dvdslw

I know there's plenty of women out there riding on men's saddles but are there any guys knowingly using a women specific saddle? I ask because recently I started paying attention to the relation between my sit bones and my saddle only to find that I should have a wider saddle. I've been pretty happy with my Arione cx for the last few years but it has a width of 132mm and my sit bones measure 146mm and pretty much hang off the sides of the saddle as I ride which got me thinking I need a wider saddle to take pressure off my privates. I really like the Fizik line and have invested into their 00 bars, 00 seatpost, and stem so I'd like to keep my saddle selection in the family if possible. There is one saddle in the Fizik lineup that is wide enough to fit my dimensions and its the Arione Donna 00 which is very similar to the Arione I have now but measures 285mm long x 147mm wide compared to the men's 300mm long x 132mm wide. My current Arione saddle always seemed too long in the nose so losing 15mm of length with the Donna should be fine plus the width of the Donna 00 is spot on with my measurements.

Would I be crazy to give it a try? I also found them on sale from their $300.00 retail price down to $117.00 shipped which helps a little. I figure if it doesn't work out I could sell it online or put it on the wife's bike. The "DONNA" logo on the saddle does come off with some light rubbing and alcohol which I've experimented on two different Fizik saddles I have. Below is the link, its 129.99 plus an additional 10% off and a somewhat manly looking saddle, I think?

Fi'zi:k Arione Donna 00 Saddle | Competitive Cyclist

Elvo

I ride both men and women

edit: Both can feel great and some are not so great so it is subjective

dvdslw

Saddles? Or???

dvdslw

Sorry, couldn't resist that one!

rpenmanparker 

Not women's saddles, but I do exclusively ride Terry men's saddles. Great stuff by people who built their fame on women's comfort.

link0

I ride both mens and womens Fizik saddles. I really don't feel any difference. I am a very skinny guy with narrow hips btw.

dvdslw

That's good to know, I always thought I was pretty narrow being a tall 6'5 guy but apparently my bones are wide? People often say I suffer from a disease called noassatall!

79pmooney

Gotta second rpenmanparker. Terry, the company founded to make women's bikes and gear, came up with a superior seat for men. (Basically the time honored Selle Italia with a well designed cutout and very good workmanship. I believe they are made by Selle Italia.) The Fly is on all my good bikes. (I use another brand with plastic covers for my rain and winter bikes.)

I am narrow so there is little likelihood a woman specific seat would work for me. Most have noses that would cut into my thighs and impede blood flow. But I have little objection to using women's gear and clothing when it does the job and is comfortable.

Ben

Bathwater

Fizik's Antares saddles are close to the same width as the Donna Arione, so you always have those manly options available. That being said, you probably won't get any men's 00 saddles for anywhere near that price. I say go for it. Even if you didn't get rid of the "DONNA" who the eff is going to notice?

winston63 

I don't, but I wouldn't hesitate to try a women's saddle. I've also got wide sit bones, wider than most men's saddles accommodate, though I find I'm OK with a B17 on my touring bike. But I wouldn't put one of those on a road bike. Truth is, I've never been all that happy with any saddle I've put on my cross bike, and I was thinking of trying a women's saddle on it but I don't ride it enough to warrant the attempt these days.

But I will be adding a road bike before long, and I will probably wind up trying a women's saddle if I can't find anything else that works.

redlude97

While the width of the arione donna is wider than the mens version, both are very rounded so the effective width is pretty narrow relative to other saddles. The antares is flatter with an intermediate width that you should consider.

dvdslw

Yeah, the Antares was one that I considered but price is what motivated to research the Donna 00. I just ordered it with some free 2 day shipping so we'll see what happens. I'll be sure to update the thread after a shakedown ride.

Also, I will notice the Donna logo every time I climb on the bike so it will be removed if its a keeper!

dvdslw

Not sure what to think of the shape compared to the std Arione, it looks very similar, just wider and shorter.

tarwheel 

I've got Fizik Vitesse saddles on all of my bikes. Fizik markets it as a women's saddle in the US but unisex in Europe. I could care less. I previously was riding Brooks B17s and the Vitesse is just as comfortable at less than half the weight. Shape and width of the Vitesse is similar to a B17, maybe slightly narrower.

Drew Eckhardt 

Maybe. If that's center-to-center you probably want something wider.

Specialized's assometer calls for 15-20mm beyond sit bone width depending on saddle shape, with 146 yielding a 168 width recommendation.

rpenmanparker 

I do like the Fly, but I have to say my favorite is the Falcon Y. It has just recently gotten a lot heavier though so I last bought a Fly Carbon. Hardly any difference...hardly.

BTW the width of both is about 140 mm or sort of medium.

dvdslw

Looking at that makes me wonder how I've lived with the Arione cx for so long at 132mm wide?

deapee

I'd get double-measured. For no reason other than 146 probably puts you at the top end of the scale for sit bone width in humans. Make sure you're leaning forward when you're sitting on whatever you're sitting on to mimic your riding position. The sit bones get closer the more you lean forward.

That being said...I would not try a women's saddle. I think engineers have specifically engineered men's saddles with A LOT of research and development over the years of pressure on the delicate parts for a man. I Don't think it's just a woman's saddle tends to be wider thing....but I often give credit where it's not due, so I could be way off -- it's just not worth the risk to me, personally.

I highly recommend a Specialized dealer. Once you get measured there, you can get different options, such as a Toupe (more flat) in a 155 or a Romin (more curved) in a size down, etc etc. Back when I was getting my saddle dialed in, they even had a 30 day test ride program where if you didn't like it before 30 days were up, you just brought it back. The dealer special ordered my Romin, and since I was SO uncomfortable on my stock 130mm Bontrager, he lent me a Toupe while I was waiting for that to come in. And heck, you might make another friend/contact in the area from stopping in there anyway.

Campag4life

Great advice worth listening to OP ^^^^^

thump55

It's a slippery slope my friend...

dvdslw

I did measure several times, both at the bike shop and at home with results within a few mm's. I was surprised at the width, maybe I have child bearing hips? Kidding aside, I have the same reservations about trying a women's saddle but from what I can tell it is essentially a shortened/widened version of what I have. Even looking at them side by side they have the same contour front to back and the nose shape is identical (although 15mm shorter) which has been perfect for me as to not chafing my inner thighs. Time will tell as I've already ordered it and it'll be here tomorrow, couldn't pass up the deal and as I said before if it doesn't work out I can give it to my wife or sell it.

redlude97

What I'm saying is that if you look at the profile of the the mens/womens arione it is very curved compared to the antares where the sitbones are suppose to touch the saddle. Since you are saying you have genital discomfort it may be more than width that you need to address. The effective width of the antares is greater than the arione donna even though the measured width is 5mm wider. You don't sit right on the edge of the saddle, you sit inwards of the edges ~10mm so compare that effect width between the arione saddles and others. The arione is not the saddle for many people for a reason.

maartendc

Let me stop you right there. The sitbones have to be ON the saddle, to prevent pressure on the soft tissues in between. THis is a good read about saddle fit: https://www.cervelo.com/en/engineeri...f-road-saddles

I have been doing research into finding an appropriate saddle for myself, and all the websites tell you to take your sit bone spacing + 20mm. So you would need a saddle that is 166 mm wide ( I dont even know if they make em that wide)

So do yourself a favor, and get the wider saddle. Your body will thank you.

deapee

If your sit bones were really 146mm and you rode a 132mm saddle, I can assure you that it would feel like sitting on a metal pipe. My sit bones were something like 133 and I rode a 130mm Bontrager and it was terrible. After about a week of that, I couldn't even sit on a bench things were hurting so bad.



Anyway, just for funsies, here is a Romin Evo in 155 (black) and a Toupe in 143 (The Toupe STILL looks wider, to me anyway). Both fit me just fine. If your sit bones seriously measure 146, I'd recomend a 155 Toupe or wider. I don't have a lot of experience with different brands of saddles because I really like what Specialized offers (Even when I rode a Trek). It's funny because I have another Specialized Body Geometry floating around in my house and I have no idea where it came from.

aubiecat

Good catch. Sit bones should never hang off the sides of your saddle.