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Saddle shoot out!By Bex Hopkins, Nikki Lebedis,Elaine Burrows, Ruth Elmore |  | | We took the SheCycles Saddle Demo collection to the Dirtgirls mountain bike training camp in July and here are a few of the reviews and feedback we've received. You can read all about the demo saddles we have available and how you can test one here.
WTB Speed SHE Pro Gel saddle
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WTB Speed SHE Pro Gel saddle
Features: Abrasion resistant corners, Pro Gel padding, Synthetic Cover, flex-tuned shell with Comfort Zone
Rails: Chromo
Weight: 394g
Colour: Black
Price: £29.99
Website: www.wtb.com
Rider: Elaine Burrows
Tested on: I took the saddle out on my Stumpjumper for a full day of mainly XC in the Alps, with some really rocky downhill section - although I obviously wasn't sitting on it then!
Response: I found it very comfortable even after 5 days continuous riding on my old saddle. It was a bit short on the nose for the climbs compared with other saddles, I moved it forwards on the rails a bit but then I just hung off the back.
Good points: The WTB ProGel was one of the most comfortable saddles for my seat bones I have ridden.
Bad points: I wouldn't choose it for a ride where you need to move around on a saddle a lot
Recommended?: I would recommend it for an enduro or 24hr event as it was very light and afforded good comfort level for a low profile saddle.
Rider: Bex Hopkins
Tested on: All sorts of mountain biking and lots of road riding too.
Response: The nose of the WTB ProGel is shorter than I'd prefer but that's because I like to move around on the saddle a lot and use it against my inner thighs to corner and I like to perch on the nose for steep climbs off road.
Good points: Looks good and has generous padding that supports in the right places (sit bones) and reduces pressure at the front for women's soft tissue areas.
Bad points: The profile of this saddle is quite flat which in itself is not a con, but I missed having a rise at the rear to push against.
Recommended?: We know loads of women love this saddle and it should work well for novice and intermediate riders for road and mtb riding. Expert riders may want a lighter or slimmer saddle though.
Bontrager Race FIT CRZ+
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Bontrager Race FIT CRZ+ saddle
Features: CRZ+ (Contoured relief zone) is anatomically designed to provide relief of soft tissue zone, Dual Compound Base adds flex where needed
Rails: Steel
Weight: 280g
Colour: Black
Price: £29.99
Website: www.bontrager.com
Rider: Nikki Lebedis
Saddle: Bontrager Race FIT CRZ+
Tested on: I rode on the saddle every day for a week in the Alps, in some wet, muddy and gritty conditions. By the end of the week it still looked presentable, if not quite good as new, despite the hammering it had taken!
Response: I can honestly say this is one of the most comfortable saddles I've ever ridden. The shape and size worked well for my larger build, for a couple of reasons. First off there was plenty of padding, always good if it doesn't compromise weight too much. In addition, the very large cut out in the centre of the saddle meant no rubbing or chafing in more delicate areas. This in turn completely eliminated the "peeing razorblades" feeling you can get after a long ride.
Given that you spend much of your time out of the saddle on a mountain bike, I was also impressed at how unobtrusive it was. It was easy to move around the bike using the saddle as a reference point, without constantly rubbing or catching against it.
Good points: The edges of the saddle seem to curve away quite gently, which meant less pressure on the seat bones and surrounding tissue. This gentle shaping seemed to relieve pressure from the pinpoint areas and spread it around the saddle more, meaning no more grimacing for the first half hour each morning as my seat bones eased in to the day.
Bad points: My only complaint is the colourway in grey with blue stitching. It was a bit industrial looking compared to some of the others in the demo range.
Recommended?: Yes, I'd give it 10/10
Rider: Bex Hopkins
Saddle: Bontrager Race FIT CRZ+
Tested on: From all day epic mountain bike rides to fast road rides
Response: The Contoured Relief zone really does work, it takes the pressure off the front area and is plenty slim at the nose to avoid rubbing the inner thigh and interfere with pedaling. The rear is supportive for good weight distribution to the sit bones.
Good points: A great fit and comfortable saddle, lightweight too!
Bad points: None really.
Recommended?: Intermediate to expert riders will appreciate the features of this saddle most.
WTB Speed SHE Race
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WTB Speed She Race Saddle
Features: Shorter nose and low profile internal seams, well radiused soft corners, developed by female employees years ago for their own personal needs
Rails: Chromo
Weight: 360g
Colour: Black
Price: £29
Website: www.wtb.com
Rider: Nikki Lebedis
Saddle: WTB Speed She Race Saddle
Tested on: Alpine mountain bike holiday on a full day's ride
Response: I really wanted to love this saddle. The blue floral trim was funky, WTB is a great brand, and it looked super comfy.
Good points: Looks funky and has plenty of padding.
Bad points: It felt much harder than it's padding would suggest, and the ache soon started to build up around the seat bones. When riding upright and out the saddle, the WTB seemed to be permanently in the way. Maybe it would have worked better for the leaner ladies amongst us, but for me there just wasn't enough clearance around the top of my legs.
Recommended?: This could be a great saddle for the right girl who wants to look funky whilst riding the occasional trail. Probably novice riders.
Rider: Bex Hopkins
Saddle: WTB Speed She Race Saddle
Tested on: Mountain biking, from quick rides to long day enduros.
Response: Many years ago I rode this saddle and as a novice and intermediate rider and I felt comfortable on this saddle. The extra padding was welcomed after riding hard narrow men's saddles. As an experienced rider I found the saddle a bit wide in general and the nose too short for my riding style.
Good points: A good saddle for novice riders or those who enjoy a wider platform for the sit bones. Great price!
Bad points: Shorter nose is limiting for weight distribution on steep climbs, riders with narrow sit bones may find it too wide at the rear and mid section.
Recommended?: Newcomers to biking and novice riders.
2007 Bontrager Race X Lite FIT
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Bontrager's Race X Lite FIT
Features: Lightweight padding, full carbon base, sleek styling, race ready saddle
Rails: Hollow titanium rails
Weight: 205g
Colour: Black/grey
Price: £79 approx
Website: www.bontrager.com
Rider: Ruth Elmore
Saddle:
Tested on:
Response: This saddle looks more uncomfortable to the untrained eye than many other 'Womens Specific' saddles. It has less obvious padding, no love groove and it looks quite narrow. Don't be fooled. I found this to be the most comfortable saddle I have ever tried, and it is particularly effective on longer rides where wider base and heavy padding can really make you reach for the nappy cream! I found that the minimal padding was exactly where it was needed, under my sit bones, and not where it is not needed, so chafing in other places was reduced. The saddle is very light which is always a bonus, and I particularly liked that it looks quite unisex - not obviously a girly saddle. I tried this saddle on a variety of rides - some short and lumpy, some longer and off road, and I popped it on my road bike for a day as well. All in all I think that this is a good thing to sit on whilst riding a bike.
Good points: Padding where needed, and supportive under sit bones. Lightweight.
Bad points: None
Recommended?: I found this to be the most comfortable saddle I have ever tried
Rider: Bex Hopkins
Saddle: Bontrager's Race X Lite FIT
Tested on: Endless miles of road biking and mountain biking all over world
Response: From the first ride I loved this saddle, the concave shape from nose to rear gives a great platform for serious riding and racing. The shape allows you to push against the saddle when you need to put the power down. The sleek shape gives plenty of room for the thigh to move and with the rear supporting the sit bones so well we didn't suffer from any discomfort up front.
Good points: A good shape for performance riding on or off road.
Bad points: You'll either love or hate the shape of this saddle.
Recommended?: Riders looking for a lightweight saddle who don't mind paying the extra shouold give this saddle a try. Expert through to Pro riders will benefit most from the sleek shaping and slim padding.
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| | Discuss this article, 1 of 2 messages, read more: |  Tracy Stokes | |
| Posted: 02/08/07 20:36:13 13 | | Can anyone tell me which womens saddle is best for long rides. |
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