I've never really given much thought to this - used boys' saddles for years (when I was doing shorter distances), and was happy enough with the saddle my Surly came with (a friend built it) not to want to change it.

But I'm suddenly in the market for a new one, and don't know where to start. I'm looking for reasonably priced, good quality, and not too rubby. Not Brooks, because I'll be leaving it out in the rain too much. Something pink would be nice.

Hit me with some anecdotal evidence!

go to a bike shop and get your arse sized up and go from there

it's gonna depend on the location of your sit bones. Find them yourself, measure roughly the distance between them, and then buy a saddle with padding/gel/hamsters the same distance apart.

I can't give you any anecdotal evidence as I'm not female, though I think clefty threw out her brooks and bought something else recently, mebbe pm her?

Check out Terry Cycles. I have a pink Donna Butterfly, and it's so comfy. I don't think they do the pink stuff anymore but still had nice black and white saddles last time I looked.

My lady went through a few and I got her Selle Italia Ladies Gel Flow Saddle which seems to suit her

http://www.totalcycling.com/index.ph...urrency&id=GBP

I am with Thisisrob - most of the female cyclist I know personally who do distances and ones that used to come to the shop went for the Selle Italia. It's got a very good reputation and if I wasn't so in love with my B17 I would be looking at them

get one of these ;)

on behalf of platini...

.

anecdotal evidence: I was told that the pro female cyclists don't use female-specific saddles & that the difference is nowt/all marketing.
mind, they're probably used to more pain than us mere mortals.

Lots of girls I know rate the Selle Gel Flow mentioned above though.

Can't I just steal yours?

Borrow, I meant borrow.

hold on, you got the next best thing

Very true. I apologise for any offence caused.

I find it really weird how some women i know who ride really have problems with guys saddles and some dont at all. Anyway my g/f has the one thisisrob posted and I know a couple of others who like it as well. There's a more roady looking version of it too.

also alot of men have trouble with normal mens saddles too.

your ok, none caused :)

Pretty inappropriate.

what?!?! different girls are built differently?!? you're right Rakan that is weird.

I have a ladies specialized which I really like. However, the biggest problem for me is that I seem to have really long thighs for my height so for me it's not so much the saddle as how far back I can get it on the seat post. I liked the Brooks Team Pro (worn in by my boyfriend, stolen by me) but Brooks don't sit back far enough so I was always sitting off the back of the saddle. For me fitting a saddle to my bike is more important than which saddle. Just something to think about..

Eh? It has a comma after it in my post. It doesn't need a full stop. What are you on about?

one more invention making bikes better than boys.

not if you saw the expression of the riders face ;) (no, smeear we don't need to see it again)

Its never been the same since they stopped making them all the same :(

You know what i mean, bits and pressure spots and stuff!

If I was a lady I'd be wearing a flowing skirt and I'd be riding a horse right into the 1700s before swooning over a love note written in my suitor's blood. I'd have my stable boy worry about what 'ladies saddle' was best for my delicate rump.

Just ask dogsballs what he uses..

BikeRadar Women's Saddles buying guide.
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/articl...s-saddles--189

All I remember is that some chicks I know liked a "Terrys" saddle (no, not the chocolate orange).

I notice that the male Charge Spoon saddle is popular amongst woman, but if you're worried that you might find it comfortable or not, I got a spare one if you want to test it out.

I know what you mean! It's like the way some people swear by Brooks, and some never get used to them. What's even weirder is that I used to have no problem at all with boys' saddles, and now I just can't stand them! I was in serious pain after riding the Condor a mere six miles, and won't be trying again until it's got something a bit more comfortable on it. (Mind you, I was also wearing jeans - how do some of you guys do it?)

I will, naturally, also be purchasing an embossed leather side-saddle for such occasions. Do you have a stable boy I can borrow?

I got one of these Charge Ladles for Faith (the top one - it has some pink detailing!).



After a bit of experimenting with the tilt, she loves it. Her sit bones generally don't get on with narrower saddles, but this one isn't ridiculously squat and thigh-rubby or anything (and it was about £16 or something from Wiggle - currently £20).

I notice a simple adjustment in saddle position (not heigh, simply tipping the saddle nose higher or lower) make a massive difference.

My Rolls is the most uncomfortable saddle I've ever had in my life, now after I tipped it up a mere couple of mm, it now very comfortable.

how this stable boy sound?;

another +1 for the selle italia gel flow ladies, i have a red one - tis nice.
I settled on it after trying the following:
charge spoon
brookes b17 ladies
san marco rolls

I find it great for long distance, so comfy. Hops also swore by them when she was curryering (and probably still does now) I have her to thank for my saddle epiphany!