Help with women's road bike saddle choices
 

Got wife low end unisex road bike hoping she will enjoy riding as much as I do. If she does not, will sell and not much lost. At this point she is riding around the block a little more each day (less than a week). Says saddle uncomfortable and I would expect that this early. I am sure I will need to do something different pretty soon but have no idea where to start. How would I go about find her a saddle that fits better?

Saddles are pretty much a matter of personal preference, and she'll likely have to try a few until she finds one she likes. Team Estrogen's forum is a good place to find reviews of saddles by women to give you some ideas of some potential canidates.

Also, is she using bike shorts?

Where can one find a RODE bike anyway?

Additionally, how does one "fine" a bike?



You did it, too!

Terry saddles make lots of women happy. Don't let her get disenchanted with the saddle. That tends to lead folks into wanting the big padded, fleece covered job which is a disaster. Work the saddle issue immediately if you want her to like road riding. Initial 2nd day pain from poor muscle tone should end very quickly, say by the fourth ride. Anything after that is wrong saddle and will only get worse. You must figure out her sit bone width and start there. That is only way to find the right saddle.

The wife has been happy with the specialized saddle she got, definitely agree with above about staying away from the giant plush saddle. Also most stock saddles on entry level bikes are crap.

Good call. Mine was a typo, not the same word spelled wrong.

True, true. To your point, I think typos are more acceptable than confusing homonyms, but I'm a jackass, and I just wanted an excuse to bust your balls, mate.

I do agree that mockery should be done with correct grammar and spelling.

Well it could be the saddle itself or it could be her position on the bike (ie a fit issue). I would start with a good fitting, although finding a good fitter can be easier said than done. The fitter can possibly help with saddle choices as well if he/she works out of a shop.

H

My wife uses a Terry Butterfly

Mine too.

May a wife respond?

Please.

This forum has a subforum for women only.
Perhaps the OP's wife could register then ask a mod to admit her to the forum.
The women on this board are extremely helpful.

My wife's new and by far most liked saddle is a Specialized Oura Expert. Specialized are only available through LBS, which is good because she can get her sitbone width measured there. We are signed up to do a 200k this Saturday. So it works for her.

My wife had her sit bone width measured and tried two different WSD bike seat and did not like either one of them.
So I put on a Specialized mens seat that was about 10mm smaller width than the women's seat and she likes it and rides 60,70 and some 80 mi. rides. Your wife will likely have to try a few bike saddles until she finds one she likes.
Bigger is not all ways better when it comes to seat fitting.

+1

And if the saddle is the problem, it will need to be wide enough to support her sitbones, but not too wide.


I'm a woman, and I ride a men's Brooks B17 standard. My Brooks saddles are so much more comfortable than anything else I've tried.

Kudos to you, OP, for wanting to share a passion with your wife! I'm a spouse and encourage patience and decisions well beyond rides around the block. After a good fit and even better shorts, what sort of pedals and shoes is she using or planning to use? Desire, core strength, fitness, etc. may also need to factor into the comfort equation. My saddle fits me. I've had others that may have been a good fit for your wife. Wish you were my neighbor!

My GF uses the Oura on her road and MTB.

My wife would respond but she has much better things to do than hang out in bike forums...unlike me.

She, and a few other roadie women we know like the Selle Italia Diva. She went through quite a few different saddles before that. Of course, everybody's nether regions are a bit different.

Terry Butterfly with Ti rails. Not cheap, but for me, it has been wonderful for both road and MTB

+1 Riding position and bike fit adjustments are the greatest determinant of comfort. Also rider weight and fitness level to consider before deciding on a saddle. There are some good threads on riding position and fit if you want to try DIY. Typically newbies want their saddle too low, too far forward, and their handlebars too close and too high all of which causes pain.

If you are just getting into it , any saddle will be uncomfortable at first. Tell her to put in some miles/km, and adjust the saddle to improve comfort, see if things improve.

If they do not, then you really have no other option than to try other saddles. It took me literally years before I finally found a saddle that works so well for me, that there is no discomfort, and I completely forget about it even on long rides. The annoying thing is that everyone has their own anatomy and saddle that do or do not work for them. Getting saddles second-hand and reselling if they do not work out is what I did to finally find the saddle that works best for me.