Can You Recommend a Good Saddle?

I'm riding a Giant compact frame (is that an oxymoron?). The saddle which came stock is obviously tailored to a man's behind, although I did go for a comfy 25 minute ride on it.

Anyway, I think i'll be a lot happier on the saddle if it's made for lady bones. My Dad told me he thinks I should suck it up for a few weeks to see if I get used to it, but the reality is that OUR ischial tuberosities of our illium are simply farther apart.

I was just hoping you could provide me with some saddle suggestions, let me know what you ride, etc.

ThankS!

Wexy,

You should be able to find tons of info. on saddles with the forum search option...it's quite a popular topic.

Thanks!... still trying to find my way around.

Here we go! http://forums.teamestrogen.com/forumdisplay.php?f=36

Enough to keep you reading for *hours*! :D

I'm one of the Brooks Cult members. Two Brooks B67 saddles, and it's the best saddle I've ever used! (I've got wide ischial tuberosities, and these saddles actually FIT!)

And tell your dad that girly bits get sore too easily to suck it up. :(
If it's uncomfortable from the get-go, it won't get any better IMO. When you sit on a saddle, your soft tissue or sit bones should jump for joy (ok- well maybe not jump for joy- but they shouldn't complain right off the bat).
I will say that riding a bike for the first time in a while takes some getting used to on the derrier, but a saddle shouldn't be uncomfortable right away- if it is, it may mean it's not the right one for you.

Anywho- enjoy your search for the perfect saddle (and ask your LBS if you can test ride a few since everybody's bits are different). My LBS has a 30 day return policy on their saddles. Makes it so you can test drive one until you find the right fit. Maybe yours does, too.

:) Thanks for the help! I'll let you know where I end up... I love gear, and I love buying gifts for my bike... but this is going to be one of those tedious things, i think. Can't wait for it to feel perfect so I can focus on the feeling of that pavement :P

... the soft tissues "jumping for joy" would be a good ad campaign... possibly a little dirty, though... :rolleyes:

There was a very nice Brooks B18 (classic embossed women's saddle) poster of a naked chickie with a "peace" tattoo straddling her bike outside #10 Downing Street holding a placard of some sort.

Not dirty at all ;) (the pic was from the back) and quite, umm, true to life. I could ride my B67 nekkid without my girlie-bits suffering. (B18 has the same dimensions with a shorter nose)

anybody got the link?

i just started looking into the brooks saddles, and came across this:

http://www.wallbike.com/jpgs/nude.jpg


:D

That's it!!!!!

Good job!

A good bike shop should let you try several different saddles on your bike before you purchase. Also, make sure you adjust the position (forward/back) and the tilt (up/down) to get it right. If you ride for a bit (just a few minutes on a fit trainer) and when you get off, the blood starts rushing back to your privates then it's not properly positioned. So even a great saddle, adjusted improperly can be uncomfortable or leave you numb.

I know each model is different and each butt is different. but the two saddles I've found most comfortable are the Sella Italia Ladies saddle and the Terry saddle (I tried the pink, breast cancer saddle on for size, but they have other colors).

Terry: http://www.terrybicycles.com/saddles...?item_no=21635
Sella Italia: http://www.selleitalia.com/eng/index.html

Have fun!

hey Wexy, I see that you're from Vancouver and asking about the same thing as me!

how has your search gone? I, too, was looking at Brooks, did you end up getting one?

I rode a 350 miles ride (plus hundreds of training miles) on a saddle with the philosophy that my behind would adjust to it and came to see a nominal amount of pain all the time as normal. That bike was stolen and my new saddle is more narrow. I hadn't ridden for over a year and have no pain whatsoever. Now I'm convinced that all ischial tuberosities are NOT created equal. Even though I have wide hips a narrow saddle works for me. Good luck in the search