Another Sensitive Woman Issue

wackydeirdre

I've been there...riding while standing. The wrong saddle certainly can be an unbearable experience but don't knock all comfort saddles because of one bad experience. I ended up with a terry butterfly and it feels like a lounge chair in comparison to my Giant saddle. I guess saddles aren't Giant's forte though I do love my Giant bike!

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")

Lisa S.H.

I honestly don't know what brand it was, I was just describing how "giant" it looked.
Everyone has different needs. But I don't think just adding tons of cushioning is going to make a better fitting saddle. Imagine if we did that with running shoes, and tried to run miles in huge soft foam shoes the size of footballs??....

__________________
Lisa

wackydeirdre

Sorry for the misunderstanding. I was in a bike shop the other day and think I know of the saddle you refer to. I wondered myself how this particular saddle could be of any comfort. A simple saddle with a cutout will do just fine.

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")

Lisa S.H.

I agree!
For myself, I am getting a simple leather Brooks saddle (their woman's model) which will slowly conform to my own personal contours.
That huge black marshmallow saddle I had to ride today was a tush/cush HORROR! Ha ha

__________________
Lisa

wackydeirdre

I heard that was a good one. You might want to check out the Terry line of saddles for comparison. You can find them online at terrybicycles

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")

Equus123

just try adjusting the tilt of the saddle first (given that you can do that). Try tilting the nose of the saddle down a smidge and go for a ride. If you feel a little improvement, try a little bit more to see if you can be even more comfortable or if you've found the "sweet spot". And by adjustments I mean like a few millimeters - just a slight angle. When it comes to bike geometry and physiology....a little bit goes a long way.

So before you do anything else just try to tilt your saddle down a bit. If that doesn't help or your stem doesn't have a tilt adjustment then you might have to find a different saddle. Good luck!

__________________
Cyclists are like men. The more T.I.T.S. they have, the better off they are.

wackydeirdre

Sometimes the the nose of the saddle may be too far down which also can be painful. Best is to begin with the saddle completely level and if that isn't comfortable move the nose up or down until you find it very comfortable. As Equus writes, just a couple millimeters either way till your comfy.

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")

ouchies

my god - i thought i was the only one! i have been in so much agony; it feels like cystitis when i use the toilet after riding. OUCHIES!!!!!!

as well as that, my entire genital region hurts from being squahed down in the saddle. double ouchies!!!

i am wondering if there is anyone here with a similar bike, body and riding style to me to be able to recommend a seat that works for them.

i have a redline cyclocross, and have no hips. the current saddle i have is a woman's one, and from reading today i can see that the inner thigh problem i have is because it is too wide. so i know i need a men's seat. i city ride mainly but ride fast (i like fighting traffic) and ride forward a lot.

any advice / recommendations?

thanks so much ladies.

Topsi1208

I has similar pain after I bought my road bike. That saddle was like a rock & it hurt. I bought a cheap $30.00 saddle from Nashbar that had a cut out in the center & it works great! I upped my ride time from 26 to 47 miles the first time out on it. I just did not get sore at all until the last 10 miles & then it wasn't that bad. My new saddle is a Women's specific saddle but it is not as wide in the back as most of the other Women's saddles I looked at. The center cutout made a huge difference.

wackydeirdre

wel, I do have hips. 5 children (BIG BABIES) and twins in the mix will do that to you. I WOULD recommend a saddle with a cut out. Many companies make them and they aren't cheap but the difference is like going from some sort of torture device to a lounge chair - no kidding on that! Feel good!

__________________
"Everyone we meet, everything we see, every hurdle that comes our way happens for a reason.
It's up to us to figure out what it is then what to do about it." - John Soules (Rest in peace dear friend "Until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand")

ouchies

that cut out business does seem like a good idea. i am thinking about the specialized jett saddle. but it is also kinda expensive and am a lowly student, so i don't know about that.

Topsi1208

Try Nashbar.com. They have some affordable saddles. I got the Aireon Women's saddle for $30.00 & it is very comfortable. I didn't want to spend $100.00 on a saddle & then it not work!

ouchies

i'm in the uk and i am NEVER buying another saddle without trying it first. ha!

Equus123

I use a Terry Butterfly CrMo saddle. It has a cutout. I love it to death and it's the most comfortable out of 3 saddles I've used this past year. This one is *the one*.
I had a similar unbelievable burning and painful feeling using men's non-cutout saddle and then a women's cutout....the men's put ALL of the pain and pressure and discomfort in "the middle" while I was seated while the cheap women's saddle with a cutout put ALL of the pain and pressure right on the two sides of the middle area where your ligaments are. Both were excruciating for me after only like 40 minutes on the bike and I have a high pain tolerance.

I decided to stop being cheap and pay some money because shit, in the end, I would rather have my saddle be the most expensive thing on my bike because it is the ONLY piece that either makes or breaks you/your ride/your comfort/your happiness. (of course a properly fit bike is implied)

I bought myself the Terry Butterfly CrMo and it's only $60 (USA). It's a cutout. It's really not that expensive in the grand scheme of things. I mean my teammate has a $300 saddle.

I would recommend a Terry saddle. I have never heard one bad review or let alone anything less than "I have a Terry and I love it!!".

__________________
Cyclists are like men. The more T.I.T.S. they have, the better off they are.