ladyrider

I'm wondering how comfortable "comfortable" seats are?

In my experience I only know painful and mediocre. I'm using the stock seat that came with my bike. It feels okay on my bum but not so much fun on my lady parts. So, are there seats that are actually comfortable and feels like heaven? Or should I just stick with my stock saddle that doesn't hurt?

Thanks!

Mysterious Lady

I share your sentiment, so this may not be too helpful. I see from your intro post (btw, welcome!) that you are riding a Norco XFR 3 -- nice looking bike!! Unfortunately those are not sold in my region so I can't comment on the stock saddle. However, a WSD saddle (women specific design) may help. If your purchase was from your LBS recently, perhaps they'd be willing to let you try out a WSD saddle for a day? Also, how long do you ride at a time, and how long have you been riding? If it's been less than a few weeks, perhaps you're still adjusting.

One other thing to consider: I see the stock saddle is not a fat cushy one, which is good, but how much "flex" is there in the seat? Maybe it's just a personal preference but I find I like saddles that have a decent amt of flex.

Good luck! I will be interested in reading what others suggest!

mjwithtwins

To answer your question, yes there is a such thing as a saddle that fits and feels good for extended periods. The hard part is finding the right one for you. I struggled to find the right saddle on my road bike years ago. I tired probably 7 or 8 different saddles and none of them felt good until I tried a Terry Butterfly. That one felt great from the very first ride,no breaking in period at all.

On my hybrid I was going to put another butterfly on it but since the bike shop was willing to let me try one Bontrager saddle after another with their 90 day satisfaction policy I decided to let them recommend a good saddle to try before spending money on the Terry. As it turns out they knew what they were talking about and gave me a Bontrager nebula plus that like my Terry felt good from the first day. In fact I might like the nebula plus better then the Terry butterfly but it is hard to tell because i am in diffent positions on each bike.

I suggest you find a shop that is okay with returns, get your sit bones measured and start trying out different saddles until you find one that works. It is a very personal selection so what works for one woman might not work for the next since we are all built differently.

Mysterious Lady

Well there you go -- great advice, as always, from MJ!

ladyrider

Thanks for the replies so far! I've been riding for years on hand-me down bikes so the Norco is my first brand new bike (I guess I should have specified). I ride 5-10 km daily and maybe up to 30 km about once a week.

Actually, I adjusted my seat today and found that it made it more comfortable. I was riding a comfort type bike before I got my Norco so I was always more upright (so I think I was sitting more on the front of the seat). Long story short, I raised my seat and my weight is better distributed on the saddle (I don't know why but it felt like I was sitting too far back before?)

I guess I'll continue to see how the new position of my saddle feels and continue to look into getting a new saddle.

What are your thoughts on the WSD saddles with the hole along the middle? Do you know if it really alleviates the pressure on lady parts?

Thanks again for your replies. I look forward to more

mjwithtwins

My butterfly has the cut out but my nebula plus doesn't. It does have a kind of soft divot in the center, not that you can see but you can feel it flex down when you hold it. I think again, it is a very personal thing. Some women swear by the cut out and some prefer hard, unpadded saddles. I get no pain from either of my saddles.

justfitme

I can share the experience my wife had with the saddles over the years.
We started with "the wider the softer - the better".
But it was not always the case - actually it was never the case. She just lived with the impression that the bike seat can't be comfortable.
Then I introduced her to Terry saddle - butterfly. Life started to be a little better.

Then...I picked up in LBS the saddle from the box - for 25 dollars. It was $100 Terry Zero X - woman specific. Looks exactly like mens Terry Zero Y - hard and narrow.
It was most comfortable saddle my wife ever had - she started to use it on her road bike and she said riht away - "i do not feel it" . The same thing she was able to say after 40 miles ride as well.

Then she took mens Terry Fly saddle and installed it on her hybrid bike - she said it is much better feel than Butterfly...
Do you want some advice with ladies saddle?

Bunnicula

So far, I've liked Specialized saddles best. I'm still experimenting, though...

WSD and not too much gel will help. I do favor the cut outs.

McCallum

Check Terry saddles they were built for and by a lady; the one we bought my wife she liked on my hand-me-down she rode; I have not asked if she likes her stock seat on the new bike we bought a year or so ago.