Cycling Weekly – August 22, 2019

50 | August 22, 2019 | Cycling Weekly

FITNESS

than 15 minutes on any

saddle. I was cynical,

tired, in pain and facing

the fact I might never

again be able to train

properly despite having

had two surgeries.

Sitting on it was soft and

welcoming, firm and supportive, and it

felt like coming home after a long time

away — so I cried... and then went for a

2. 5-hour ride.

For the first time, I felt my own sit-

bones lifting pressure away from the

front of my pelvis. Though I still favour

putting all my weight on the nose of the

saddle, the materials used are so soft it

barely matters. It is going to be marketed

as a unisex saddle in future, a decision I

found puzzling — until I spoke to Grace

Metcalf, women’s business manager at

Specialized UK , who told me:

“The men who have tested the saddle

have found it so comfortable it ’s become

their ‘new favourite’. I don’t think it ’ll be

long before we start seeing Mimic tech

being adopted by our

other models of saddle,

making it available to

riders of all shapes

and sizes.”

Saddles are anatomy-

specific — not just male/

female, but to individual

bodies. For example, CW columnist and

best friend K atie A rchibald swears by

ISM. Given our mutual love of rainbow

hair dye, puns and halloumi, I was sure

that ISM would work for me too. A las,

we are not saddle sisters. Variety of the

vulva (and scrotal/perineal area, lads)

is something we must all accept; what

works for me may not work for you.

“If you suffer from

saddle discomfort,

start with a bike-fit”

Saddle choice is dictated as much by

individual anatomy as by gender