Saddle cut-outs for women?

[Trek-chick]

I have used a cut-out style saddle before and liked it. I forgot what brand it was though. This morning I ordered one of these.

http://www.terrybicycles.com/product...annie-o-saddle

It was on sale and matches my bike I'll let you know how I like it once it arrives. It is a wider saddle but, that is what I prefer and I have had good luck with the Terry saddles.

[OakLeaf]

Do a search on the forum for saddle fitting and cut-out test. Terry makes several different saddles of different sizes, and the Brooks is a completely different size and shape from anything Terry makes. In particular, Terry saddles tend to be very pear-shaped. If a Brooks fit you well before, you might want to look at some of the wider Specialized saddles - although their firmer saddles only go up to 155 mm, which may be too narrow for you. A Selle Italia Turbomatic Gel Flow might be an option too (I'm seriously coveting that saddle).

Is your doctor a cyclist? I'm skeptical that a cut-out would alleviate pulling, in any case. (I'm sorry that happened to you, it sounds EXTREMELY painful! ) Much in the same way that a donut cushion can actually exacerbate pressure on a bruised tailbone or hemorrhoids by pulling the tissue tight away from the anus - the purpose of a saddle cut-out is to reduce pressure on the central area (external labia and clitoris, for women) by distributing it more towards the sides. Most Terry saddles are also pretty squishy, which could exacerbate both pressure and pulling.

[bcipam]

I and most of my friends ride on Terrys. I accidently came in contact with Terry when on a week long tour, the rails of my very expensive saddle broke. Thankfully there was a bike shop in the next town and I bought the only women's saddle he had, a Terry Butterfly. I fell instantly in love! It didn't need to broken in, it was immediately rideable.

Now that may not be your experience, but my friends and I swear by the Terry Butterfly saddles...

[abejita]

I couldn't ride without the cutout. I use a specialized jett and love it.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/bc/...=9302&eid=5007

[Biciclista]

someone on here had their Brooks cut out by Sella An-Atomica... she loves it.

I always wonder what that would be like..

[softthings]

i just got the selle italia slc gel flow and i think i like it better than my toupe. for me, i feel like i want a cut out more up front though. like with the selle smps or adamo saddles. my body is saying selle smp, but my wallet is saying get real.

[WindingRoad]

I'd say Oak hit the nail on the head with the pear shape at least for the the Butterfly by Terry. I am the definition of pear and that saddle fits me freakin' awesomely! (I think that's a word ) I switched almost all my bikes to that saddle b/c I can't find one better. A word to the wise though, buy the high end one not the middle of the road butterfly because the padding IS different. The one with Ti rails is super flexible and contouring and I bought a cheaper one with chrome alloy rails and it was awful; hard as a brick and no flex at all. The foam was different and the covering was different, in fact the covering on the cheap one started coming apart at the edges . However the textured covering on the Ti one really is nice and it keeps you from sliding on the saddle while you are riding