What Saddles are the women using?

[bianchi928]

Hi Bella,

My wife and friend both use Jett 155's. No dramas at all.
Given the 143 relates to the width, it's important you measure your sit bones which hopefully your LBS helped with.

Good luck and Cheers

Travis

[s-s-a]

I have an original Terry Liberator on my commuter. I've had it for years.

Road and mtb both have Terry Firefly Ti which appear to no longer be available. They are narrower at the back with kevlar rear corners.

I have tried the Selle Italia and Fizik Vitesse women's specific saddles and they just don't work for me. Either the pressure point areas are in the wrong place for my sit bones and/or the holes are in the wrong place.

When I bought the Firefly saddles there was no Terry importer in Australia (perhaps there still isn't?) so I ordered them online

[bella26]

And so the search continues... after ~spending too much time off the bike due to ischial bursitis caused by ill-fitting saddles I've sent the Selle Italia SLK back to where it came from. Walked into the LBS today and paid the best part of $200 towards a Specialized Jett 143. Fingers crossed this might be the one for me. I will update after a few rides and let you all know how it goes - in themeantime fingers and toes crossed!

Well I have finally been able to put the specialized jet to some good use and am happy to report it is working well for me There has been a noticeable difference in comfort levels as compared to the fi'zik and selle italia saddles I'd tried out before. Thankfully this means I can get onto the bike daily and not have to worry about being in pain constantly afterwards!

[Jonquil]

Just reviving this thread again because I'm in the market for a new saddle and can't believe how hard it is to choose one. I'm currently riding my DH's old Selle Italia prolink which is quite firm. Sit bone is fine but I have soft tissue issues after about 55kms.

I'm most confused about size! On the Bontrager measuring system I'm exactly between a green (150) and blue (155) and was recommended to go up to blue (155). On the Specialised system (at a different store) I was apparently 143 (but suspect it was over and he rounded down). Today I sat on the Bontrager measuring seat again and measured the mid point of my sit bones with a ruler at 143 (obviously still exactly between a green (150) and blue (155) on their colour coded system). What size do I get???

I've been considering the Bontrager Inform RL, the Specialised Jett and the Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow. So far I am favouring the SLR (which only comes in a 155) because I haven't been able to find the Bontrager in store to actually look at it and people appear to either love or hate the Jett and I'm afraid I'll end up in the latter. The Selle Italia Diva and Lady Gel Flow, which are both 160, are also quite popular and the SLR appears to be a narrower, firmer version and I like my firm saddle now (save for the soft tissue issue).

I think I've made my decision and just need to bite the bullet but its so hard when what suits one is the worst form of torture for another and you can't test any out (not in ADL anyway!). Not helped by the fact that the LBS have very limited ranges of women's saddles in store!

How did you decide what saddle to buy? CoffsGal is your SLR still working for you? Anyone else have any good or bad experiences with the SLR?

[Missy24]

My shop has a system where you can try before you buy, with the Selle Italia brand, google them and see if there is one in your area... where abouts are you?

[Jonquil]

I'm in Adelaide. If your local is BSC we don't have them here . I'm jealous, I've read about lbs which loan out saddles to try or give you an exchange period but here its hard to find a store that even carries a decent range of women's saddles.

[Missy24]

Just a thought PM Bella26, she's in NSW, but I know that she has been trying saddles herself, she may let you borrow one and try it (post it)

I sent mine ( a spare I had on the Cannondale ) to a friend for him to try and he sent it back cause it wasn't for him, eventually I sold it, but that's not a bad idea, see if Bella26 can help you out, I just dble checked Selle Italia and there's none in your area.

This can be an expensive trial

[bella26]

Yep Missy is right I did just recently go through the painful fun of finding the right saddle. It took three saddles to find the right one for me which just happens to be the Specialized Jett 143cm. I got measured for it by the Specialized dealer and thankfully so far so good. I currently have my Fizik vitesse saddle up for sale if you were keen to give it a go let me know.

You did mention that the problem with some of the other saddles was more soft tissue than sit bone pain. The Vitesse doesn't have a cut out though and it absolutely hammered my soft tissue areas - very very painful to shower after a few rides. I got by with it for a while by tilting the nose down but ultimately it also didn't suit my sitbones so it found its way off my bike.

I trialed a Selle Italia SLK which I actually bought from PBK. Unfortuantley the saddle wasn't the right one for me but there was a manufacturers 30day money back guarrantee so apart from the postage I got all my money back. Maybe this could be an option for you as well.

Sadly there is only one way to figure out what saddle is going to suit you and that is trial and error and hopefully not too much pain in between!!

[Jonquil]

Thanks for the reply Bella. I read about your experiences during the copious hours of saddle research I've been doing and crossed the Fizik off my list and took a closer look at the Jett based on your experience! So thanks! I don't mind the Jett (its a very close call between it and the SLR for me) and if the SLR doesn't work out it will be the next one I try (I did want to look at a Ruby too but am yet to find one in Adelaide).

I would have liked to buy from an LBS but the SLR that I've found here is $295 - I can get it online from c r c for $130! Such massive difference that I just can't justify buying locally on this occasion. PBK don't have any in stock but presumably c r c offer the same manufacturers 30day money back guarrantee on Selle. Fingers crossed I don't need to worry about it though!

[CoffsGal]

I've been considering the Bontrager Inform RL...and the Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow.

CoffsGal is your SLR still working for you?

My new bike came with a Bontrager Inform RL and it seemed quite ok, but I only used it for a few rides because I had already purchased another Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow and I knew that worked for me. So I haven't really tried the Bontrager enough to give an opinion other that I had no complaints in the short time it was in use.

The Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow is more racey than the Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow and suits my type of riding better.

The more I read of peoples' experiences with saddles, the more it becomes evident that what works for one person may not work for another.

Good luck...

[Tortoise]

Thanks for the reply Bella. I read about your experiences during the copious hours of saddle research I've been doing and crossed the Fizik off my list and took a closer look at the Jett based on your experience! So thanks! I don't mind the Jett (its a very close call between it and the SLR for me) and if the SLR doesn't work out it will be the next one I try (I did want to look at a Ruby too but am yet to find one in Adelaide).

I would have liked to buy from an LBS but the SLR that I've found here is $295 - I can get it online from c r c for $130! Such massive difference that I just can't justify buying locally on this occasion. PBK don't have any in stock but presumably c r c offer the same manufacturers 30day money back guarrantee on Selle. Fingers crossed I don't need to worry about it though!

Which saddle are you after - picture wise - as I have a Selle Italia Lady saddle, wide fitting, that I am looking to sell and if same model could save you time and postage costs from c r c if interested. Used but in good condition. Let me know what the saddle is and I will check.

[Jonquil]

Tortoise, CoffsGal has posted a picture of a white SLR on the first page of this thread. It is narrower than the Diva, the Lady Gel Flow and the Genuine Gel (there are so many with similar names it gets very confusing!).

Thanks for your reply CoffsGal. I have chosen the SLR because it is a more racey saddle. Save for soft tissue issues, I am happy with my men's Prolink now which is a firm racey saddle. Totally agree that the more you read, the more it becomes evident that what works for one person may not work for another!

[jacks1071]

Tortoise, CoffsGal has posted a picture of a white SLR on the first page of this thread. It is narrower than the Diva, the Lady Gel Flow and the Genuine Gel (there are so many with similar names it gets very confusing!).

Thanks for your reply CoffsGal. I have chosen the SLR because it is a more racey saddle. Save for soft tissue issues, I am happy with my men's Prolink now which is a firm racey saddle. Totally agree that the more you read, the more it becomes evident that what works for one person may not work for another!

I'm chasing some female feedback for a new Saddle that came into stock this week:

http://www.pro-liteoz.com/store/index.p ... oductId=62

First 5x ladies on here to PM me can have one each for half-price + postage on the basis that they provide some feedback? Send me your name, postal address and day-time phone number in the PM.

[Apple]

old FiZik Vitesse (with gel - the best ever, according to her
!!

Me too, I keep putting my old seats on my new bikes. Just love the FiZik Vitesse.

[s-s-a]

See it is so personal... my DH bought me a Fizik Vitesse because several ppl had raved about them but it was agonising and luckily the LBS gave him money back. Also I tried the Selle Italia women's saddle with cutout some years ago (on a friend's bike) and didn't like it.

I only ride Terry Liberator saddles. My commuter has an old "original" which is chunky but COMFY. My race bikes have a Ti-rail race version with kevlar corners. I bought them from www.terrybicycles.com because it's been many years since there was an Aus distributor . I nearly cried when I badly scuffed the kevlar on my mtb on its very first outing... Murphy's Law!

Steph

[cobbler]

Anyone got a roadbike white saddle for sale? wsd? I've a specialised jett that is comfy but wears badly so I don't recommend them, need a new racy white one for a roady. Looking at Bontrager wsd rsl? Will also have a black selle italia lady gel flow for saLE IF ANYONE IS INTEREsted.

[bella26]

old FiZik Vitesse (with gel - the best ever, according to her
!!

Me too, I keep putting my old seats on my new bikes. Just love the FiZik Vitesse.

Wish I could say the same - my FiZik Vitesse was the devil in disguise! The agony I put up with on that saddle! Specialized Jett all the way for me!

[Jonquil]

Just thought I'd report back on my saddle buying experience. I ended up buying a Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow and am happy to report so far so good. I still get a bit of a bruised sit bone after a longer ride but it is getting less and less after each ride - I think this is just part of wearing the seat in as I used to get it on my old saddle initially too but it went away.

I think it helped to work out what I did and didn't like about my existing saddle and base my purchase around that. I knew I liked the firmness of my old saddle and that helped me make the right decision.

[bella26]

Just thought I'd report back on my saddle buying experience. I ended up buying a Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow and am happy to report so far so good. I still get a bit of a bruised sit bone after a longer ride but it is getting less and less after each ride - I think this is just part of wearing the seat in as I used to get it on my old saddle initially too but it went away.

I think it helped to work out what I did and didn't like about my existing saddle and base my purchase around that. I knew I liked the firmness of my old saddle and that helped me make the right decision.

Glad to hear your search for a perfect saddle seems to be over. It makes such a difference to the enjoyment of riding. My specialized Jett is suiting me really well and I don't have any soreness whatsoever in the sit bone region - don't even have to use chamois cream anymore

[cobbler]

Bought a Bontrager wsd rl. It's shorter than the Jett and so far, immediate impressions.. it's not comfy and I mine creaks! Is it good to have a saddle that clicks like a beetle when you sit on it!? Trek has a 30 day guarantee if you don't like it...so far, I don't!

[Drunkmonkey]

Bought a Bontrager wsd rl. It's shorter than the Jett and so far, immediate impressions.. it's not comfy. Trek has a 30 day guarantee if you don't like it...so far, I don't!

Try to get a hold of an SMP test saddle

Not cheap, but if you can get the right model for you - you wont regret it I ride with the evolution version. Test saddles are available at SMp retailers in the forma, stratos and lite models. I suggest you try the stratos first.



http://www.sellesmp.com/en/default.htm

[Apple]

Bought a Bontrager wsd rl. It's shorter than the Jett and so far, immediate impressions.. it's not comfy. Trek has a 30 day guarantee if you don't like it...so far, I don't!

Try to get a hold of an SMP test saddle

Not cheap, but if you can get the right model for you - you wont regret it I ride with the evolution version. Test saddles are available at SMp retailers in the forma, stratos and lite models. I suggest you try the stratos first.



http://www.sellesmp.com/en/default.htm

I was thinking of that one, Have you tried the carbon seat made by smp

[Drunkmonkey]

Bought a Bontrager wsd rl. It's shorter than the Jett and so far, immediate impressions.. it's not comfy. Trek has a 30 day guarantee if you don't like it...so far, I don't!

Try to get a hold of an SMP test saddle

Not cheap, but if you can get the right model for you - you wont regret it I ride with the evolution version. Test saddles are available at SMp retailers in the forma, stratos and lite models. I suggest you try the stratos first.



http://www.sellesmp.com/en/default.htm

I was thinking of that one, Have you tried the carbon seat made by smp

No I havent tried the carbon saddle - If you want a saddle without padding the forma or composit are suitable for you

FYI a carbon SMP saddle is around $900 RRP

[Baggy]

Does anyone know what the EMC2 women's specific saddle is like? I have recently bought an EMC2 Fem2.6 bike and the saddle it came with is a Bontrager women's specific.... which is the most uncomfortable saddle I have had the pleasure of peddling on!! Ouch. I didn't go for a test ride (cause I live 2000km from the shop! - long story...) but I'm thinking of asking them for the original seat. Anyone used one? No bikeshop in my hometown has EMC2 bikes

[moosterbounce]

Try to get a hold of an SMP test saddle

Not cheap, but if you can get the right model for you - you wont regret it I ride with the evolution version. Test saddles are available at SMp retailers in the forma, stratos and lite models. I suggest you try the stratos first.



http://www.sellesmp.com/en/default.htm

I was thinking of that one, Have you tried the carbon seat made by smp

No I havent tried the carbon saddle - If you want a saddle without padding the forma or composit are suitable for you

FYI a carbon SMP saddle is around $900 RRP

I ride with an SMP too and I think it is the Evolution (can't be bothered getting up to have a look sorry ). Anyway, very comfy but takes some getting used to. Not because it is hard, but because you expect it to feel like a normal saddle. My LBS let me try it before I bought it.

One of the guys in the shop only rides the carbon smp's. He has them on all his bikes and loves them. Surprisingly, they aren't uncomfortable as the padding in your knicks should take care of it. With soft saddles, you can "sink" into it and it becomes uncomfortable. It's such a personal thing though.