my better half is coming out with me on longer trips now and is having so much pain in the girls region. was just after advice on whats best she has a mountain bike saddle that was on the bike when it came and she now has padded shorts but still has pain. is a good ladies gel saddle the way forward.
saddle advice for a lady needed please
- Thread starter swifty99
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semislickstick
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Depends were the pain is! More padding in the seat for the backend for buttock pain or the channel cut out down the middle can help in other regions! I ended up buying a second hand saddle from a dawes bike after trying loads(buying secondhand...from ebay and bike forums and just trying them out)
punkypossum
Donut Devil
- Location
- My own little planet...
It might just be a case of getting used to cycling. Personally, I'm very happy with my charge ladle (see review section), but it's not particularly padded.
Blonde
New Member
- Location
- Bury, Lancashire
Having suffered agonies (raw skin and bleeding after rides etc) for about 4 years, depsite a bike fitting service and many, many saddle changes (inluding a Brooks B17 which I never got on with), I eventually got one of these:
http://www.mcmwin.com/
It is like a Brooks in that it is leather, not plastic. It is very unlike a Brooks in thet it isn't hard, doesn't need any "breaking in" and is firm yet flexible. I don't know of any other saddle which flexes like this one (see the video clip). The flexing is the main reason why it is comfortable - it moves with your body. It also has a cut out hole in the middle which Brooks don't have. I ride to/from work every day on the saddle with no pain. I have ridden a 600km audax event on this saddle with no pain (didn't even need to use cream). I have four of them - one on each bike, including my track bike.
Whilst I can heartily reccomend this saddle, I realise that for a beginner this particular saddle may seem like too much of an investment, so I'd suggest, after you've made sure she isn't reaching too far forward or too far downward to the handlebar (it puts the body weight forwards, onto your front and arms, not the sit bones) and that she doesn't have the saddle set too high (will also result in soreness to front of undercarriage) that she tries some type of plastic shell saddle with a hole in the middle which can reduce pressure and chafing on soft tissue. Do go for a firm saddle, and not a soft one, as the body weight simply compresses the soft padding so you end up sitting on the hard plastic shell, with the padding chafing or folding into soft tissue. The saddle should be set level. Don't tilt the saddle down at the nose, however tempting it may be, as, for women, this actually makes things worse, not better. The body weight will just come forward onto the front of the undercarriage and also onto the hands and arms, rather than all resting on the sit bones. If pain is still an issue after all this it may be worth addressing any leg length discrepancies, even by as little as 2mm, as a shorter leg can result in chafing on that side as you rock your hips from side to side over the saddle in order to pedal effectively (same if the saddle is too high).
http://www.mcmwin.com/
It is like a Brooks in that it is leather, not plastic. It is very unlike a Brooks in thet it isn't hard, doesn't need any "breaking in" and is firm yet flexible. I don't know of any other saddle which flexes like this one (see the video clip). The flexing is the main reason why it is comfortable - it moves with your body. It also has a cut out hole in the middle which Brooks don't have. I ride to/from work every day on the saddle with no pain. I have ridden a 600km audax event on this saddle with no pain (didn't even need to use cream). I have four of them - one on each bike, including my track bike.
Whilst I can heartily reccomend this saddle, I realise that for a beginner this particular saddle may seem like too much of an investment, so I'd suggest, after you've made sure she isn't reaching too far forward or too far downward to the handlebar (it puts the body weight forwards, onto your front and arms, not the sit bones) and that she doesn't have the saddle set too high (will also result in soreness to front of undercarriage) that she tries some type of plastic shell saddle with a hole in the middle which can reduce pressure and chafing on soft tissue. Do go for a firm saddle, and not a soft one, as the body weight simply compresses the soft padding so you end up sitting on the hard plastic shell, with the padding chafing or folding into soft tissue. The saddle should be set level. Don't tilt the saddle down at the nose, however tempting it may be, as, for women, this actually makes things worse, not better. The body weight will just come forward onto the front of the undercarriage and also onto the hands and arms, rather than all resting on the sit bones. If pain is still an issue after all this it may be worth addressing any leg length discrepancies, even by as little as 2mm, as a shorter leg can result in chafing on that side as you rock your hips from side to side over the saddle in order to pedal effectively (same if the saddle is too high).
mickle
innit
- Location
- 53.933606, -1.076131
Nice one blonde.
I know I'm gonna get slated for this, and I'm by no means an experienced rider, but when I found my daily commute increasingly uncomfortable, I bought a ladies' saddle with the hole near the front, quite squidgy (gel I think) from H**fords and it's served me beautifully. Cheap and comfy.
semislickstick
Guru
- Location
- Cambridgeshire
Bounce, I think you can get blokie one's with the cut out and gel too. Just go for what ever doesn't cause you pain and two fingers up at anyone who thinks that's wrong! B)
>Having suffered agonies (raw skin and bleeding after rides etc) for about 4 years
Sweet mother of god - that sounds painfull ! Hope you got it sorted Blonde.
I recall, though, during a hard summer of training 'peeling' my heels via tight running shoes.
Though I have had some red hot episodes in the seated area before now !
I have now re-named SUNDOCREM - crack cream
...its a real boon esp. if its hot &!! tight down there !!!!
Sweet mother of god - that sounds painfull ! Hope you got it sorted Blonde.
I recall, though, during a hard summer of training 'peeling' my heels via tight running shoes.
Though I have had some red hot episodes in the seated area before now !
I have now re-named SUNDOCREM - crack cream
...its a real boon esp. if its hot &!! tight down there !!!!
purplepolly
New Member
- Location
- my house
I got one from the EBC (specialized BG) which came in a range of ladies specific with a few different styles for different riding positions and widths - basically shorter and broader behind as the riding position gets more upright. They're a bit gelly but fairly firm with a cutaway. Since then I've not had much trouble (although adjusting the saddle height and position also helps) and I would happily try a harder saddle if it was designed for the riding position.
Apeman
Über Member
- Location
- enniskillen co. fermanagh
Try a terry saddle. my missus has one and causes no probs,
SavageHoutkop
Veteran
- Location
- South Manchester-ish
Just a newbie myself, but I've not had any pain *there* (you specifically said 'girl's region' so I presume it's not her behind, as it were).
I've only ridden two bikes (both Bromptons) and I can't call myself an expert by any stretch of the imagination. The first one I rode had the 'older' generation standard Brompton saddle on it, and that really did give me a sore bum. But no problems in the ladies' section! I only rode that about 20 miles total - but don't forget this was as a complete beginner... I've now ridden my new Brompton with the newer saddle on it about 120 miles in the last two weeks and it's great! It's not a ladies saddle though, just the standard one.
Blonde's reply seems the most comprehensive - I can only say that I think my saddle points slightly upwards and I don't tend to ride with my seat very high (if anything slightly lower than I should).
You didn't mention what type of riding you're doing though, that might affect things?
Also, I suppose, is it general riding pain (so the shape of the saddle just sits wrong) or is it every time there is a bump the saddle thwacks upwards?
I've only ridden two bikes (both Bromptons) and I can't call myself an expert by any stretch of the imagination. The first one I rode had the 'older' generation standard Brompton saddle on it, and that really did give me a sore bum. But no problems in the ladies' section! I only rode that about 20 miles total - but don't forget this was as a complete beginner... I've now ridden my new Brompton with the newer saddle on it about 120 miles in the last two weeks and it's great! It's not a ladies saddle though, just the standard one.
Blonde's reply seems the most comprehensive - I can only say that I think my saddle points slightly upwards and I don't tend to ride with my seat very high (if anything slightly lower than I should).
You didn't mention what type of riding you're doing though, that might affect things?
Also, I suppose, is it general riding pain (so the shape of the saddle just sits wrong) or is it every time there is a bump the saddle thwacks upwards?
HIya
Having suffered the same during my commute, I ended up getting one of these: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_197735_langId_-1_categoryId_165588
It's not too dear and there are a couple of sizes so she can choose if she has a smaller derriere!
Having suffered the same during my commute, I ended up getting one of these: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/..._productId_197735_langId_-1_categoryId_165588
It's not too dear and there are a couple of sizes so she can choose if she has a smaller derriere!
