saddles with cut out

[Jen]

How do you guys feel about the cut out?? I am not sure it is so comfortable. Had a Terry that was not comfortable at all and I didn't even ride it far. Need a new saddle but can't afford to buy 3 or 4 to find out. Selle and specialized seem to keep coming up as good. Any feedback on the cut outs??

[Eden]

Saddles and preference are as different as each of our bodies are. I wouldn't ride a saddle without a cut out for any sizeable distance now that I've had one. Others don't find them to be comfy at all.

I've had a Terry that I found to be fine and my new bike came with a specialized Jett (first stock saddle I haven't taken directly off the bike) which I find to be mighty comfy too.

I can understand the cost problems with trying out a few until you've found the right one. I've been lucky and my butt has been good with my choices, but I know others have gone through lots before they've found the one. Maybe we should start a saddle exchange on the board here? Anyone who has a gently used saddle that doesn't find it to be comfortable can offer to trade with another person. Then you're just out the cost of shipping.

[mimitabby]

I've already practically given away 3 saddles here; check from time to time
in for sale/wanted

[Dianyla]

I've used a saddle with a cutout that was shaped horribly - I could feel a hard ridges on each side of my tailbone. And I've also used saddles with cutouts that are wonderfully designed and I never want a saddle without a cutout again. It all depends on how you're built and how the specific saddle is designed.

As for trying multiple saddles, any reputable LBS (local bike shop) should have a return policy on saddles. So find a store like this with a good selection of women's and men's saddles and then buy, try, return, rinse and repeat as many times as necessary.

[spokewench]

I don't like them, cutouts, that is. But, you may have trouble finding saddles without a cutout since the manufacturers do not think that women should have a choice. They believe in their infinite wisdom that cutouts are the only way to go.

This fad happened about 2-3 years ago and I'm sure it will turn around sometime. At least I'm hoping it will, but sometimes I don't have much faith in the male dominated bicycle manufacturers.

spoke

[emily_in_nc]

I can only ride saddles with cutouts, but that said, some are much more comfy than others. The cutout on the Terry Damselfly is very thin and narrow and pinched and rubbed my girly bits raw, while the diamond-shape cutout on my Selle San Marco Atola is completely unnoticeable to me - perfect. Anytime I have tried a saddle without a cutout (Bontrager, WTB, recently, and many more back in the old, pre-cutout days), I've been rubbed raw in the girlybits, so I don't do that anymore.

We're all shaped differently, though, so most of us do go through a few saddles before finding "the one".

Good luck!
Emily

[CyclChyk]

For me, after 3-4 saddle changes, I finally found THE ONE - and its a cut out.
I use the Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow and LOVE IT! Solid seats bother me. So...... my point?? You just gotta experiment.

I have found alot of Bike Shops will let you change out seats after a week or so. Some do it at purchase price, some charge a small re-stocking fee. I would suggest looking into it. You gotta feel it to know. (Does that make sense??)

[Cari]

Some suggestions:

Since saddle comfort is such a personal thing, you should try as many as you can. I also think that you should ride a saddle more than once before you discard it, unless of course it truly harms you on your first ride.

See if you can borrow a friend's for a week or so. Try swapping with others who have saddles they don't like. Your local bike shop might also have some used saddles that you can try. They might also have take-offs you can buy at a discount -- these are saddles that came with a built bike, but which the buyer asked to have swapped out for another saddle. Buy one used. If you love it, you can always get a brand new one. Terry has a 30-day return policy and I'm pretty sure they make non-cutout saddles. WTB makes a sampler kit of their saddles (they're black & bright yellow so they're easily identified) so that shops can lend them out.

Good luck,

Cari