Make your mountain bike more comfortable: upgrades that work

Comfort is an important issue for mountain bikers. As you bounce between the rocks, it is a lot easier to stay in control if you don’t feel like your eyeballs are being shaken out by their stalks. With so much you can adjust or change on your bike, it is easy to get lost in the search for comfort. And how do you make your bike comfortable but still capable in technical terrain? This short guide will walk you through some ideas of how you can make your ride more comfortable and why they work. 

“I was built for comfort, I ain’t built for speed.” Howlin’ Wolf sang those words a decade before the first mountain bikes put tyres on dirt, but they still resonate with many mountain bikers today. Outside the rarefied air of elite racing, most of us put comfort ahead of speed with our setups. That is not to say that elite racers don’t appreciate comfort. In fact, they make their bikes as comfortable as they possibly can; it’s just that they prioritise support and efficiency before even considering comfort. 

Finding the right mountain bike setup for you can be a huge challenge because there are so many different variables to get right. You need to consider your riding position, the terrain you ride on, which components you use and how you set them up. The good news is that there are lots of things you can do to make your ride more comfortable, and this guide will walk you through some comfort upgrades that really work.

There are immediately apparent comfort issues that are easy to diagnose, like your bike feeling harsh over roots and rocks, while others can be more complex to understand. Simple steps like bike setup can often resolve many of these issues. If you are experiencing arm pump on long descents or getting pain in your lower back or joints, you may need to go deeper and consider your riding technique or position on the bike, too. Discomfort can take a huge toll on your body, and you might find yourself fatiguing towards the end of your rides, and some smart changes or upgrades can make a huge difference to how much you enjoy your rides.  

Before you start throwing money at the problem, we think there are four important steps that you should consider with the bike you already have: 

If you have your tubeless tyres at the right pressure, your suspension is well set up, your riding position is good and you are confident in your technique, and you are still hunting for more comfort, then it is time to consider some upgrades: 

One of the most affordable and effective ways to make your bike more comfortable is by fitting larger tyres. You will need to check the maximum tyre clearance of your frame, but most modern mountain bikes should take up to a 2.6-inch tyre without too much fuss. Larger tyres have more air inside them and can be run at lower pressures, making them more comfortable. The trade-off is that they are heavier and will feel less direct out on the trail.

Another really affordable way to make your bike more comfortable is by fitting thicker grips. Quite simply, more rubber means more comfort, and it can help take the sting out of the trail for a small price. 

While it may be tempting to buy fancy, new suspension, it is often worth speaking to a suspension tuning centre to see if they can custom-tune the suspension you already have for you. When we make bikes, we work closely with suspension manufacturers to make sure the suspension you buy works really well. But what you are buying is a general tune designed to fit a wide range of riders. By sending your suspension to be custom-tuned, you are getting it adjusted to suit you and your individual needs, so if you would like more comfort, you can ask them for this. It is also cheaper than buying a new fork or shock.

Finding the right saddle is all about shape. Many beginners think that getting a giant, foam-y thing is the best way to be more comfortable, but this is a misconception. It is true that for the first few minutes, a giant saddle may feel good, but as the ride goes on, there is no support in the foam to keep you in your sweet spot for pedalling. If you look at the saddles of Tour de France racers, who spend insane amounts of time in the saddle, you will see that they run lightweight minimal saddles. The trick is that their shape and position are perfectly matched to the rider. We have published a short guide to help find a saddle that really fits your body.

Getting the right handlebar can make a noticeable difference in how much vibration you feel on the trail. Small differences in how a bar absorbs impacts - known as compliance - can improve comfort without affecting control. When choosing a handlebar, make sure the clamp diameter matches your stem and consider the width you actually need. Bars are designed to perform at their full width, so cutting them down can make them feel stiffer - choosing the correct width from the start can help maximise comfort on longer rides.

If you have exhausted the less expensive options and are still looking for more comfort, then maybe it is time to consider coil-sprung suspension? While modern air-sprung suspension is superb in almost every way, coil springs still have the edge for overall sensitivity and consistency of performance over long descents. We have written a guide to walk you through the finer points of difference between air and coil suspension and whether they might suit you or your bike.

If you have gone through all these changes and are still struggling for comfort, then maybe it is time to ask yourself whether your bike is appropriate for the riding you are doing.

If you are on a hardtail, then upgrading to a full-suspension bike will make a night-and-day difference in comfort. We have produced a short guide that walks you through the differences between hardtail and full-suspension MTBs and why you might want to make the step.

The geometry differences between different styles of mountain bikes can have a big effect on your comfort. Cross-country bikes, like the Lux, tend to be long and low, while a modern trail bike like the Spectral, or an enduro bike like the Torque, will have a much higher riding position. A more upright riding position like this will put less strain on your neck and back. Trail MTBs and enduro bikes also have slacker headangles compared to cross-country bikes. This means they are deflected less by obstacles on the trail, which may improve your comfort.

One reliable way to make your riding more comfortable is to add more suspension travel, and this means changing categories. If you have a shorter travel trail bike, like the Neuron, a longer travel enduro bike like the Torque will be much more comfortable. We have produced a range of guides to help you compare different styles of bikes, whether you want to compare cross-country and trail bikes, or enduro and downhill bikes. Choosing the right category for your riding style and terrain can make a noticeable difference to both comfort and control. 

If you would like some help working out whether you are on the right bike, our bike finder tool will guide you through a series of quick, simple questions to match you with a bike that suits both you and the type of riding you do. It’s a fast and easy way to narrow down your options and feel more confident in your choice, whether you’re new to the sport or looking to upgrade.

We also have a range of buyers’ guides if you want to go into more detail. For beginners, our best entry-level MTBs guide highlights great options to get started. If you’re looking for a deeper dive, our comprehensive MTB guide covers all categories, components and key considerations to help you choose the right bike.

We hope you are now sitting comfortably (on your bike), and we will see you soon out on the trails!