What To Look For
Men's saddles are longer and narrower, while women's are shorter and broader to accommodate the wider female pelvis. Typically a woman's bike seat is slightly tilted and has a little extra padding.
Look first for a seat designed specifically for women. Bike saddles come in a variety of shapes, styles and even colors. A good bike saddle is made from quality materials, such as stretched leather or high-grade padded plastic. Some saddles have cutouts or cutaways, which are basically holes or shallow channels that provide relief to your sensitive pelvic areas. Some saddles feature some combination of gel, foam and plastic padding in the saddle nose or in the wider part of the seat.
Common Pitfalls
The biggest mistake women make when purchasing bike saddles is to assume that the more expensive the seat, the better quality it is. But your new seat doesn't have to be expensive or designed to look like a rocket ship. As long as the seat is comfortable to ride and has been properly adjusted, you can go cheap or shell out hundreds of dollars and likely not be able to tell the difference between the two.
Where To Buy
Do your shopping in person rather than online so you can test out the saddle in advance. It's also a good idea to shop at a bike store. Big chain stores like Wal-Mart and Target usually have a limited selection of saddles. Another benefit of going to your local shop is that you'll be dealing with avid cyclists and bike mechanics who are far more likely to be helpful and accommodating when you want to test out a saddle or two.
Cost
Most quality saddles start in the $40 range and go up to almost $200 as of 2010, according to a sampling at TeamEstrogen.com, which sells women's cycling gear.
Accessories
If money is a major issue, consider a gel seat cover that you can slip over a regular men's bike saddle. This cover is generally much less expensive than replacing the full saddle, but follow the instructions and thoroughly test the seat cover before buying it.
You'll also need an Allen key, also known as a hex key, to change your bike saddle and adjust the height of the post, which is the metal tube that supports your saddle. Some road and mountain bikes have quick adjust settings, which allow you to change the angle and height of your seat using a lever.
Insider Tips
The late Sheldon Brown of Harris Cyclery in West Newton, Mass., identified improper seat adjustment as the No. 1 reason people are uncomfortable on their seats.
Some other saddle comfort tips:
Wear cycling shorts rather than jeans or regular shorts. Most bike shorts have built-in padding, which makes the saddle more comfortable for those long rides.
Vary your riding style. Don't just sit and pedal in one position. Stand when you climb hills, lean forward occasionally or sit way back on the seat.
Lift yourself off the saddle when crossing bumpy or uneven terrain. Even the best bicycles don't have shocks to rival those in cars.
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