buying a bicycle seat

[rainbow wheels]

Hi there everyone,I would like to ask anyone if they know where I could buy a larger softer bicycle seat for my lady who is just starting to ride. We are not really dedicated enthusiasts at this time,and since she has some health issues,we have to start slowly. But I want to treat her to a nice softer seat so if anyone has any ideas i would appreciate it. And also some softer grips too. thanks. Charles

[giant1]

Hi Rainbow Wheels

I got a good gell seat for my wife from a local bike shop. I spent about $60 for a good quality one. The seat was designed specifically for female use.

Cheers

[MountGower]

G'Day

[Mulger bill]

G'Day Rainbow Wheels.

There's plenty of women specific saddles out there, Terry are the best, I've heard? Specialised and BBB also have a ladies range.

Don't just look at thick padding, the actual design of the shell is just as important.

Comfy grips? One answer IMO, for mountain or flatbar bikes. OURY. They're not really cheap at about $25 a pair but many MTB riders swear by them.

Happy trails to you and your lady

Shaun

[europa]

A good saddle supports the rider by supporting the 'sit bones', the bits of the pelvis that you actually sit on. Women tend to have a wider pelvis than a man which is why most men's saddles don't suit most women. She'll have to sit on the new saddle to see how it will feel.

A well padded saddle, particularly one with gel, will feel wonderful when you first sit on it. Unfortunately, that padding and usually the gel too, will compress and in a poorly designed saddle, what felt plush originally will feel painful later on.

So, buy a good quality saddle - ie spend the bucks.
Sit on it and try it before handing over the cash.
Take advice from a mature, female shop assistant, not a teenage male - they do NOT have a clue despite their own opinion of themselves (yes, this will involve a bit of shopping around).

Gel saddles feel wonderful but often disappoint. However, if your trips are short (eg half an hour), they can be a boon to a sore bottom. My girlfriend rides with a gel saddle, recommended by a lady rider, and she thinks it's wonderful. But, we never ride for terribly long.

Richard

[mikesbytes]

Theres a degree of personal choice in saddles and one that works great for your friend may be entirely unsuitable for you. Guessing can be costly.

Burn plenty of Glycogen
training log

[tinstaafl]

In my opinion a pair of well padded riding knicks will give as much benefit as the saddle.
I recently found a shop that stocks different grades of padded knicks. Years of living in the bush left me with the idea that there was only one grade of knicks.
I have now been riding in these slightly more thickly padded knicks and the difference is very clear.

My advice is to buy as good a pair of riding knicks as you can find. Another advantage of knicks is that you can slide slightly on the saddle.

Good luck,

Robert

[AUbicycles]

One of our old advertisers on bicycles.net.au was promoting a unique bicycle seat. Not sure if it is was you are looking for however it is worth a look: Comfortable bicycle seat

[Bnej]

BBB foam grips are pretty nice to grab, especially compared with some of the plastic ones that come with bikes.

[rainbow wheels]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions about a softer seat for my lady. We appreciate all of your comments. I havn't bought it yet,but soon.