Top 6 cheap Bike Components for Ladies

Fi'zi:k Luce Carbon Saddle - Women's

Fizik, though known for its lithe, minimalist silhouettes and luxe materials, bestows equal attention on the construction of its cycling wares as it does on their aesthetics, and the Fizik Women's Luce Carbon Saddle was no exception. Revisiting issues like weight distribution and leg positioning, Fizik used an entirely new design to create the Luce, with a wide carbon-reinforced nylon shell that distributes weight evenly over the sit bones for a saddle that delivers comfort without sacrificing functionality.

This elimination of width beyond what was necessary to support the sit bones allows Fizik to create more space for uninterrupted, chafe-free pedaling—and it also saves grams. Additionally, Fizik includes a pressure-relief channel through the middle of the saddle to promote circulation whether you're sprinting or out on a recovery ride, and a slightly cushioned cover provides flexible support without limiting energy return. Sitting atop vibration-dampening carbon fiber rails, this is a women's-specific saddle that's up to the job of keeping you comfortable on hard rides and high mileage weeks.

Terry Bicycles FLX Gel Saddle - Women's

Professional women racers often prefer lighter weight, less padded saddles than recreational riders. Terry Bicycles sponsored a women's road cycling team for many years and through their collaboration with riders designed a saddle that is perfect for the most pedal-happy, die-hard racer out there. The FLX series is the latest in Terry Bicycles' saddle design featuring a unique shape and lighter weight. The FLX Gel is an intermediate between the softer Butterfly and the stiffer FLX Carbon. 

There are a few things to look for when deciding which is the optimal saddle for your riding and anatomy. First you'll want to know the width between your sit bones. Easily measurable, this tells you the approximate width of a saddle necessary to support your sit bones. While the Terry Butterfly measures 155mm, the FLX gel is a narrower 142mm.

Many riders prefer a bit of cushioning when choosing a saddle. Terry's saddles feature varying degrees of cushioning to provide support for sit bones as well as appropriate relief for soft tissue areas.The FLX gel is not an un-padded saddle. It features a light layer of gel over the multi-density foam base. This layer helps to cushion sit bones that may not be accustomed to hours and hours in the saddle.

Additionally, the FLX features a unique shape. Rather than a traditional one-piece pear-shape with a cutout, the shell is designed with an almost complete cutaway from the back area between the paddle to the nose. Unlike saddles that feature a rounded shape as well as a separate cut-out, the full length channel of the FLX provides pressure relief for tissue between the sit bones as well as for sensitive areas near the nose of the saddle.

The rails of the FLX are constructed from durable Manganese and the entire saddle is covered in black leather with classic white patent leather accents.

The Terry FLX saddle is 260mm long by 142mm wide and it weighs 258 grams. It is available in Black.

Juliana Primiero Saddle - Women's

Lady posteriors are different than dude posteriors, so a saddle that's made for guys won't work as well for gals. Obvious? Maybe, but the Juliana Primiero Women's Saddle is somehow still one of the women's-specific MTB saddles on the market. Made with a wider shape than men's saddles, the Primiero is designed to support women's sit bones, but it's not so wide that it will interfere with your pedaling and movement in the saddle. The flex-tuned composite shell flexes to save your sensitive bits from getting banged up, but is stiff enough to support aggressive pedaling, and low-profile padding offers gentle cushioning where you need it. An anatomical center channel helps reduce pressure, chromoly rails keep it locked on to your seat post, and the Kevlar-reinforced cover is smooth, sleek, and seriously durable.

Terry Bicycles Butterfly Cromoly Saddle - Women's

In 1999, Terry Bicycles introduced the Butterfly saddle, a women's-specific saddle. For 16 years, Terry has been designing and testing saddles for female athletes and the Butterfly Cromoly represents the best of all the research and development. 

The Butterfly Cromoly combines the features most sought after by women: support, cushioning, and flexibility. To begin with, it features a wider-than-normal paddle width. The paddle is the widest part of the saddle at the back — it functions to support your sit bones. Where many race saddles are a narrow 130mm, the Butterfly is 155mm. While professional riders often ride smaller saddles to enable fast position changes, Terry understands, in general, that the touring, endurance, or casual female rider is more concerned with comfort for long rides. Additionally, the saddle features a full-length cut-away through the nose and mid-section. This provides pressure relief for soft tissue. The saddle has also been designed so that it flexes, ever so slightly which aids in protecting delicate areas from pressure sores.

The Butterfly Cromoly saddle is designed with the identical attributes of the Butterfly Ti saddle, however, using cromoly rails and a synthetic covers keeps you from cringing when you look at the pricetag. The saddle is perfect for any level of rider looking for a comfortable women's saddle that won't break the bank. The one difference is that the cromoly version is the heaviest of the Butterflies weighing in at 335grams. But, if comfort trumps weight-savings in your book, the Butterfly Cromoly is an excellent choice. The saddle is covered in smooth vinyl with a textured leather back.

The Terry Bicycle's Butterfly Cromoly Saddle is 261mm long by 155mm wide and weighs 335grams. It is available in Black.

Terry Bicycles Butterfly Cromoly Gel Saddle - Women's

When Georgena Terry brought women's specific bike design to the industry in 1985, she shaped a company destined to become a go-to for women cyclists. True to her passion of designing cycling gear that specifically addresses the fit and needs of women, she expanded the line to include saddles, the primary touch-point while riding. And while the company has expanded and grown, and Terry is no longer at the helm, the Butterfly Cromoly Gel saddle remains one of its most popular models. 

Designed in 1999, the Butterfly Saddle, is by no means dated. In fact, it embodies the best of the research and development Terry has done with both professional as well as recreational cyclists. Constructed on FeC Alloy rails, the Butterfly is 155mm wide at the paddle which provides support for women's wider sit bones. The flatter top means that the saddle will not put excess pressure on the soft tissue area between your sit bones. The injection molded foam is multiple densities, with a stiffer foam on the paddles and softer foam near the nose. Additionally, the Butterfly features a thin layer of supportive gel along the top. Unlike squishy seat covers, the gel inserts are firm and provide optimal support without added pressure against soft tissue. A traditional pear shape, the saddle features a full-length channel with a cutout which also helps to minimize pressure.

The entire saddle is covered in smooth microfiber with textured leather. It is made in Italy and features the fine attention to detail that is the mark of Italian design.

The Terry Butterfly Cromoly Gel Saddle weighs 369 grams and has a length of 262mm. It is available in Black.

Syncros XR1.0 Carbon Saddle - Women's

Syncros' top-end XR 1.0 Carbon Saddle was designed with a women's-specific fit and just enough cushioning for roosting berms and railing turns down singletrack all day. The addition of 7 x 9mm carbon rails and a carbon-injected nylon base add to the saddle's vibration damping powers across root-latticed trails and rocky climbs.

Not strictly a race saddle, the XR 1.0 has a light layer of PU cushioning for added comfort over long rides. The soft microfiber outer cover wrapped over the entire saddle to protect it from wear-and-tear from the elements is strictly race-minded, though. Syncros includes a pressure-relief channel in the middle of the saddle for a strategic distribution of weight, and the positive material surrounding the channel is shaped to accommodate women's anatomies. The XR 1.0 is also available in two width options, so you don't have to sacrifice comfort for this lightweight, efficient addition to your mountain bike.