Another Sensitive Woman Issue

Velochick

Re:saddles with cut-outs.

I rode saddles with cut-outs for years, and tried several different kinds (Butterfly, Selle Italia Ladies TransAm, Selle San Marco Glamour Aspide). I found that while the cut-out relieved direct pressure on my bits, the pressure that was concentrated around my "area" was almost as bad, and I still experienced numbness and soreness. Now I'm riding a women's saddle without a cut-out and I love it. The key for me was to find a saddle that is the correct width for my skeletal structure, and to make sure I'm setting it up properly (correct seat height, fore-and-aft position, and level). I went as far as to start using a level to make sure my saddle wasn't nose up - turns out that my eye would sometimes decieve me and I'd inadvertantly end up riding with the nose up.

Every woman is different, so try as many different saddles as you can. Good manufacturers/shops have a 30 - 90 day exchange/money back policy, so take advantage of it until you find the one that works for you. Proper set-up cannot be stressed enough though - you could be riding the perfect saddle and it'll be uncomfortable if it's not adjusted properly.

Hang in there - it's worth the trouble!