Help with women's road bike saddle choices
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Creede CO in summer & Okeechobee, FL or TX Gulf Coast in winter
Posts: 742
Bikes: Zenetto Stealth road bike & Sundeal M7 MTN bike
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 90 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
4 Posts
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?
#2
pan y agua
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 31,304
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1447 Post(s)
Liked 727 Times
in
372 Posts
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?
Also, is she using bike shorts?
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
#3
Middle-Aged Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 2,276
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV 2014, TREK HIFI 2011, Argon18 E-116 2013
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Where can one find a RODE bike anyway?
Last edited by MikeyBoyAz; 03-10-14 at 10:06 AM.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: In my car with my Garmin, stealing all your Strava KOMs
Posts: 327
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
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.
#6
Senior Member
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.
#7
Middle-Aged Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 2,276
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV 2014, TREK HIFI 2011, Argon18 E-116 2013
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: In my car with my Garmin, stealing all your Strava KOMs
Posts: 327
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#9
Middle-Aged Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Mesa, AZ
Posts: 2,276
Bikes: Bianchi Infinito CV 2014, TREK HIFI 2011, Argon18 E-116 2013
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 24 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#10
Has a magic bike
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,590
Bikes: 2018 Scott Spark, 2015 Fuji Norcom Straight, 2014 BMC GF01, 2013 Trek Madone
Mentioned: 699 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4456 Post(s)
Liked 425 Times
in
157 Posts
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
H
#15
Senior Member
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.
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.
#16
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,535
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 115 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3889 Post(s)
Liked 1,938 Times
in
1,383 Posts
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.
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Sheboygan Falls WI.
Posts: 277
Bikes: Trek , Fisher
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
#18
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
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
H
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.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 338
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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!
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,951
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 13 Times
in
12 Posts
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.
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.
#23
Senior Member
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
H
Last edited by Clem von Jones; 03-22-14 at 01:07 PM.
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 533
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
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.
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.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
awfulwaffle
Fitting Your Bike
6
08-20-14 07:47 AM