Looking for a saddle: should I care if it says men's or women's?
03-06-21, 01:59 PM
#1
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Looking for a saddle: should I care if it says men's or women's?
Measured my sit bones at 130mm. Added 20mm (seems that's the standard recommendation) and now I'm looking at saddles. If there's a 150mm saddle, but it's listed as a women's(I'm a guy), does that matter?
03-06-21, 02:17 PM
#2
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It only matters if your comfortable on it.
New York City has 31 different genders, why be limited to only 2?
https://bernardgoldberg.com/31-gende...ork-city-2016/
New York City has 31 different genders, why be limited to only 2?
https://bernardgoldberg.com/31-gende...ork-city-2016/
03-06-21, 02:19 PM
#3
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It only matters if your comfortable on it.
New York City has 31 different genders, why be limited to only 2?
https://bernardgoldberg.com/31-gende...ork-city-2016/
New York City has 31 different genders, why be limited to only 2?
https://bernardgoldberg.com/31-gende...ork-city-2016/
03-06-21, 02:23 PM
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Would that make a difference even if it's comfortable?
If it says for women, then it's likely that they based all the design and measurements of it on the typical female body and bone structure.
No shame if it's comfortable. What will be a shame is if you use a men's saddle that is uncomfortable for you knowing that this saddle was comfortable.
If it says for women, then it's likely that they based all the design and measurements of it on the typical female body and bone structure.
No shame if it's comfortable. What will be a shame is if you use a men's saddle that is uncomfortable for you knowing that this saddle was comfortable.
03-06-21, 02:28 PM
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If it fits your butt the way you want, I'd say go for it.
03-06-21, 02:39 PM
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The only thing I can think of is a saddle for a "genetic" male would be designed to take pressure off of different areas.
03-06-21, 04:30 PM
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None of that matters.
Find a bike shop that lets you return saddles until you find the one you like. You will get all kinds of science and sit bones measurements, but in my experience none of that worked for me. Finally found a shape I liked and went with that same shape from there on.
Find a bike shop that lets you return saddles until you find the one you like. You will get all kinds of science and sit bones measurements, but in my experience none of that worked for me. Finally found a shape I liked and went with that same shape from there on.
03-06-21, 04:48 PM
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The right saddle is the one that your butt likes the best.
I read a ton of reviews trying to find the right saddle. I located one of the few shops around (during Covid) that carried the one that sounded like it would be great. The shop owner put me on a stationary bike and in a blind test switched through about 10 saddles. The one I thought I would like came in dead last. The winner was a little untraditional and I would have never have gone that direction unblinded. Six months later, my butt remains very comfy. Trust your butt, it knows.
I read a ton of reviews trying to find the right saddle. I located one of the few shops around (during Covid) that carried the one that sounded like it would be great. The shop owner put me on a stationary bike and in a blind test switched through about 10 saddles. The one I thought I would like came in dead last. The winner was a little untraditional and I would have never have gone that direction unblinded. Six months later, my butt remains very comfy. Trust your butt, it knows.
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03-06-21, 04:53 PM
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I've got two bikes that are women's bikes, so obviously, they've got women's saddles on them. I love both them. They don't look like women's bikes. Unless I tell somebody, they would never know.
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03-06-21, 05:02 PM
#11
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Saddles are extremely personal. However there are a couple of things you should know, it should not be wide enough in the front to rub on the inside of your thighs. The actual width isn't as important as the correct arc of the saddle. I find that a cutout makes a HUGE difference it you ride a lot. My back used to kill me on long rides but when I got the cutout I could not believe that it relieved all of the pressure on my BACK!
03-06-21, 06:29 PM
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We won't tell Victoria about it, it can be our little Bahnzo Secrete.
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03-06-21, 07:42 PM
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Saddles are extremely personal. However there are a couple of things you should know, it should not be wide enough in the front to rub on the inside of your thighs. The actual width isn't as important as the correct arc of the saddle. I find that a cutout makes a HUGE difference it you ride a lot. My back used to kill me on long rides but when I got the cutout I could not believe that it relieved all of the pressure on my BACK!
I won't worry about men's/women's I suppose. I was only worried about there being some actual difference in the construction, but it seems calling it a men/women's saddle is nothing but marketing.
03-06-21, 09:04 PM
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The nose is typically shorter on a women's saddle. There's also a wider overall profile to accommodate wider sit bones. So yes, there is a difference in the overall shape and yes, if you hold a women's and men's version of the same saddle side-by-side the differences will be clearly visible.
Does that matter? Probably. People spend real time and money researching that sort of thing.
Does that matter? Probably. People spend real time and money researching that sort of thing.
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A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
A race bike in any era is a highly personal choice that at its "best" balances the requirements of fit, weight, handling, durability and cost tempered by the willingness to toss it and oneself down the pavement at considerable speed. ~Bandera
03-06-21, 10:44 PM
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If the saddle is comfortable not overly padded or poorly shaped for you sit bones and other features of your rear end it doesn't matter what gender they have assigned to it. Find the right saddle for your rear and don't worry about gender. People get too bent out of shape because of it.
03-06-21, 11:17 PM
#16
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From what I have seen, the only major difference between men's and women's saddles, is that women's trend toward smaller sizes.
03-07-21, 12:11 AM
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03-07-21, 12:18 AM
#18
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The nose is typically shorter on a women's saddle. There's also a wider overall profile to accommodate wider sit bones. So yes, there is a difference in the overall shape and yes, if you hold a women's and men's version of the same saddle side-by-side the differences will be clearly visible.
Does that matter? Probably. People spend real time and money researching that sort of thing.
Does that matter? Probably. People spend real time and money researching that sort of thing.
03-07-21, 06:09 AM
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chick's saddle on a pink bike
03-07-21, 09:03 AM
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I'm looking to try a cutout saddle, as I've never owned one. Unfortunately I don't really have a good bike shop nearby, so I'm having to order online. My back isn't the problem for me, just my butt hurting after awhile. Measuring myself and then the saddle I have on this bike, it's definitely too wide at ~170mm so I'm hoping a 150mm will solve things and provide a little more comfort.
I won't worry about men's/women's I suppose. I was only worried about there being some actual difference in the construction, but it seems calling it a men/women's saddle is nothing but marketing.
I won't worry about men's/women's I suppose. I was only worried about there being some actual difference in the construction, but it seems calling it a men/women's saddle is nothing but marketing.
03-07-21, 05:44 PM
#22
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I bought what appeared to be a "New Old Stock" (i.e. no noticeable wear) saddle, at a thrift shop. The $5 price was right and it had an "anatomic" cut out, its NOS status was a bonus! While there was no specific indication that it was a "women's" saddle, when I looked up the specs for the brand and model, it was listed as a women's saddle. I was most interested in the the anatomic cutout and wasn't at all concerned that it was a women's saddle. I mounted it up on my Miyata Seven Ten. I'll admit that it felt different the first time I rode with it but will say that it wasn't terribly uncomfortable. It was over half way through the season so I'm sure that an "uncalloused" part of my bottom was in contact with the saddle. I'm pretty sure that situation would occur with any new saddle. As mentioned by others, personal comfort is the key.
03-07-21, 06:01 PM
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More saddles are becoming gender neutral, but I personally would not care. The new Bontrager Verse saddle for instance, is gender neutral, be that 2 genders or, 31 if you are in NYC 
. I was in search of a new saddle and ended up going with the Verse and find it really works for me.
. I was in search of a new saddle and ended up going with the Verse and find it really works for me.
03-07-21, 06:07 PM
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The day kotex comes out with a gender neutral bicycle seat will be a day to Always remember.
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