Women: What's your favorite saddle?

Oh, and, just get a Brooks.

Different brands have different profiles (team estrogen is helpful / graphic on this: http://www.lfgss.com/post3733156-505.html)

I don't really think it is worth trying to recommend a saddle because it is so individual,but it is worth working out what sort of profile you get on with - I'm much happier with t-shaped specialized than pear shaped selle italia, for example.

^ this. I find a Regal much more supportive as it's rounded near the end than a Specialized Avatar which is very flat.

I however can't stand padded saddles as they press into the Unmentionables. My mum swears by them. Funny how we're all different :)

As far as I can tell from Lucy's post, she wasn't asking for a recommendation, she was asking for bike shops that have test saddles. Yes, we're all different, this is not news. That's why bike shops have test saddles.

Here's a (non-exhaustive) list of bike shops that have test saddles:

• Condor
  
• Putney Cycles
  
• Velosport
  
• Sigma
  
• Bon Velo
  
  

Can anyone think of any others to add?

Also, JB, y u read the ladies saddle thread??

wow, thank you all v much ladies (and JB)! i'll try condor first and then work through the list. also thanks hats for reiterating - i'm not asking for an individual saddle recommendation as i'm aware everyone's needs are different, i just wanted to ask knowledgeable collective about shops which have women-specific saddles to test ride. a few shops (including specialized, annoyingly) don't have any and are in the "buy it and as long as you don't scratch the bars you can return it" camp which is a bit of a faff.

thanks again!

Sorry Lucy - post-reading fail. The point about working out what characteristics of a saddle work / don't work for you still stands though as a means of focussing your testing a bit. Brixton Cycles have a very good range of women-specific saddles and let you return a saddle if it doesn't work for you - though I don't think that is a test ride as such.

This is a bit vague, possibly not useful at all and completely unrelated to your question about bike shops offering saddle testing but there's a woman called Chris Garrison who works for Specialized and specialises in women's bike fit. She's https://twitter.com/PunkassCG on Twitter.

Definitely a Brooks CAMBIUM C17 S , my boyfriend purchased one for me last week.

Straight away I noticed how flexible the saddle is. Not in a bad way though.
I’ve always heard of Brooks taking a long time to break in. I guess because most Brooks saddles are leather. Leather softens up the more you use it. The Cambium though, its in an entirely different category. It feels broken in RIGHT away.
Organic cotton canvas, vulcanized natural rubber. My female anatomy is certainly better off now. A little on the pricey side but worth every penny. To top all that off, this saddle is still covered by the Brooks standard 2 year warranty. Anything goes wrong with it for the most part, 2 years from purchase, you can get it replaced. Suitable for vegans :)

"buy it and as long as you don't scratch the bars you can return it" camp which is a bit of a faff.

I never understood this. How are you supposed to know whether or not you want to return it until you've test ridden it and (most likely) scratched the rails. Grr. I get where they're coming from but it's not like they even make a difference to function!

I never understood this. How are you supposed to know whether or not you want to return it until you've test ridden it and (most likely) scratched the rails.

i hear a salesperson say it and i'm like

i'd bloody love a cambium, heard nothing but rave reviews. maybe i'll do some more work on narrowing down what shape would work best for me and if a cambium falls within that bracket i'll just get one and see.

I never understood this. How are you supposed to know whether or not you want to return it until you've test ridden it and (most likely) scratched the rails. Grr. I get where they're coming from but it's not like they even make a difference to function!

Wrap the rails using electrical tape?

Well yes I have done this. But then you have to clean the gooey tape marks.

That said, I am an expert complainer / returner so actually it's never been an issue for me. I have managed to secure a replacement *for an item I lost *before. Claimed the fixing wasn't fit for purpose :D

More timid people though, I imagine they might accept a no and let it go.

makes a note to take Seraphinx along when I buy item, so if I have to return it she can speak for me :-)

As far as I can tell from Lucy's post, she wasn't asking for a recommendation, she was asking for bike shops that have test saddles.

To be fair, Ada, the first to reply did do this.

Hello lovely ladies (and gentlemen)
I'm new to fixie biking and I have been having trouble in the downstairs area on long rides, with my saddle. I have a gel covering on my seat but that has hardly helped. I really don't want to have to wear specialised shorts, I cycle in jeans mainly.

BUT thanks to this thread, I have an idea of what I need to do, just wanna say a lurker's thank you!

Hi SabsM. Glad we could help :-).

An interesting article from a Cervélo engineer on how saddles + contact points work: http://www.cervelo.com/en/engineering/ask-the-engineers/the-four-and-a-half-rules-of-road-saddles-.html

The 30% of female pro riders figure he quotes made me do a wince but if I'm properly honest I'll admit the same thought has crossed my mind in the past.

I just bought a Selle SMP TRK. The male's version is 160 mm wide, the female version is 170. I went with the male one.

Went for a 24 mile test ride. No issues at all with perineum/sitbones/bits of pleasure(tm)

So if you find a real road orientated saddle too hard and want a bit more padding this may be a good one to try. CRC has them for £35.

The bike I used it on is a touring bike with a moderate road position. It's made for more upright but I found it worked for me anyway.

There's a little chafing on the inner thighs, so if you are very susceptible to chafing there it may not work for you. Selle SMP also does a Hybrid saddle which is 140 wide after that it's up to very £££ road saddles.

But I've no soreness at all, so happy enough.

@ JWestland - Glad you like the TRK. I have that one plus one of the £££ road saddles and love both of them.

I am abandoning selle Italia women's saddles. This Diva Gel flow thing is an instrument of torture and misery. Given that my commute is a mere 5 miles and an hour later I can still feel it in the nether regions, it has to go. And before the DunRun. I did 60 miles on it the other week and had to use chamois cream to wear knickers the next day. No amount of tilting has made any difference.
Anyone got a charge spoon knocking around I can borrow or buy?!

I'm going to have a hunt around and see if there are other makes with a similar shape to the spoon. That has been my most comfortable saddle to date, but still not perfect.

So disheartening. I have a lovely bike that I wasn't too get out and ride, but every ride is torture

I'm just going to buy a spoon seeing as they're fairly cheap.
Anyone want the [strike] pain cave [/strike] gel flow?

Which one is it?

I'll double check in the morning but I'm 99% site it's the Diva gel flow. In black

I probably don't need it. I think I have a Ladle somewhere you can have if that's any use, though.