikepacking?

“Extreme bikepacking” can mean many things: longer hours in the saddle, more elevation, technical trails, or simply riding for days without rest. But more than the trip type, it’s the individual that really determines the fitting approach.

Generally, riding long hours with heavy loads requires a solid yet sustainable position. Light touring may allow for a slightly more dynamic posture, while more intense journeys call for maximum stability and comfort. Still, every fit starts with the person: how their body reacts and how much adaptability they have. Labels mean little – it’s the real-world practice that matters.

9. What’s a common mistake bike travelers make when choosing a saddle – and how do you address it?

One of the most common mistakes is being swayed by word of mouth or marketing: “A friend recommended it,” “I saw it on Instagram,” “It’s a best-seller.” But a saddle is not a one-size-fits-all accessory – it’s a highly personal and sensitive contact point.

What works wonders for someone else might be a nightmare after 50 km. My job often starts right there: helping people understand what they need – not what someone else uses. That takes listening, testing, and sometimes a bit of trial and error. But once you find the right saddle, everything changes.

10. What role does saddle testing play, and how can it change a cyclist’s perception compared to theory?

Saddle testing is essential because it lets you move from theory to practice immediately.

It’s not just about measuring sit bone width or observing pelvic tilt (anterior or posterior), but combining multiple elements: the type of bike, its intended use, body proportions, even muscle tone.

This approach helps eliminate unsuitable saddles early and narrows the choice down to a few models that truly match the individual. Selle SMP, for instance, is a brand that needs to be experienced to be understood. The design is unique, with its central cutout and eagle-beak shape that positions you differently from a traditional saddle. It might feel strange at first, but once your body syncs with it, you realize every detail is there for a reason: to reduce pressure, provide support where needed, and let you ride for hours without needing to constantly shift position.

But here’s the key point: even the right saddle won’t work if your bike fit is off.

That’s why testing only makes sense within a broader context – where practical experience confirms your setup and provides true sensory feedback, often quite different from what riders expect before sitting on the bike.

That’s why, during BAM!, we aim to offer more than just information – we want to create real experience: get on the bike, ride, feel. Numbers say a lot, but sensations tell the rest.