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You are here: Home / Bicycle Fit / Why women have saddle problems on the bike

Why women have saddle problems on the bike

11 Comments

Most road bike saddles are designed for men.

So how are female triathletes and cyclists supposed to comfortably ride a bicycle with a saddle that was designed for a man’s anatomy? The answer is of course that many women will have a very tough time getting comfortable on a narrow mens bicycle saddle.

Not so obvious differences in anatomy

Besides the obvious differences between men’s and women’s anatomy there are some other not so obvious differences. The one that has the largest impact on bicycle saddle comfort is pelvic width. Women naturally have a pelvis that is slightly wider than men to allow for child birth. Because of this extra width, and actual pelvic geometry, a women sitting on a mens bicycle seat can place the “sit bones” outside of the area of support. This transfers the support from skeletal (pelvic support) to soft tissue which is very uncomfortable.

The saddle should support the pelvis

A comfortable bicycle saddle should ideally support the rider from the “sit bone’s” and apply little or no pressure to sensitive soft tissue areas. To achieve this you want a saddle that closely matches the width and geometry of your “sit bones” while you are sitting on the bike. Your sit bones are the bony protrusions at the top of your leg near the base of your buttocks. This width can change depending on how much your pelvis is rotated forward.

Check your position first

Your position on the bike has a lot to do with your saddle comfort. For example: if you ride a triathlon specific bike and it is set up properly, your pelvis will have a slight forward rotation. Without the correct saddle there will be tremendous pressure on sensitive areas. If you are on a road bike with a fairly upright position you will be supported by the widest part of your sit bones and will need a wider seat. Before you go shopping for a new saddle make sure that your position has been properly set up by a professional bicycle fitter.

Check your pelvic width in the riding position

Once your position is set up properly you can then start looking for an appropriate saddle. The first thing to look for is a saddle that has a width that closely matches your “sit bones” while you are on your bike in the riding position. With your hands you can feel for your “sit bones” to determine the exact placement. If you have trouble on your own you may want to find a professional bicycle fitter that is trained in pelvic placement on the saddle. The correct width is the most important aspect of saddle selection.

Look for firm yet forgiving padding

The next thing to look for in saddle is the padding. Ideally thin layers of very dense shock absorbing foam in the back part of the saddle. The seat should feel firm yet slightly forgiving. The firmness will help keep your pelvis locked in place and prevent excessive movement. If you get the width correct you will not need excess padding.

The nose of the saddle may need a cut out

Once you select the correct firmness you will want to look at the nose area of the saddle. It should be narrow enough to allow for your thighs to move freely without chafing on the saddle. Many saddles have a hole or relief in the front of the saddle to allow for a forward rotated pelvic position without putting excess pressure on soft tissue. Most women’s saddles today have this cutout or relief. This is a mixed solution. On one hand it can take pressure off the sensitive areas but it can also increase pressure because of less surface area. If you are riding in an upright position you may not need or want a saddle with this cut out.

Summary

Many women will have a hard time getting comfortable riding a mens saddle because of obvious and not so obvious differences in anatomy. Your position on the bike has more to do with your saddle comfort than which saddle your choose. First set your position then look towards the correct saddle. Most professional bicycle fitters are trained to determine proper placement and width of saddles.  This is done visually while you are riding your bike on a stationary trainer.

Women have a slightly wider sit bones and different pelvic geometry than men,  therefore women’s saddles should be wider to accommodate this width. Each rider is completely different and the saddle should be sized to match your position and anatomy. Once you have the width selected you will want to look at the padding. Ideally very little padding that is firm yet forgiving. Finally if you are riding a triathlon specific bike you should look for a saddle that has a cutout or relief in the nose. If you are on a road bike you will likely not need the cut out.
Regardless of the saddle you choose you should have a professional bicycle fit which will help you make the right saddle choice and help you ride with greater comfort.

Watch the video in this post for more information

Have a question or comment about this article? What saddle issues do you have?

Filed Under: Bicycle Fit, Saddle Comfort Tagged With: back pain, bicycle, Bicycle fit, comfort, Custom Bicycles, cycling, handlebar drop position, road bike, saddle pain, seat, Triathlon, women

Comments

  1. pedal2stiletto says

    April 5, 2011 at 2:46 pm

    Thanks for this post regarding women’s specific saddles.

  2. rabbitingon says

    December 14, 2012 at 5:08 pm

    I am a female rider and have a female specific seat. During and following a long ride It burns whenever I urinate. Is this common and what may be the cause?

  3. BicycleLab says

    December 14, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    @rabbitingon Unfortunately it is very common. Most likely there is something wrong with your position. Usually when this happens, it because there is too much pressure on the soft tissue area, but it can also be a saddle issue.

  4. BicycleLab says

    December 14, 2012 at 5:29 pm

    I can help solve this problem if your interested.   http://bicyclelab.com/landing/do-you-want-to-be-a-better-cyclist/

  5. GINA says

    May 5, 2014 at 2:42 pm

    Have you ever dealt with a serious cyclist who has pubic sysmphysis degeneration and is that a bike fit issue?

  6. Victor says

    May 24, 2014 at 10:33 am

    Gina

    I have not seen anyone with that particular issue. But with many other degenerative issues. I would be interested trying to come up with some solutions for you. I would classify that as a medical condition that can be accommodated with proper bicycle set up and positioning.

  7. K says

    September 19, 2014 at 1:07 am

    I bought an italia womens specific saddle a few months back and initially it was awesome. Now I’m getting pressure issues at the front, it’s like it’s cutting off blood flow to the soft tissue. Position was sorted at my bike store, but still not sure. When changing the stem to upside down I’m too bunched up but turn it over and it’s slightly too long? and get the pressure problem back. Wondering if padding is too soft? Or position not right still. I do have a stiff lumbar spine and pelvis, not bothersome but maybe it affects my forward tilt?

  8. Victor says

    October 17, 2014 at 8:58 am

    K

    It sounds like its more of an issue with the position than the saddle. With a stiff lumbar area and tight hips you will want to have a more upright position to keep the pelvis from rotating too far forward for comfort. Of course there are many other factors to your position that could be contributing to your issues. Hope this helps. If you are interested I can help if you come to the studio or virtually if you are unable to come to NC. Best Victor

Trackbacks

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