Saddle Setup & Tilt for Women // Are there special considerations?

Of course there are many diffrences between men and women, but there's a special consideration for female saddle positions that ought to be tracked.

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[koober]

I’m a female peloton cycle rider and I had to tilt the seat forward because I was getting lots of pains in that area. Big improvement

[octaviakf]

This is a great video at the beginning as a woman my sensitive tissues be hurting real good 😢

[korento]

As a woman, thank you for this video! I learned a lot and the explanation so to speak 'hit the spot' by answering a question I always had about saddles. Also, the use of drawings and skeletons really helped to open my eyes on this issue! (P.S. Wide sit bones (155mm+), forward aggressive position.)

[srjones]

Thank you for these 2 videos John. I've been wondering about this for a while having come across some articles talking about using aggressive saddle tilt to solve saddle issues. When I tried it I found it caused me a lot more problems than it helped. Keeping it level now.

[csnow]

I rode for over 15 years with barely any paint other than "oh I've been on my crotch for 3-4hours" with what we not consider a "Traditional triangle" bike (5500 Trek). I then purchased a WOMEN's Focus which was the same bike frame as the men's but with a LONG sloping top tube, longer reach, and totally different seat tube angle vs before this "compact frame construction" I've had to do what I did when nothing was made for women, pushing my saddle all the way forward, putting on a shorter stem. I've had debilitating piriformis developing from a sciatica which I'd had on and off seasonally but always been able to remedy with yoga and chiropractic. The piriformis took me off the bike, no running for nearly 2 years, ever step I took I had shooting pain. I had dry needling and I think that's helped but I've had 2 MRIs, 4 XRays, 5 appointments at MAYO Clinic to discuss why my tailbone feels broken and that is after 8months OFF a bike. I just got on my bike on the indoor trainer last night for an hour, I tried tonight and my sit bones, right under my buttocks feel bruised, if I could tilt even further forward and be on my soft tissue that actually doesn't bother me but in order to do this I would need to push my pelvis off the back of the saddle, drop the seat, resulting in a horrible power position. The industry really FKED up re women when they changed the triangle and thought a shorter stem and narrow bars were all women been heartbroken for years and mental, physical health suffered deeply to the point of more and more suicidal ideation from the limitations, constant pain, and doctors saying to a 42 year old woman that's just the way it's going to be.

[chelseab]

Thank you that was very insightful! It explains the pain.

[FHRider-om]

Great explanation, I have wide sit bones, and suffered from inflammation of all the tendons and ligaments in the saddle area, so simple crush bruising issues can progress into full on pelvic floor problems, only resolved with a specialist pelvic floor physio treatment, and a change of riding style

[elainenilsson]

Riding a lot could be some peoples problem but it's not mine. My problem is that the seat fits down between the bones. Take a saw and cut off any part that will fit between the bones. Now you'll learn where the seat should be adjusted in order to avoid that irritant. I bought a female specific seat about 15 years ago and it made a difference. I also agree with tilting the seat forward. I almost believe that doing away with the front part of the seat altogether would be comfortable. Most seats go up between those sits bones and it is a pinching sensation. I just want something to support my weight without going between the bones.

[KatieKookaburra]

What a great video and so well explained!! Thank you. Such great videos.

[normandrobert]

*A tilted saddle may cause one to fail that quick test you had posted many months ago whereby one checks whether moving to an upright position with the hands off causes the pelvis to slide.* I tilted my non cutout rather flat saddle down 5-6 deg ~14 years ago to alleviate numbness and that worked pretty well so I felt vindicated by the rule change when I heard about it. Today, I have a more curved and short nose cutout saddle (Specialized Power Pro) on my newish road bike which works well with aero bars which are nice to use when riding alone against the wind. I have recently reduced the tilt a bit. I think that the curved and short nose design was making my pelvis unstable with such a tilt and possibly contributing to some mild ITBS. Would love to hear whether this last statement is plausible. BTW you have never said much about ITBS.. unless I missed it in one of your knee presentations. Regards

[justwandermaya]

Reason why I'm considering the Spongy Wonder noseless bicycle seat.

[deelaura]

Thank you!!! Such an easy solution! thank you thank you!

[carolinamoniz]

I'm still looking for the right saddle. I have been strugglimg with pain in the soft tissue. On the road it's not that bad, but on the turbo trainer is almost torture :(
I only ride about 8h a week.

[Korina]

Thanks for this; now I can show my husband why I have my Brooks B17 level rather than tilted up like the menfolk do.

[theopotgieter]

Wow! Thanks hopefully this will sort my wife's issues

[markrushton]

Pressure mapping was the solution for my wife

[charlieallen]

Great video. So with sizing a saddle how wide if your sit bones measure approx 130mm?

[bacazterchovej]

what u think about positive sadlle tilt, i had it for a while and i felt improve in my strenght BUT my soft tissue ached alot ..../i am a male/

[tpress]

guy's bring their junk all forward and sit on barely any of it...females however are full on their stuff. please..im looking for real in-depth secrets of how to lessen the discomfort aside from clipping the labia off. Special cycling shorts or inserts? Saddles - how is the Cobb saddle really beneficial?

[ash]

The moment you started talking about a labiaplasty for cycling I’m getting weird vibes especially a man talking about it this is fucking weird