Fifty Plus (50+) - need some saddle advice

I recently switched from a mountain bike to a road bike. I love my new bike (Lemond Tourmalet) but am having a hard time with the saddle. I had been using my mountain bike only on the paved trails and I had put a Velo, ergonomic, split seat on it which was very comfortable. The road bike came with a Bontrager race lux seat which is a killer. I put the Velo on it, and it felt good, but it is very heavy and just doesn't look right on the new bike. I went to my local LBS and they loaned me a Selle Italia SLK Gel Flow and told me to ride it for a few days and if I like it to come back and pay for it and if not, just bring it back. Very nice of them, since I didn't buy my bike from them and they new I was looking. I rode home from the LBS on the Sella (14 miles).
It felt much better than the Bontrager, but not as good as the old Velo. The LBS only had 2 quality saddles and the other one was way to skinny. Speaking of skinny, I am not, I am 5'11'' and 183 lbs. with a skinny butt. My normal ride is 20 to 30 miles leisurely with my wife or 20 miles by myself at a brisk pace. Any suggestions.

Try a Brooks B17, they come regular & narrow. Your backside will thank you & the break in period is not that big a deal since they are comfortable right out of the box for most folks. Don

Finding the right seat is a hunt-and-peck process. I've had the best luck by staying with the same manufacturer. I used various models from Avocet for years until the supply dried up. Today most of my bikes have Specialized Body Geometry seats and I've been satisfied with them. This summer I bought a Brooks pro just to see what the big deal is. I like the Brooks fine, but I've also got friends who have switched from Brooks to other saddles a couple of years ago so they're not the "wonderful for everybody" panacia that the Brooks backers claim.

I recently switched from a mountain bike to a road bike. I love my new bike (Lemond Tourmalet) but am having a hard time with the saddle. I had been using my mountain bike only on the paved trails and I had put a Velo, ergonomic, split seat on it which was very comfortable. The road bike came with a Bontrager race lux seat which is a killer. I put the Velo on it, and it felt good, but it is very heavy and just doesn't look right on the new bike. I went to my local LBS and they loaned me a Selle Italia SLK Gel Flow and told me to ride it for a few days and if I like it to come back and pay for it and if not, just bring it back. Very nice of them, since I didn't buy my bike from them and they new I was looking. I rode home from the LBS on the Sella (14 miles).
It felt much better than the Bontrager, but not as good as the old Velo. The LBS only had 2 quality saddles and the other one was way to skinny. Speaking of skinny, I am not, I am 5'11'' and 183 lbs. with a skinny butt. My normal ride is 20 to 30 miles leisurely with my wife or 20 miles by myself at a brisk pace. Any suggestions.

Can you put your road bike seat on your MTB? I have a selle san marco on my Cannondale Jekyll:beer:

What kind of saddle you need is really dependant on not only your build, but also you condition level, and how you sit on the bike, as well as how the bikes fit is set up. Sounds complicated, no? That's why there are so many threads about what kind of saddle. My preference is a brooks Pro. I have a B-17 and a Pro, seems like the pro just fits my butt better. I am 5'11', and 208 pounds. However i have a skinny butt and narrow hips. The Pro is a little more rounded in the horizontal plane than the B-17, and even when riding on the tops that bit of dome really fits me better. I tend to get a little achy in the inner thighs where they join my torso with the B-17. On the down side, a Pro is Heavy. 400 grams or so. Also, the Pro is hard. It actually takes some miles to break them in. My B-17 is a lot more flexible.

Finding the right seat is a hunt-and-peck process. I used various models from Avocet for years until the supply dried up.

I loved Avocets. I had Touring I, Touring II and Touring III models over the years. The last one I bought off of eBay, and I guess it was pretty old despite being NOS. The plastic core broke after only a few weeks. Sigh! I got a Brooks for my favorite old bike, but am looking for a comfortable but less theft-worthy saddle for my commuter that has a quick-release on the seatpost.

What kind of saddle you need is really dependant on not only your build, but also you condition level, and how you sit on the bike, as well as how the bikes fit is set up. Sounds complicated, no? That's why there are so many threads about what kind of saddle. My preference is a brooks Pro. I have a B-17 and a Pro, seems like the pro just fits my butt better. I am 5'11', and 208 pounds. However i have a skinny butt and narrow hips. The Pro is a little more rounded in the horizontal plane than the B-17, and even when riding on the tops that bit of dome really fits me better. I tend to get a little achy in the inner thighs where they join my torso with the B-17. On the down side, a Pro is Heavy. 400 grams or so. Also, the Pro is hard. It actually takes some miles to break them in. My B-17 is a lot more flexible.

That's good information. I have a Brooks Pro on one of my bikes and have been considering getting another Brooks for my tandem. I've thought about trying a B-17 but maybe I should just stick with what I know works for me.

If you browse the internet, you will find that a lot of people love Brooks saddles, as already expressed above. Another very popular brand is Terry, which makes a wide variety of saddles. I believe Selle manufactures some of them, but that does not mean that Terry & Selle saddles are the same with different names on them.

http://www.wallbike.com/Brookssaddles.html

http://www.terrybicycles.com/product.html?c=Saddles&gclid=CL6tmaOLqYkCFR1EWAodFAP0Tw

And here is a review of the Selle you are trying out, note that on comfort, it scored okay but not great:

http://www.pedalpushersonline.com/?CID=955

Good advice from everybody so far...one thing I'd like to add is that you shouldn't sweat the difference between an allegedly "road" saddle and a "mountain" one. Like road and mountain helmets and even shorts, that's largely a marketing deal, not real one. I wear mountain shorts and a mountain helmet for all riding, because I like having a visor and I don't like wearing Lycra when I stop for coffee, and I haven't had a problem in more than 20 years and close to 40,000 miles.
Saddle choice is probably the most individual thing about cycling. I have three B-17s and love them, but two friends who've tried them couldn't get used to them (that's where I got my last two...). I tried a Brooks Body Geometry and hated it so much I gave it away, but another friend won't ride anything else. Having a shop that will let you test a saddle for a few days is a good thing, but a lot of them won't do that with Brooks because the saddles change color and get dimples as they're ridden. that's a good thing for you, but bad for resale.

My often told, rarely read, and never appreciated saddle story is evolving! :)

I used Brooks saddles - both the B17 and the Professional -- but I got tired of the leather changing shape from month to month. They would be a bit hard in the beginning, then break in nicely after a month or two, then break in too much after a year and become very uncomfortable. The sit bone dimples would sink deeper into the saddle, and the center ridge would, in effect, rise up and really do some damage to my tender areas. I never rode a leather saddle long enough to get the whole saddle to soften up. I figured 6 months of riding an uncomfortable saddle was long enough! Also, the Brooks rails forced the saddles too far forward for me, even on an extreme setback post like the FSA 220.

Since I liked the Pro shape the best, I went to the SSM Regal saddle, which was essentially a plastic version of the Brooks Professional. That saddle worked for me for a couple of years. In fact, as recently as last summer, I was convinced that it would be the only saddle I would use. But, in a parallel experience with Cross Chain, I started to get some hot spots after long rides using the Regal. I don't know why, as I didn't change the position or my brand of shorts. (Boure' Pro bibs.)

I'd been looking at the Specialized Alias for a while with interest, but I didn't care for the fuzzy fabric on the sitbone pads. But, the new 2007 Alias -- with a smooth synthetic covering -- seemed a lot better to me, so I got a 143mm wide model. I was surprised how hard it was to get the tilt and position correct, but the saddle defintely worked for me after I found the sweet spot.

Then I got a 155mm wide model, just to compare the two, as my sitbone width was around 135mm, which is in the cusp between the two sizes. Anyway, I liked the 155mm better, and am riding with no discomfort on long rides, and riding with no discomfort on succesive days as well. My sit bones had to "break in" a bit, since all the pressure is on them, but I think this saddle shape is a good approach...at least for me.

snip<They would be a bit hard in the beginning, then break in nicely after a month or two, then break in too much after a year and become very uncomfortable. The sit bone dimples would sink deeper into the saddle, and the center ridge would, in effect, rise up and really do some damage to my tender areas. I never rode a leather saddle long enough to get the whole saddle to soften up. I figured 6 months of riding an uncomfortable saddle was long enough!>

The whole saddle is not supposed to be soft. In fact Brooks would have it that the saddle should remain hard but that the indentations shouuld form in exactly the way you are complaining of. That said, I've never paid much attention to Brooks' do's and do'nts re their saddles.

All I know is that after a year, the sit bone dimples on both saddles were deep enough that they allowed the center section to rise up and cause a great deal of pain. And I used very little of the prep goo, so I didn't screw up the saddles by over conditioning them.

On the other hand, Sheldon Brown begins by soaking his leather saddles in a pan of oil...so maybe I should try that some day!

But, in a parallel experience with Cross Chain, I started to get some hot spots after long rides using the Regal. .

Once my hot spots cooled (took a couple weeks), I tried a now very basic saddle, the Max Flite Gel Flow. It has a channel and a flatter top than the the more traditionally rounded shapes of the Regal and older saddles. I've come to like it very much, though I would shave a few millimeters from its width (153 or so I think). The slot does seem to make a difference for me, as does the flatter top.

My two years experiences fooling around (using every adjustment imaginable) with Brooks Pro and B-17 were, like Paulie's, not so favorable.

There's a reason most long-time riders have a box filled with "unfavorable" old saddles shoved somewhere under the workbench....it just takes time and experimenting to find what fits your uniquely personal butt and style.

I never really paid much attention to saddles - when I started riding again about five years ago, I just dug out my old Schwinn LeTour with its replacement Schwinn saddle and started riding long and far. Everything seemed a little sore at first - I just figured it to be a natural phenomenon. Then, as I rode more and more, everything seemed to get in better shape and much less sore, including my saddle contact areas.

When I moved to my new bike, a Cannondale Cyclocross Disc, it came with some Fizik red, gold, and white saddle. I never quite made my mind up whether the seat looked neat or dorky, but I jumped on it and started riding. The bike shop, sizing up a 50+ guy as needing a more upright position, had tilted the nose higher than what suited me. After three days, I could not bear to ride the thing any further. I guess that's one instance when I should have paid closer attention to signals being sent to me by my body. Boy, was I sore.

A quick adjustment of the nose downward solved that problem, and I rode that saddle for another three thousand miles or so before, on a whim, I just up and bought a new Fizik Arione for no particular reason other than the fact that I was browsing in my LBS looking for some reason to spend some money on my bike (that's one of the things I like about cycling - you can just up and spend some money and not feel quite so guilty afterward - when you do the same thing with a car, the amounts are measured in thousands, not hundreds or less than hundreds of dollars).

At any rate, we set that saddle at the same angle as the OEM Fizik, and I've been riding it ever since without so much as a notice of discomfort. It seems I can ride forever without pain.

That saddle looks skinny (it is). But, before you finish your search, I would give one a try. There is some special hype about the Flex-wing design that allows this saddle to "break" to fit your body's geometry. I haven't noticed any flexing in the area that is supposed to flex to fit me, so I dunno whether that is for real or not. I do know that this is by far the most comfortable saddle I have ridden. Obviously, your experience may or may not be similar to mine.

As others have stated, this saddle business is a very personal one. I would love to try a Brooks - it sounds wondrously mysterious and complicated - but that is also a very heavy saddle - don't know if I need the extra weight. For the foreseeable future, my needs are satisfied.

Good luck.

Caruso

Mountain biker here that changed to road this year. I use a Selle Gel flow on the MTB and it is fine. Luckily the saddle that came with the Road bike is comfortable so no problem for me. Thar Selle Gel flow saddle is good. Just a bit of gel and the cutaway in the right place. I would definitely rate it one of the best saddles around- but once you sit on a saddle- you cannot see it. If you cannot feel it either-then it is a good saddle. If the velo works for you- then use it.

At any rate, we set that saddle at the same angle as the OEM Fizik, and I've been riding it ever since without so much as a notice of discomfort. It seems I can ride forever without pain.



I would love to be able to say the same thing. I expect to spend several weeks next Spring finding a better saddle and seating angle. Riding a hybrid shifts more weight to the saddle, so if it isn't right, you can really pay the price.

Like Crosschain, I also use the Max Flite Gel Flow and it's a good saddle. I also use a Selle Italia Max Flite Trans Am-not sure if they're still making it-but its a really good saddle as well. Both have the ergo cutouts and don't translate a lot of road vibration. I've tried all the SLK models but they just brought tears to my eyes over time.

If you go to the reviews posted here:

http://www.roadbikereview.com/cat/controls/saddles/PLS_2509_913crx.aspx

The top ranked (0 to 5 scale) saddles with >10 reviews posted are:

1) Koobi AU Enduro 4.83 (24 reviews)
2) Selle Italia TurboMatic 3 4.74 (23 reviews)
3) Fizik Aliante 4.42 (106 reviews)
4) Fizik Alante Carbon 4.31 (13 reviews)
5) Fizik Arione 4.3 (27 reviews)
6) Terry Fly 4.3 (20 reviews)
7) Fizik Arione Titanium 4.27 (51 reviews)
8) Koobi Xenon 4.19 (16 reviews)
9) Selle Italia Prolink 4.07 (57 reviews)
10) Specialized Bicycle Toupe 4.04 (25 reviews)
11) Selle Italia SLR 4.0 (71 reviews)

I guess I should remember the name of Fizik more. Quite an impressive showing.

There's also a little known saddle named a "San Marco Rolls Titanium" that has a perfect 5 based on 7 reviews.

FWIW

This is a subject that has no answer. For every guy that swears by a Fizik Arione there are folks like me that found it uncomfortable and could not use it. I went to an Aliante and it has worked very well. A good exercise is to look at the ebay saddle postings. You see this all the time on expensive saddles "rode 200(or less miles) and just did not work for me".

My Brooks B17 experiences are very different from some others told above. I put one on my Bridgestone about 10 years ago and it was love at first sit. It has only become better. I have not tried many saddles since then, but the ones I've tried, I couldn't wait to get back on my Brooks.
I don't know of any Brooks owner claiming they are a "wonderful for everybody panacia", but if they work for you, it's a beautiful thing.

It's all about the phanney...

OTOH, this site's (mountain bikers) reviews are different ...

http://www.mtbr.com/reviews/saddle/index_byrating.shtml

Again, here are the top-rated saddles with more than 10 reviews:

1) Brooks Champion Flyer 4.88 (16 reviews)
2) Brooks B-17 4.87 (52 reviews)
3) Serfas Lola 4.79 (14 reviews)
4) WTB Rocket V Race 4.70 (23 reviews)
5) Terry Women's Sport 4.69 (36 reviews)
6) Koobi Si 4.68 (22 reviews)
7) WTB SST 98 4.67 (60 review)
8) Terry Men's TI-Race Liberator 4.67 (15 reviews)
9) Koobi Au Enduro 4.62 (21 reviews) (this was #1 on the other review page)

Other highly rated (>4.25) include: Brooks Saddle (?), Terry Fly Titanium, San Marco Squadra, Brooks Swift, Selle Italia Flite, Terry Ti Comfort, Fizik Vitesse.

Few Fizik's on the list, but this is because few reviews have been posted to the mountain bikes forum about them. Several do have solid scores from 5-7 reviewers.

This particular site can be harsh on products, so a good score does carry some weight. For example consider these scores:

Specialized Comp 3.31 (115 reviews)
Specialized Alias 2.18 (11 reviews)
Selle Italia XO 3.19 (36 reviews)
Avocet O2 Air 3.06 (17 reviews)
Trico Sports Split Rail 1.85 (13 reviews)
And many more low ratings.

Those Brooks' ratings of 4.88 and 4.87 are phenomenal. It is almost impossible to get an average of 4.87 from 52 reviewers.

All I know is that after a year, the sit bone dimples on both saddles were deep enough that they allowed the center section to rise up and cause a great deal of pain. And I used very little of the prep goo, so I didn't screw up the saddles by over conditioning them.

On the other hand, Sheldon Brown begins by soaking his leather saddles in a pan of oil...so maybe I should try that some day!


That's the last thing you want to do.

I'm no expert but I like my B-17.

http://www.mcmwin.com/

Watch the video... I have the top of the line Titanico.

I have a box that contains about six saddles, finally found the right one for me, have one on all four of my bikes.

Aside from the saddle (which others have offered tips on) there may be another cause. One of my bikes has quick release pedals and I switch between platform pedals and clipless pedals (both are the same height). I noticed (same clothing, same bike, same seat height) that my butt will get sore with the platform pedals after a half an hour or so (been riding for close to twenty years now so its not because I'm new to biking) and with the clipless pedals I can go for four or five hours with no discomfort. There is just less butt rubbin with the clipless pedals I guess because my motion is isolated to the legs and I'm using less force because the workload is spread throughout my leg muscles rather than one muscle group (thighs). Just thought I'd throw that in.

Speaking of skinny, I am not, I am 5'11'' and 183 lbs. with a skinny butt. My normal ride is 20 to 30 miles leisurely with my wife or 20 miles by myself at a brisk pace. Any suggestions.

I've tried lots of saddles, from hornless to Brooks, a couple of Selle Italias, Selle San Marcos, Specialized, a Fizik Arione, etc., etc., and for me, the best have been the Specialized. Up until recently, my "reference" saddle was a Specialized Alias. It was my sanity check amongst saddles. When I'd try a new saddle, and it just didn't work out, I'd go back to my old friend, and appreciate it even more.

Now, my point of reference is slowly changing to Specialized's Toupe saddle. I've ridden this one on my longest rides, in the hottest weather, and I simply love it. It's maybe a bit minimal for some, but for me, it works.

The Alias is a wonderful saddle though. To me, Specialized knows what they're doing with saddles.

HTH,

Steve

P.S., One last thing... run screaming from the Brooks. It's a plank of wood disguised to look like a leather saddle. YMMV, of course :)

Steve

Cheeseflavor forgot to mention the E-3 which I've been using for the last 2K miles on my Look. I find it as comfortable or more than my BG Avatar. One knock is that there aren't as many positions as on something like an Arione (which is sort of it's claim to fame), but its worked for me. Maybe not butt heaven, though...

One thing I've also noticed - the more miles you do, the better the sit bones feel in general.

Try a Brooks B17, they come regular & narrow. Your backside will thank you & the break in period is not that big a deal since they are comfortable right out of the box for most folks. Don

I had quite a time adjusting to my Brooks champion Flyer last year. In fact I never did:( I recently bought a Haro x24 BMX cruiser and it seems like it will work on this bike. At 5'4" tall the bike geometry just did not fit. This bike fits me perfect. So hopefully the Brooks saddle will as well:)

Cheeseflavor forgot to mention the E-3 which I've been using for the last 2K miles on my Look.

Good point! The E3 was a decent saddle. Forgot that one :)

Steve

P.S., One last thing... run screaming from the Brooks. It's a plank of wood disguised to look like a leather saddle. YMMV, of course :)
Steve

Brooks saddles only reveal themselves to those they know are worthy of the best.
:)

Selle San Marco Rolls. There's a reason why it used to be under just about every pro's butt in the 80's and early 90's. Ebay usually has a few up for sale, and you can usually get 'em for $50, give or take (titanium rail a little more, steel rail a little less). I'm 6' 3" and 280+lbs, and I have one an all my bikes.

My often told, rarely read, and never appreciated saddle story is evolving! :)

I used Brooks saddles - both the B17 and the Professional -- but I got tired of the leather changing shape from month to month. They would be a bit hard in the beginning, then break in nicely after a month or two, then break in too much after a year and become very uncomfortable. The sit bone dimples would sink deeper into the saddle, and the center ridge would, in effect, rise up and really do some damage to my tender areas. I never rode a leather saddle long enough to get the whole saddle to soften up. I figured 6 months of riding an uncomfortable saddle was long enough! Also, the Brooks rails forced the saddles too far forward for me, even on an extreme setback post like the FSA 220.

Since I liked the Pro shape the best, I went to the SSM Regal saddle, which was essentially a plastic version of the Brooks Professional. That saddle worked for me for a couple of years. In fact, as recently as last summer, I was convinced that it would be the only saddle I would use. But, in a parallel experience with Cross Chain, I started to get some hot spots after long rides using the Regal. I don't know why, as I didn't change the position or my brand of shorts. (Boure' Pro bibs.)

I'd been looking at the Specialized Alias for a while with interest, but I didn't care for the fuzzy fabric on the sitbone pads. But, the new 2007 Alias -- with a smooth synthetic covering -- seemed a lot better to me, so I got a 143mm wide model. I was surprised how hard it was to get the tilt and position correct, but the saddle defintely worked for me after I found the sweet spot.

Then I got a 155mm wide model, just to compare the two, as my sitbone width was around 135mm, which is in the cusp between the two sizes. Anyway, I liked the 155mm better, and am riding with no discomfort on long rides, and riding with no discomfort on succesive days as well. My sit bones had to "break in" a bit, since all the pressure is on them, but I think this saddle shape is a good approach...at least for me.

I like the Alias saddles! The fuzzy pads don't bug me at all. I have a 130 Toupe as well, but it's too narrow.

Road Fan

Good point! The E3 was a decent saddle. Forgot that one :)

Steve

I tried an E3 when Performance had them on DEEP discount. It's really quite narrow in the sit-bone area, but the narrow horn is a pleasure. I have a better ride on a 130 Alias, and even better on a 143 alias.

I have two E3s that I don't foresee using - anyone tired of a 143 Toupe?.

Road Fan

There is a big difference between saddles that you sit on vs saddles that you perch on. Recreational riders sit on their saddles. A single, comfortable position, is preferred. Similarly, more active riders, who may travel much longer distances, but ride mostly in flat'ish areas, will prefer a saddle with one, very comfortable position. Very active riders, and riders who do a lot of hills, look for saddles on which they can perch, and otherwise move around on quite a bit. The "sit on" saddle riders may prefer a Brooks. The "perch on" riders (e.g., many pros** prefer a long, narrow saddle like the Fizik Arionne. My point is that even the reviews cannot be viewed as an absolute "best to worst" analysis. For the distances that you ride, a Specialized may be a very good solution. Readily available, and you may be able to try out a couple with the cooperation of your LBS.

A great review is at: http://www.jimlangley.net/crank/bicycleseats.html

I recently switched from a mountain bike to a road bike. I love my new bike (Lemond Tourmalet) but am having a hard time with the saddle. I had been using my mountain bike only on the paved trails and I had put a Velo, ergonomic, split seat on it which was very comfortable. The road bike came with a Bontrager race lux seat which is a killer. I put the Velo on it, and it felt good, but it is very heavy and just doesn't look right on the new bike. ...
It felt much better than the Bontrager, but not as good as the old Velo. ... Any suggestions.

For every saddle out, there will be lovers and haters. Since 'comfort' is different for everyone, for all the obvious reasons, what might work for one rider will be a buttax for another.
If you've already found a comfortable perch (the velo) then I would certainly stay with it until you find something better. I mean, don;t get hung up on 'Bling', do the right thing.
What I would do is get another Velo like the current one, so you have one for each bike. Prolly can find one for little shekels on ebay. Then start scoutin for improvement.
Like Artkansas, I too swore by Avocets for years, then came Sella Italia Turbos and San Marco Rolls and eventually the curent FAV - San Marco Stradas, a 100+ mile saddle for me.
But the only recommendations that mean anything are those that say 'keep tryin'.
One thing that is important, and has become much easier to assess, is your sitbone width. I won't go into how we all did it years ago, but now there is the Specialized ass-O-meter. Do take advantage of it at your local Spec. dealer.
That simple finding will prolly eliminate 60% of the choices out there...

BTW San Marco did make private label Strada saddles for Lemond. They have Lemond embroidery on the sides of the horn and Scholler Keyprotec scuff siding. But same form and general pad as the Strada.
Not Bling - but it is the thing... for me. Got mine out of the $10 bin at the LBS - a nice deal.

The top ranked (0 to 5 scale) saddles with >10 reviews posted are:

1) Koobi AU Enduro 4.83 (24 reviews)
2) Selle Italia TurboMatic 3 4.74 (23 reviews)
*
*
*


Hey, I like that list. I've got no idea what a Koobi is, but I've got a Sella Italia Turbomatic (#2 on the list), except mine's Turbomatic 4, not 3.

When I bought my bike it came with another saddle, I don't remember what. I was trying out another bike in the lbs where I bought it and the saddle was incredibly comfortable, so I said can I swap? and the lbs owner said sure.

Still incredibly comfortable both on long and short rides. Naturally Sella Italia doesn't make them any more, but I see them for sale sometimes on e-bay.

Of course, as someone else pointed out in the forums, you have to get over the name, which sounds like something out of Saturday Night Live with Dan Ackroyd.

Koobi PRS. It's an awesome, comfortable saddle.

www.koobi.com

I had a Specialized Alias 143 on one bike and a Selle San Marco Aspide Arrowhead on my other bike for a year or so and recently switched to the Aspide on both bikes. The Alias is a little cushier on a hard edge bump but the Aspide allows me to slide to different positions depending on how far forward my hands are. Both saddles have nice cutouts in the middle that eliminate pressure in the middle. I am 6' 170#.

forgive me if this is a stupid question, or posted in the wr0ng place....but I assume different rules and different saddles would be comfortable for a woman than a man.

i am relatively new to riding and I really feel the pressure in in my crotch - not in my butt or along my inner thighs. I tried tilting the seat up slightly, flat and then down slightly- but did not notice much improvement.

so anyway....i am not even sure WHAT to look for in a new saddle or where to start.

Are the sadlles listed in this thread suitable for a woman's anatomy?

WTB Pure V Race saddle, 6 inches in width with the right amount of cushion where it counts.

bikerwannabe,

I think you're getting pressure either because the saddle has a horn (the long skinny part in the front) that's too wide, or it needs to be set back in the seatpost. If its the saddle fore-aft position, I think the wide part of the saddle is pushing on the back of your thigh as you extend your leg. Moving it back might relieve that condition.

if its the width of the saddle, you can use measurements to help select a different saddle. Often saddles widths are measured by width at the widest point and width at the 50% length point. By taking a little ruler to a bike shop you can get a sense for which saddles might help. I found going from a Brooks Pro to a Specialized Alias 130 gave a very relieving freedom of motion, due to the narrowness of the Alias 130. I've settled on teh Alias 143 for better sit-bone support.

A third explanation is that the sensation of pressure is related to muscular development, but you can judge this best.

Road Fan

I have the Performance Forte "Classic" . They are made by Selle Itallia (check this out), and is just like the Terry Fly or the SI Prolink or Selle San Marco Arrowhead but w/o the titanium rails. At a fraction of the price. Leather cover - breaks in better.

Try a Brooks B17, they come regular & narrow. Your backside will thank you & the break in period is not that big a deal since they are comfortable right out of the box for most folks. Don
What break in period? I use leather and if you get the set up right, it's comfortable from the get go! As it "breaks in", it only gets better!:D