Bicycle Seats for Women

Jessica asked: I just bought a new bike and am having trouble finding a saddle that works.  I am told that there are bicycle saddles designed for women specifically.  I've heard about them but I would like to know more as so far none of my friends can tell me the difference between a mans bicycle saddle and a womans bicycle saddle.

Our Answer: Jessica......you are definitely right, there are bicycle saddles designed for women specifically and they can make a significant difference in the comfort of your ride.   The female anatomy is quite different than the male anatomy (yeah I know...captain obvious checking in) and that makes for the need for a differently shaped saddle.

As a general rule, a woman's sit bones are wider than a man's and they need to have a wider rear platform to support the sit bones.  Most female specific saddles also tend to be shorter than the male version and often times have an anatomical cutout down the center to relieve pressure on the tender parts.  The anatomical cutout is a trait of BOTH gender saddles though, so don't confuse a male version with a female version.

Check out this video on seats designed for the female anatomy and see if you can pick up a few tips.  If you want to look at some in depth reviews on female bicycle saddles then check out these articles.  My wife has a Selle Italia Lady gel saddle on her Bianchi and absolutely LOVES it.  You might check that out as a starting point.