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Saddles

Fordie77Fordie77 Posts: 11
edited August 2018 in Women's cycling forum
Hi

I currently have a Selle Italia Diva gel flow saddle and I'm finding that the front of it is crushing my bits (sorry if TMI)! It looks a bit bulbous at the nose of the saddle and I'm presuming that's what was causing the problem. I've tried tilting it down a bit.

I used to ride on a Specialised Riva saddle and found it better; however with both of the saddles I seem to have a problem with my right foot becoming numb. I think it's nerve compression so I'm not keen to go back to the Riva either.

Does anyone have any suggestions for which saddle to try next?

Thanks

Posts

  • Garry HGarry H Posts: 6,616
    Silly question, you are female, aren't you?
  • Fordie77Fordie77 Posts: 11
    Yes :lol:
  • Garry HGarry H Posts: 6,616
    Have a look at ISM saddles. Friend of mine seems to have had the same troubles with her unmentionables as you do. Said it was a godsend.
  • Fordie77Fordie77 Posts: 11
    Thanks, I'll have a look at that.
  • Garry HGarry H Posts: 6,616
    Don't be put off by the look. They work, apparently.
  • 964Cup964Cup Posts: 1,526
    Cobb saddles have actually put some proper effort into researching female-specific saddles. Have a look at http://www.cobbcycling.com/innie-or-outie/. The other thing to do is get a range of test saddles from your LBS - Giant do a set that has a gel insert which shows where you are applying pressure to help you choose the right one. This approach worked for my wife.
  • lostboysaintlostboysaint Posts: 4,369
    My wife loves the WTB Deva SLT - has it on both her MTB and road bike. I'm not sure it's a current model though.

    Like all "contact" things, it's very personal so probably worth trying a few and finding the one that really works.
    Trail fun - Transition Bandit
    Road - Wilier Izoard Centaur/Cube Agree C62 Disc
    Allround - Cotic Solaris
  • Fordie77Fordie77 Posts: 11
    Brilliant, thanks, lots of options there!
  • torinotorino Posts: 46
    I like the ISM saddles, but for TT applications where you really rotate the hip, so any pre-existing compression to the lower bits is magnified, and that is where the open design of ISM really helps.

    I would also include the Vs (Versus) saddles from Fizik as recommendations. The relief channel works nice, and IMO is better than the hole (as in Selle Italia), because it stretches all along the saddle and not only in the middle of it.

    I'm currently using Antares Vsx, which is a Vs with deeper channel. Places a lot of pressure in the sit bones, but it is better to have the pressure on the hard bones than on the soft skin or bits. After a few rides your bones get used to it.
  • amrushtonamrushton Posts: 588
    May not be that simple. Trial and error with saddles is expensive. In my wifes case after ££ on saddles and 1000's km in agony or mild discomfort I decided that using saddle mapping technology at Cyclefit in London was worth a punt. 3 hours and some interesting details resulted in her requiring a wider saddle than we had thought and some other issues were raised re knee/feet.
  • LoradaxploraLoradaxplora Posts: 2
    Specialised do a 30 returns policy on used saddles (i.e. you can try it properly and still return it if it doesn't fit). I got mine that way. I am an 'outie' as per the article above and was having awful trouble, discussed it with their bike fitter, got my sit bones measured. Turns out I was in a saddle too wide - this means your pelvis isn't supported as well and tilts forward more. I tried 3 different saddles until I found the 'one'. The Specialised Power Expert came close but the 'wings' at the back were slightly too wide for me but the women's Lithia Comp Gel was the perfect fit for me :)
  • reformedfattyreformedfatty Posts: 543
    A gentleman venturing into this forum briefly... Is there a 'works for most people' saddle for women - to go on a mountain bike in this case but equally road would be useful. Something like the Charge Spoon is almost a default for men, is there similar for the ladies? I got her a women's specific saddle however it is definitely one for the seasoned roadies - hard as a rock!
  • mea00csfmea00csf Posts: 558
    Another vote for the Fizik Antares VSX. I went down the route of trying out saddles from a local bike shop. I paid for the test saddle, and then i can swap it as many times as i liked, paying the difference of the cost of each saddle. When i found one i wanted to keep they just swap the test saddle for a proper aftermarket one. You do pay full RRP price, and it is quite irritating to see the exact same saddle on line for two thirds the price, but it only takes one mistake and it would have cost you more.

    As it happens, the Antares VSX would not have been a saddle i would have even considered buying when i looked at it, after trying though, i loved it!
    http://www.bicycletourist.weebly.com
  • PittersPitters Posts: 12
    Our local bike shop had a fitting service for saddles and then a loan one to try to see if it was ok . I tried 3 different ones .
  • Vino'sGhostVino'sGhost Posts: 4,320
    Htfu.
  • mariamartinezmariamartinez Posts: 94
    anyone got list of saddle weight?
  • imposter2.0imposter2.0 Posts: 10,712
    mariamartinez wrote:
    anyone got list of saddle weight?

    Let's hope not...
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