Ladies saddles recommendations?

[kfjatek]

...no, not for me.

Mrs. Kfjatek's new bike came with a standard men's saddle and I'm more than certain that it just won't work. She has a ladies Specialized Riva on her hybrid bike so that's probably where we'll start, but I'm wondering if the female part of the massive has any recommendations etc.?

[Kevy427]

My recommendation for ladies saddles is not getting caught

I think the bike demon of Surrey, CCS, has an Adamo?

[CCS]

I think the bike demon of Surrey, CCS, has an Adamo?

Not one Adamo, but three...

I think they are great - but definitely an acquired taste... I seem to remember investing about a month in settling in when I first got one.
(But think that you can borrow before you buy from Trybike if Mrs K is iterested).

I have always ditched the gents saddle from any bike I have owned.
Had a Specialized something or other WSD for my first season, which was OK, adn think Selle Italia also do some goods women's saddles.

The other top top would be to experiment with saddle position. For some reason (and I shan't even think why at this time in the morning) - most gents seem to set their saddle with the nose pointing slightly upwards - I always ignore conventional wisdom on this one, and point mine slightly down, which seems far more comfortable. You need to experiment a bit, as it can mean you end up with too much weight in your hands though.

[scibby]

Plus one on the adamo but I wouldn't really recommend it for a newbie. It's quite aggressive and I think it's only really comfortable if you sit the THE right position. If you're a fidgeter or you're getting used to a roadie from a hybrid, (and many newbies are) it won't work.

Good shorts are probably more important... I'd just use the saddle from the hybrid to start off with...

[Mi987]

+1 for Selle Italia saddle - recently upgraded to the white Diva Gel flow, very comfy & well made. Currently £19 off at Wiggle http://www.wiggle.co.uk/selle-italia-ladies-diva-gel-flow-saddle/.

Prior to that asked the LBS to exchange the std mens saddle for a Specialized XC Sport for £30 when I initially bought the bike - good saddle overall but when went for a bike fit it was mentioned that the rail wasn't too flexible (additional reason for upgrade, would never change due to colour )

It's worth measuring your sit bones (not sure if this is same for men tbh) - LBS should have a seat you can sit on, otherwise you can put some kitchen foil on carpeted stairs, sit down lean fwd as if you were holding handlebars and measure the deepest dents - most saddles seem to come in a couple of widths, too wide & it'll interfere with your pedalling & too narrow will just be painful and money wasted.

Hope that helps!

[Jack Hughes]

+1 for measuring sit bones. Being uncomfortable on the wrong saddle is not gender specific.

Specialised shops offer the service if you don't have any Alu foil. Or stairs.

[kfjatek]

ALU foil? I thought triathlon was all about carbon?

Thanks for pointers everyone. Let's see how many of these options we'll need to explore.

[Sir Jibbenstein]

ALU foil? I thought triathlon was all about carbon?

I suppose you could sit on carbon copy paper and measure the bluest stain on the carpet...

[kfjatek]

ALU foil? I thought triathlon was all about carbon?

I suppose you could sit on carbon copy paper and measure the bluest stain on the carpet...