Ladies' saddles

[cuddy duck]

There are probably some historical threads to be dug up on the subject, but what's flavour of the month?
And was it this forum that organised a lending library or bank of female specific saddles, so they might be trialed for the postage?

[nikki]

I don't recall a YACF saddle library, but that's not to say there hasn't been one or isn't one lurking somewhere on the audax board or something.

Your question about popular saddles might benefit by some narrowing down for style and duration of riding.

[LittleWheelsandBig]

What style of saddle are you looking for? We have a few retired leather saddles with cutouts that you could try. B17S Imperial, Rivet Pearl, Selle Anatomica, possibly something else too.

[rogerzilla]

"Saddle library" conjures up an image of tall ebon shelves stacked with Brooks saddles of varying age, colour and decrepitude.  The librarian is a kindly old man with a rich Black Country accent.  The smell of decaying 50-year old cow, Proofide and wet dog pervades the air.  Basically, Ollivander's for quumfers.

[Hot Flatus]

[rogerzilla]

Now you can see why people delete threads 

As you were, it was my fault.

Have you looked at Terry or Brand X saddles?

[arabella]

Back on topic:
saddle probably needs to be wider to go with wider hips (on average)
there are 'n' saddles and 'm' saddles ('m' saddles have a dip in the middle)
I can't see that there's any point in a flavour of the month, it's a personal choice
I've no idea about brooks and the like

[rogerzilla]

Brooks S models are shorter and probably wider, and designed for laydeez.  But Terry and Brand X specialise in them.

[L CC]

I have a couple of spare Brooks B17S I am happy to loan for you to try before you buy.

I don't like them on a solo, I stick with whatever any new bike came with. I used to fret and try loads but came to the conclusion they're all equally rubbish so now I save my money. I'm fat, and until I'm much much thinner that's always a bigger issue than the shape of the thing I park my lardy arse on.

PM if you want to try. They're heavy, so I'm afraid you'll probably have to cover the postage, unless I happen to be in the right place soonish.

[BFC]

When you find something that you really like, consider buying a spare (before the manufacturer discontinues that model).

[iandusud]

We're going through this at the moment. My wife has been using a B17S Imperial on our tandem for the last three years but has never got really used to it. Main complaint being coccyx pain. She has tried various others but they were no better and so reverted to the B17. After two weeks touring this summer I suggested we try and find something better. After some research we went for a SMP TRK L size. This was an immediate improvement in the coccyx dept but she complained of chafing on the inside of her thighs. We have replaced it with the M size and first impressions are good. However we have yet to do a long ride. If the weather is half decent this weekend we'll be off camping for three days so it will get well tested. I'll report back.

[Kim]

I've never found a saddle that was comfortable, but my current favourite is the Specialized Lithia. FWIW I tend towards a MTBish riding position, don't get on with Brooks, and find cutouts helpful.

Second the advice to buy more if you find something that works. The main advantage of Brooks is that you can be reasonably sure they'll keep making them.

[phantasmagoriana]

Very difficult to advise on saddles: what's flavour of the month for one person may be an instrument of torture for another. It gets easier if you can narrow it down by width, riding style, shape, preference for cutout or not, etc.

When you find something that you really like, consider buying a spare (before the manufacturer discontinues that model).

Agreed. I have a couple of spare Specialized Ouras because they discontinued them and I know they work for me.