Pizzaiolo Americano 

My wife and I are both new to road cycling and took our first actual ride today. It was awesome except for my wife getting a little sore on her inner thigh. She was wearing padded bike shorts but the seat is still bothering her there. The shop set her up with a pretty well padded seat but it is also a bit thicker at the front. My wife is tall and slender. Any suggestions on saddles or is this something she will get used to?

Stick69

The combination of padded nose of the saddle and padded shorts may be too much padding in the wrong place.

Specialized makes a variety of saddles in 2 or three different widths. Our local shop didn't have loaners but there was a 30 day return period as long as the saddle was in good condition. We tried 6 or 7 saddles over two months until we found style and width that worked well for us.

Saddles are very individual kind of like hiking boots.

Edit: The only irritation/pain you should have to get used to is the pressure on your sit bones. Anything else is an indicator of a problem.

DrIsotope

Went through a similar ordeal with my wife-- there have been at least half a dozen saddles bolted ot her bike over the past two years. I finally just gave up and bought her a Selle Anatomica NSX and called it a day. They're expensive and the looks are not for everyone, but I've yet to find a person that finds them uncomfortable. I've got better than 15,000 miles between the Selles on my bikes.

Frank72

My wife has the Selle Italia Diva Gel Flow saddle and likes it: https://www.probikekit.com/bicycle-s.../10774729.html

cycledogg

Saddles are the most personal part of a bike. And being new to cycling, your wife will most likely go through several saddles before finding one that works for her. Try Terry saddles, I have had good luck recommending these for women over the years.

World's Most Comfortable Bike Saddles & Seats | Terry

Jadesfire 

It's going to take some time actually riding to determine what the issue(s) could be. Fit, clothing, and in general just getting used to a new form of exercise, all play a part in comfort while riding. But, should a new saddle be necessary, as a woman I second the Sella Italia Diva (should cost around $110-$120 depending on where you shop).

texascyclist

The Diva worked for my wife as well

wipekitty

I'm a girl kitty, and looking at that saddle I'm already in pain! That much padding would destroy me.

For ladies, something with a bit less stuff in the middle can be helpful (think about it). There are saddles with cutouts (like the Terry and Diva Flow mentioned above), and others that lack cutouts but accomplish the same thing (like the older Fizik models - I'm a fan of the now discontinued Donna, and have one on two of my bikes.)

One other thing to keep in mind is that women's sit bones come in various widths, and it's helpful to have an idea of how wide one's sit bones are in order to fit a saddle. Some companies make women's saddles for different sit bone widths. It sounds like your wife might do well with one designed for narrower ladies, which is also likely to rub less on the thighs.

As others have mentioned, saddles are personal, and it might take a few tries. I encourage you not to go cheap, because the right saddle can make all the difference between a good ride and a painfest.

dim

Brooks England Women's Cambium C17 S Saddle

Wiggle | Brooks England Women's Cambium C17 S Saddle | Performance Saddles

Doge

General statement that I think applies to men and women.
With the right seat - less padding is better.

The right seat will be different. It varies for men and women. How you tilt also varies.

Here is a cheap trick. To start sit on a concrete floor, legs in front. For most, the sit bones will hit the floor and you can feel where the contact is. You can the sit on a wet wash cloth, then the floor and sometimes (this kinda works) get an imprint you can measure.

The seat should be supporting about there - a little narrower. I think the middle cut-outs are the way to go.

But you have to try seats. Dump the padding in both the seat and shorts for testing. Once the fit is right, nothing wrong with a slightly thicker pad, but not thinking there is much good either.

Edit Add: Fit changes over time. Due to power, having kids, age. Those Brooks folks (like me) may tell you they have used the same saddle for 40 years, but the saddle adapts. I jumped on my 30 year old Brooks and it fits different than my current one. I'm a guy. My wife, changed with kids. My female tandem partner - no kids changed less. All obvious stuff, but I saw it in selection. I have a bucket of used saddles. Just how it goes.

zacster

That Diva Gel Flow looks to be a version of my C2 Gel Flow that I have but haven't used. Maybe I should give it a try.

Froomewannabe

Can this system pick the best saddle for you? | Cycling Weekly


Not sure what shops might have this available but may be something of interest.

Doge

The Shimano Stealth is a great saddle (bike is hanging - sorry for the angle). They do not have a Men's and Women's version - just different width. I bought the wider for me as my butt is so large, but it was too wide as my bone are not - back to the Brooks leather for me.

My wife tried it and loves it. Wife has 30+ years of riding, but was recently complaining more about a saddle she was happy with the last 20 years.

20180210_142845.jpg

fietsbob

Fizik https://www.fizik.com/us_en/women.html

Machka 

I ride a men's Brooks B17 ... have them on all my bicycles.

garysol1 

As others have said there is no perfect saddle that works for everyone. With that said......... I have fit many many women to their bikes and I have found the Terry Butterfly to be a very popular go to saddle for many of our female riders.

edle65

Nice Colnago there, do both of you have Colnagos?

Dean V

Just need another 45 degrees on that photo for TrekMogul.

Doge

The last thing you want on that is correct orientation. The bike is hanging.

Pizzaiolo Americano 

She has the Colgago. I bought a Cannondale Synapse Carbon. We got them both used, with the help from the folks on this forum.

Pizzaiolo Americano 

Thanks everyone. Some great information on here. It seems like the stand outs to try are the Brooks, Selle and Specialized seats. I think I will go look on eBay and see if there are any of them out there used. It would seem with all the folks on a quest for the right saddle, there would be some used available. If not, I'll probably try the Selle first. I live close to the factory so maybe a trip there is in order? I bet they could get my wife on the right seat...Looking at the map, it is about an hour away.

topflightpro

Yarbrough, go to your local bike shop and see what loaner saddles they might have.

Fizik usually has a loaner system for shops. Also, many shops offer 30-day money back guarantees, so you can try a saddle and return it if she doesn't like it. Performance Bike and REI have good return policies.

Pizzaiolo Americano 

Thanks. Not sure if I mentioned but, I live in Italy. I will check out the local shops and see if they do anything like this here.

shelbyfv

The Terry Butterfly is popular with the women in my group.

Carbonfiberboy 

My wife also likes her Selle Diva. Best saddle she's ever used and she's been through a number of them. I have their MAN saddle and love it.