Chicago:Saddle loaners?
 

I'm about to fight my saddle because it's practically stabbing my uterus. Are there any shops that have a "try and buy" policy? I want to ride around on a couple before I choose. I know Boulevard doesn't.

I guess I could buy and return at performance since their return policy is lax. But I hate performance.

I have witnessed Johnny Sprockets, the one at the corner of Broadway / Wellington, putting new saddles on bikes so the owner can ride around on it for awhile. You could always offer to leave your credit card or wallet or bag as collateral.

They don't have a huge selection but usually have a few nice ones on hand.

Hope this helps.

I know it isn't Chicago specific, but:

Wallingford Bike (wallbike.com) has a six month, no questions asked return policy on Brooks saddles and the B-17 isn't bad at $67.

I have been to more than one bike shop in the city that have said that if I hate the saddle, I can bring it back for a credit/exchange within a reasonable amount of time.

I won't name names to protect the innocent.

Check out the WTB "She" or "Speed She" saddles. People whos opinions I respect have recommended it for women over any other saddle for casual riding.

I'll second Sean's comments -- women's specific saddles do indeed feel different to women than for men. Most of the ladies I know ride a women's saddle. The only exception I know of is Brooks. salome rides a brooks, which is a men's model I believe though with a Brooks, they shape to conform to you anyhow. They do now make a women's specific model.

Performance has been good to me in the swap saddle return regard. Their women's performance saddle with the cutout, which is usually on sale for something like $25 actually feels good according to my partner and my old roommate.

Speaking of Performance - they're having a craaaazy saddle sale this weekend. Or so their catalog says.

This isn't only for "casual riding".

Actually, I've only ever used Terry women specific saddles with no luck. I was hoping to try another brand or maybe the Terry witht eh cut out. In Atlanta there was a shop that you could pick three saddles, put a deposit down, then ride the chosen saddles for a week or two before you decided. I was looking for something like that, but I guess that isn't common.

Thanks for the help!

Rapid Transit has a 30 day return policy on everything but bikes. Actually, I think it might include bikes too, as long as they're not too thrashed to sell. Our stock is pretty limited, but we'll order whatever, and you don't get stuck with it if you don't end up liking it.


The point is to get people things they actually want to use, not stick them with crap they don't like and waste their money.

i have not used it, but kozy (and i am guessing other specialized dealers) have a foam pad you can sit on to measure your sit bones to get help find a saddle that is an appropriate width. i think their idea is to pick up one of the specialized saddles which have clear width measurements and come in a bunch of sizes.

disclaimer- i have not used it and no not own one of their saddles.

That's cuz you got a guy saddle. If you don't want your saddle to act like a guy, you need to buy a gal saddle.

How can you tell a guy saddle from a gal saddle? First you turn it over and look very closely between the rails...which tells you nothing, but makes it look like you know something. Then mount the saddle and ride it...if it pokes you in your...uhhh...you know....it's definitely a guy saddle. If it gently carresses, you gotta gal!

As I said in my second post, I've only used women-specific saddles. They've both been Terrys but I think they're both out of production since I can't find them anywhere anymore. But thanks for the info.

I picked up a used brooks at working bikes on sunday and it's almost like sitting on heaven. I'm sure this will tide me over until I get fitted for a new saddle.

A used brooks at Working Bikes? You can get those there? Woah.

We have a "Brooks tree" of used saddles hanging from the ceiling in the warehouse. I'm sure if you make nice with one of the wrenchers you can score one for cheap.

Damn. I'm going to have to ask Andrew... do you volunteer there?

Yeah I'm usually there on the weekends and at west town bikes during the week. I'm sure Andrew would hook you up but the good stuff is mostly thinning out on the tree.

My post was tongue-in-cheek...tough crowd!

Sorry I get defensive when folks assume I don't know my ****! It's the curse of the internet

Why bother getting anything else? Almost heaven is pretty good.

oh, it was only a loaner that I have to return by Sunday.