Modern Cyclist Magazine Issue 1, September 2014 | Page 36

Take a seat
ma’am

MC go girl!

Some woman cyclists
use woman specific
saddles. Others prefer
men’s saddles. And
many women cyclists
don’t even know that
they exist.

As Modern Cyclist found out, there is not

even a failsafe method which you can choose
“the right one” for yourself.
Most reputable bike shops have decent
ranges, with prices ranging from around R350
to much-much-more. The folk at Johannesburg
bike shop Linden Cycles advise that the
cheaper model was often the best way to go.
CycleFit’s Danielle Norman suggests that you
should rather spend the money and reap the
rewards.
“A good, comfortable saddle is an investment
every cyclist should make as the right saddle
can turn riding into bliss,” she explained.

“Firstly a saddle needs to suit your body
shape. Many saddle manufacturers have
developed different ways in which to do
this,” she explains.

“But do it properly,” she recommends, “get
yourself properly measured by somebody
who knows how to do it and then buy a
good saddle.”

Fizi:k, for example, has developed a
system that assesses a cyclist’s riding style
and flexibility in the lower back in order to
find the correct saddle and riding position.
This company’s saddles are grouped into
three different classes based on lower
back flexibility, namely a bull rider (poor
lower back flexibility), a chameleon rider
(moderate lower back flexibility) and a
snake rider (good lower back flexibility).

The width at the base of the saddle isn’t
the only distinguishing feature of a woman
specific saddle.

“A rider’s flexibility determines the flex,
and shape of the saddle as well as the
handlebar drop from the saddle height,”
explains Danielle, “and it is important
for all cyclists, not only women, to have
a proper saddle fit done by a trained
professional in order to find the saddle
that most accurately suites their riding
style.”
Women who intentionally ride with men’s
saddles have probably found that they
“fit” the middle size of woman specific
saddle which is roughly the same as the

to agree that woman specific saddle a
“ But all seem because saddle arelated problems seem toisbe must
have, simply
the
But all seem to agree that a woman specific
saddle is a must have, simply because
saddle related problems seem to be the
number one worry that most women cyclists
have.
Woman specific saddles are, on the whole,
wider than those used by men. This is for the
simple reason that woman’s “sit bones”, or
ischial tuberosities, tend to be further apart
to facilitate child birth.
Danielle adds that one should bear in mind
that the cushioning of a saddle ultimately
does not affect saddle comfort, which
is a mistake many cyclists make when
purchasing a saddle without any guidance.

36

“

number one worry that most women cyclists have.

men’s wide size, but because a man’s
saddle tends to be more rigid, some
women just prefer this extra support.
South African mountain biker Teresa
Coetzee told Modern Cyclist that the use
of women-specific saddles made a “huge
difference” to her cycling.
“One of my first accessories on my bike
was a proper woman-specific saddle and,
thinking back now, it was one of the best
investments I’ve ever made,” she said.
With her saddle, Teresa has done two
TransBaviaans races, a Joberg2C, a Cape
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