Good Female Specific Bicycle Saddle?
So I have a new Bianchi bicycle and for the most part it is a great bike, but the saddle is horrible and creates a LOT of pain for me even when only riding 20-30 minutes. I've been riding it a few weeks but it isn't getting any better and I am at the end of patience.
Friends have told me that I should replace it but they all recommend something different and I am confused. I want a comfortable saddle and some say it has to be a gel saddle while others recommend one of those big squishy type of saddles. Others say that these are wrong and that I need a female specific saddle, which I have never heard of, so can you help me with this?
So do I need a gel saddle or do I need a squishy saddle or do I need a female specific geometry saddle? I am confused.
Our Answer: Shelly....this is such a common question on here that sometimes I wonder if I should keep publishing them but your question has a lot of merit and because it's so common, I know the message is not out there yet....but first, run away from the squishy saddles...they are definitely not the answer.
The first thing that I would say is that yes you probably should replace the saddle if you have ridden it for a few weeks and the pain is not getting any better. I am not a doctor but most likely you are trying to ride a saddle that isn't right for your geometry.
What happens a lot, especially with female riders, is that your "sit bones" are narrower than a man on average. Most of the saddles on the market are designed around the male geometry because, well, I don't know why but they just are. So in many, if not most cases, a stock saddle on a bicycle will tend to be too narrow for a woman.
I am making some assumptions here, but I would bet I am right, but without knowing exactly what saddle you have and what your own personal sit bone measurement is, I can't be positive. Again, playing the odds, your saddle is probably too narrow and will always create issues for you.
The solution in most cases is to find a woman's specific saddle for your bicycle. More and more companies are offering saddles targeted at the female geometry. Two of my favorites are Selle Italia and Terry bicycle. Selle Italia offers the Selle Italia Lady and the Selle Italia Diva that are female specific and then the Terry Butterfly is another great saddle option for women.
If you decide this is the route for you then I would highly recommend either of these saddle for most women as a good starting point. They are high quality and come highly recommended from a lot of very satisfied female riders. Check em out and hopefully they are for you.
US $39.93
Not sure, but I think you can buy a padded saddle cover.
A lot cheaper and not very heavy.
You might also try adjusting your saddle.
DO NOT get a big, squishy gel seat! It will NOT be more comfortable! What you need is a saddle that is firm and supportive and fits YOUR pelvic bones properly.
Some good seats for women are from WTB, the Terry Butterfly and Specialized Alias series. Expect about $100 or so for a good seat.
Two other things that may be the culprit: you are new to cycling, and sore butts are expected for the first couple weeks. That’s just how it goes. Also, do you have some good cycling specific shorts with a good chamois pad? (psst! no underwear is worn with them either)
Shelly, I can tell you from years of experience that breaking in a new saddle isn’t fun and even if you purchase a new saddle you’ll only have to go through the same thing.
You not only have to break in the saddle, you also have to break in your butt as well and if you stay with it you’ll find in a little time it will all come together and you and the saddle will become one.
The only other advice I can offer would be to go to your LBS and make sure your saddle height and position is correct, they will make that adjustment for you and shouldn’t charge you much if anything at all.
Every rider that I’ve ever known goes through the same process. Good luck, Hang in there it will get better.
Look into cycling shorts. You’ll need them eventually if you start to ride longer. They have a pad that will keep the pain away, and are more comfortable than normal shorts. You can always wear something over them if you don’t like the idea of just wearing the cycling shorts.
You can’t just bring a new bike home and expect it to be perfectly “dialed in.”
You need to buy a multi-tool and bring it with you when you ride, so you can make on-the-spot adjustments to the seat.
A seat is adjustable in three ways:
- Pitch. You can tilt the front of the seat upwards or downwards.
- Horizontal. The seat can slide forward or backward a few centimeters on its mounting rails.
- Height. The most obvious adjustment.
The widest part of the seat needs to support the two bony bumps under your butt (the “sit bones,” or ischial tuberosities in medical jargon). The sit bones are the parts of your butt that can be sat on without developing much discomfort.
Even small changes can make a HUGE difference. Just changing the pitch of the seat by one degree of angle can dramatically redistribute your weight on the seat. So bring that multi-tool with you, adjust the seat angle, horizontal and height as you ride. Sooner or later you should be able to find a comfortable seat position where your sit bones are bearing most of your weight against the widest part of the seat.
If you tried all possible combinations of pitch, horizontal and height and still can’t find a comfortable position, then look for another seat.
Hope this helps, and good luck.
Rate This Product!
View All FAQ
Top Rated Bicycle Saddles 2009
Specialized Saddles have become legendary around the cycling community as being some of the best performing...
Some women prefer diamonds but for others, the site of a leather clad, carbon railed, lightweight Terry...
Talk to anybody who takes riding a bike seriously and they will tell you one of the most important bike...
Selle Italia has a rich cycling heritage and is one of a very select few companies that can say they...
Saddle Reviews
Site Pages
Sponsored Ads