Road Cycling Academy - Are cheap AliExpress saddles as good as top-tier brands?

Bike Fit Fundamentals: https://roadcyclingacademy.com/bike-fit-fundamentals/

Bike-fit expert Neill Stanbury puts three budget 3D-printed options to the test and explains who they suit — comparing shapes, cut-outs, carbon rails, durability, and comfort. Not sponsored.

What we cover:

AliExpress saddles vs premium (3D printed TPU, carbon rails 7×9)
Riot Air Code (Pro Stealth-style): broad back, wide nose, deep cut-out — great for riders who rotate pelvis forward and need perineum pressure relief
Riot Ultimate: narrower platform for riders with narrow sit bones
MIX 5D: ultra-light, flexible shell, big rear rise — for very narrow sit bones (100 mm) and lots of inner-thigh clearance
Why fit first (saddle height, setback, reach, drop, cleats) often fixes “saddle problems”
Cut-out vs no cut-out: when a channel is near-mandatory
How sit-bone width & wing taper reduce chafing and numbness
The reality: trial-and-error beats guessing — how to test smarter

Saddles:
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256806588404279.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.60.3a521802fqOsDG&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805023659024.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.2.43b1ceFCceFC6k&aem_p4p_detail=202509091752227522603052222160000820961&algo_pvid=35e0c3ed-3bf1-474f-b569-ae3c3f4f9121&algo_exp_id=35e0c3ed-3bf1-474f-b569-ae3c3f4f9121-1&pdp_ext_f=%7B%22order%22%3A%229372%22%2C%22eval%22%3A%221%22%7D&pdp_npi=6%40dis%21USD%21120.14%2151.66%21%21%21850.83%21365.86%21%402103209b17574655424446761e4a8e%2112000034547244108%21sea%21US%210%21ABX%211%210%21n_tag%3A-29910%3Bd%3A7a17306a%3Bm03_new_user%3A-29895&curPageLogUid=g5TWXNYYRSJj&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A%7Cx_object_id%3A1005005209973776%7C_p_origin_prod%3A&search_p4p_id=202509091752227522603052222160000820961_1
https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256804405056554.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt

Keywords: saddle,cycling,road bike,aliexpress,cheap,bike seat,bike fitter,road cycling