How to choose a women’s specific road or mountain bike saddle
A good saddle that fits you and is comfortable is an extremely important part of the cycling comfort equation. Bad bowel movement is a special type of torture that can cause pain and discomfort. The good saddle, however, is one that you barely notice when riding because it does its job properly. For many women, a women’s specific saddle is the answer and there are women’s saddles available for road cycling, mountain biking, recreational riding and everything in between.
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Women’s stools are generally shaped differently than men’s to account for the physiological differences between men and women; hip width and different genitalia are of course two of the main considerations. Saddles designed for women take these anatomical elements into account and products are developed around how these differences affect comfort and performance when riding in a variety of disciplines.
Although many women find that women’s saddles work extremely well for them, saddle choice remains a very personal matter. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. Some women find that unisex or men’s saddles work well for them, others find that many saddles work for them while still others find that there are only one or two saddles that work for them.
We can advise and guide you, but unfortunately the process of finding the right saddle for you is one of trial and error. That said, there are more and more brands and stores that either offer demo saddles to take away and try on, or exchanges if it turns out that the saddle you purchased isn’t right for you.
There’s still some trial and error involved even when you get the chance to test out a saddle – getting used to a new perch can take a few good rides and a lot of miles.
If you’re just starting out, you’ll feel some discomfort until your bottom adjusts, but if the discomfort persists beyond a few regular rides, there may be something wrong.
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How to choose the right saddle
There are hundreds of saddles on the market to choose from and choosing the right one can mean the difference between pleasure and pain. Here’s how to choose the right saddle for your needs.
1. What type of cycling do you do?
You can get saddles designed for all cycling disciplines, from leisure riding and commuting to road cycling, time trials and mountain biking.
Saddles designed for a specific type of cycling are generally developed to provide support and comfort in the usual position on the bike for that type of riding. So, for example, road cyclists will tend to lean forward over the bars, which applies more pressure towards the front of the crotch.
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2. What is your budget?
You can spend a little or a lot on a saddle, depending on how much you plan to use it for and how often you ride. If you ride a lot, commute regularly, or race, it might be worth spending a little more to get something lightweight and purpose-built. In general, the higher the price, the lighter and more performance-oriented the saddle.
3. What size do you need?
While not all saddles have different size options, many do, and this is determined by the width of your sit bones (which, by the way, has absolutely nothing to do with the width of your butt ).
Most stores will have a simple device to measure this, which usually involves a gel or foam cushion that you sit on. The two main depressions or dots left when you sit down will indicate where your sit bones are and your saddle measurement will come from this.
4. Can you test it?
With bowel movements, some things are felt right away and others require a few hours in the saddle to determine if it’s working for you or not.
You shouldn’t feel any pressure on your soft tissues, nor should you feel any part of the saddle digging in or rubbing anywhere on your butt or upper legs when you pedal. Anything that feels like a small hassle now will feel like hell on two wheels after an hour or so of riding, so if it’s not right when you demo the saddle, it’s probably not good for you .
Taking a saddle for a test ride, ideally for an hour or two, will help you decide whether you’ve met your perfect match or not.
What to look for in a women’s saddle
The most obvious differences between men’s and women’s saddles are their shape and the placement of the padding. Some saddles are unisex and you may find they work better than women’s specific saddles, but we also know riders who swear by the comfort of certain men’s saddles.
Buying a saddle is truly the most personal component choice you will make.
Saddle needs also vary from rider to rider. If you tend to do shorter, faster road rides, you’ll sit less than if you’re a mountain biker who enjoys all-day backcountry epics, and in the case of the former, you’ll want to maybe sacrifice a little. of padding in the interest of low weight.
Anatomy of a women’s bicycle saddle
1. Cover
The cover is the outer layer of the saddle and the bit that your butt will be in contact with. The materials they are constructed from can vary from genuine leather on more expensive saddles to synthetic leather and various other materials. One essential thing to do is that any seams, sticky bits or reinforcement panels do not rub or feel visible when riding. For road cycling and mountain biking, where repositioning on the saddle can occur when moving position on the bike, a smooth material that will not catch or rub the material of your bike shorts is important.
Mountain bike saddles are also susceptible to accidents and getting muddy, so a durable, easy-to-clean cover is a must.
2. Shell
The shell is the hard base of the saddle and is the part that controls the basic shape of the saddle, and also to some extent its elasticity. Most basic saddles will have a plastic or polymer base.
More expensive saddles for road and mountain biking may have a partial or full carbon shell. This provides a strong but lightweight base and also has a degree of vibration absorption to help stop ‘road hum’ and other vibrations translating into your butt, lower back and body.
The shell will determine the size of the saddle and many manufacturers will offer different saddle sizes and widths to suit different riders.
3. Grooves or cutouts
Many saddles for both sexes will have a central groove, channel, or cutout section along the middle of the saddle. This is designed to relieve pressure on the soft tissues of the crotch and genitals.
For women’s saddles, the size, width and position of the groove are designed to fit the female anatomy and work with the surrounding padding to ensure that the weight-bearing parts of the bottom are supported – and that the areas where there should be little or no pressure are left as pressure-free as possible.
4. Padding
The padding distributes the pressure from your bottom across the entire surface of the saddle with the aim of creating as even a distribution as possible, this will ensure you don’t feel any pressure hot spots. Saddle manufacturers often use pressure mapping to determine where and how much padding to place on a saddle, as well as using it for overall saddle design. The way pressure is distributed on a saddle varies depending on the position the rider is in. a rider on a city or Dutch-style bike may have the majority of their weight directly on their sit bones, while a road cyclist riding on the drops will have their hips facing forward and their weight distributed differently . This also affects the location of grooves and cutouts.
The padding on women’s saddles will usually be placed slightly differently to men’s saddles and will also use a range of different thicknesses and materials.
Don’t automatically assume that more padding equals more comfort. For long rides, bulky saddles can end up rubbing your upper thighs and for the majority of road cycling and mountain biking, a well-fitting saddle with a little padding is much better than one with a lot of padding.
5. Rails
The rails are the bars on which the seat post attaches under the saddle. Cheaper saddles use steel alloys, while titanium or carbon rails are significantly lighter when weight is a factor, if you’re racing for example.
Single-rail saddle and post systems are gaining ground in road cycling for their lightweight and adaptability, but double-check compatibility before purchasing.
6. Additional Details
You’ll find all sorts of other touches on the saddles, from Kevlar-reinforced corners or plastic bumpers to integrated mounts for taillights or saddle bags. These may offer additional features, but always keep comfort as your number one priority.