Fifty Plus (50+) - Woman's saddles

My wife has never cared much for the saddle on the back of our tandem (a Bontrager WSD) and now that my 12 y/o daughter is getting into it she doesn't like the saddle either. Both have been blessed by adequate gluteal adiposity. Any recommendations about a woman's saddle? Of course we'll have to experiment a bit, so we'll purchase it at the LBS and take it back if it doesn't work.

My wife has never cared much for the saddle on the back of our tandem (a Bontrager WSD) and now that my 12 y/o daughter is getting into it she doesn't like the saddle either. Both have been blessed by adequate gluteal adiposity. Any recommendations about a woman's saddle? Of course we'll have to experiment a bit, so we'll purchase it at the LBS and take it back if it doesn't work.

How do you define or determine "adequate gluteal adiposity," or is that some sort of euphemism?

I've replaced every Bontrager saddle that came on my Treks:(

My favorite saddle is the Specialized Dolce Gel Saddle (http://bikestoponline.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=1568) I use it on the road bike I ride the most.

You would dare select a saddle for a woman?

Terry Butterfly.

How upright is their riding position? Usually the more upright one sits, the wider the saddle.

Last summer I rode twice with two 50+ couples. Both women were riding on wide (180mm'ish) padded saddle and both were using gel pads on top of them. I chatted with them about it and they both said that they couldn't ride more than 10 miles without the extra gel pads.

I know this isn't advice that is frequently given here, but out on the rail trails, it is far more common than what is discussed here.

You would dare select a saddle for a woman?


:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

A saddle is a very individual thing since everyone's 'assets' are different. I like The Terry Butterfly Ti (it took me 4 saddles to find one that wasn't painful to ride), but for my positive review there will be just as many people who think the Butterfly is the worst thing ever put on a bike. Terry does have a return guarantee if you're not 100% satisfied with any of their saddles.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles/detail.html?item_no=2113900

Also just a reminder that there are different types of saddles based on the kind of riding you do.
And a wide and very padded saddle is not necessarily a good thing!!

My favorite saddle is the Specialized Dolce Gel Saddle (http://bikestoponline.com/itemdetails.cfm?catalogId=39&id=1568) I use it on the road bike I ride the most.

I've got this saddle on my road bike, and like it also. On my commuter, xtracycle, and pink mixte I've got wide Brooks saddles (B68, 67, and 72) since I'm more upright.

Edit to add: I've got my eye on this saddle (http://cgi.ebay.com/TOPEAK-Allay-Sport-Cycling-Bike-Seat-Saddle-Lg-New-90_W0QQitemZ180222379267QQihZ008QQcategoryZ106951QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem), too. Looks interesting.

I hate my women's brooks B17. There's no nose on it, and I steer with the nose of my saddle.

A standard B17 is 280mm long and 170mm wide

A B17 Short (B17S) is 245mm long and 177mm wide

So the S version has a nose that is 1.4" shorter. But it certainly still has a nose.
http://www.westernbikeworks.com/productdetail.asp?p=BS17W

You would dare select a saddle for a woman?

Tom's right, this has been risky with Mrs. Road Fan!

So the S version has a nose that is 1.4" shorter. But it certainly still has a nose.
http://www.westernbikeworks.com/productdetail.asp?p=BS17W

Doesn't feel like it. :mad:

AND it gave me my one and only saddle sore.

I hate my women's brooks B17. There's no nose on it, and I steer with the nose of my saddle.

Oh! I was wondering what that long nose is for! Learn something new everyday. Thanks, solveg. :)

Stoker Kay rides a Serfas Cosmos saddle, currently has 18,000+ miles on it.
However, everyone's buns are different, some folks ride more upright than others (especially on rear of tandem) and some stoker use a shock absorbing seatpost.
A very soft, squishy saddle is not always the answer! What feels good for the first 5 miles may not do as well after 30 miles. So try as many saddles as you can 'til stoker smiles!
Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

My wife and daugher use the women's version of the Selle Italia Gel Max Flite (or something like that) and seem to do okay with it.

I have a Dolce like Beverly's, and 2 Selle San Marco Glamour saddles. I like those very, very much.

To be said again: saddle comfort has more to do with a correct riding position than the saddle itself. If that is correct then start throwing $ at saddles.

TWL- I was wondering where you'd been. I have a women's Terry Cite saddle that's never been used. You are welcome to try it if you want, and if it works, I'll sell it cheap! Just let me know if you are interested.

Edit to add: I've got my eye on this saddle (http://cgi.ebay.com/TOPEAK-Allay-Sport-Cycling-Bike-Seat-Saddle-Lg-New-90_W0QQitemZ180222379267QQihZ008QQcategoryZ106951QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem), too. Looks interesting.

I just purchased this saddle to try. I haven't had the chance to mount it and give it a test ride.

You would dare select a saddle for a woman?

Hey, it was a man who suggested the Specialized to me:)

Oh! I was wondering what that long nose is for! Learn something new everyday. Thanks, solveg. :)

Grumble grumble. OK, I'll be fair. I could ride the bike just fine with the women's brooks. It didn't affect my steering actually. It's just that I was used to having a long nose there, so not having it really, really felt different. There was definitely less to press my thigh against to steer with, but I'm not sure that extra bit of nose is really necessary. It just felt better. Like having a long spoon to stir batter with. Or using a regular size pen instead of some mini pen they give you at the bank.

I'm sure if I wasn't used to the men's version, the women's version would be fine.

But it still gave me a saddle sore. I think it was too wide.

Don't women ride sidesaddle? :eek:


















Straight to the hot place..........................

I just purchased this saddle to try. I haven't had the chance to mount it and give it a test ride.

Ooohh, please let me know what you think of it!

I don't know much about women's saddles, but I have studied them extensively on some group rides. ;)

Don't women ride sidesaddle? :eek:

http://www.hyperhistory.org/images/assets/ozhistorybytes/issue_eight/side_saddle.jpg

Here's the saddle I put on my wife's bike. It's an Ideale #6. She says it's the best saddle she's ever used.
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c298/koskid/DSC02896.jpg

Hi,
saddles are tough. My wife uses a Brooks Finesse and loves it.
Before that she used a Terry Butterfly. The B17 Champion Special is also one to consider.

Both have been blessed by adequate gluteal adiposity.

:rolleyes: As one similarly blessed, I can't imagine doing those long rides without my "padding!"

I have a Terry Liberator on my road bike and a Serfas Rx on my hybrid. I personally find the Liberator more comfortable, but I imagine this is a highly individual choice.

I took my wife to the bike shop and told her to pick out a saddle that she thought would match her tushie. She picked a Surfas RX that has that "woman's saddle" shape and quite a bit of foam padding. It wouldn't have been my pick, but I don't have to ride on it. Last summer I asked if she might be interested in trying a Brooks. She told me that she was completely satisfied with what she had and wasn't interested in risking something else. That's good enough for me.

I have a Dolce like Beverly's, and 2 Selle San Marco Glamour saddles. I like those very, very much.

Mrs. Road Fan is on a Dolce and likes it so far.

I don't know much about women's saddles, but I have studied them extensively on some group rides. ;)

One of the best things about group rides.