CYCLING WEEKLY MOST RECOMMENDED

Emily Chappell highlights saddle models which have proved popular with female riders…

SPECIALIZED S-WORKS POWER WITH MIRROR £390

First there was the Power, then there was the MIMIC – now, Specialized brings us the Power with Mirror. This saddle looks like it was knitted rather than moulded. Mirror technology eschews foams and gels altogether in favour of a complex honeycomb structure. This is created by 3D printing a liquid polymer which Specialized claims will “perfectly reflect” the rider’s anatomy, providing support where it is needed and reducing pressure where it’s not. The only drawback? You won’t get much change from £400. specialized.com

BROOKS CAMBIUM C13 CARVED £175

This range of non-leather saddles from Brooks is primarily designed for comfort rather than athletic performance – though one tends to follow from the other, and models such as the C13 have increasingly been adopted by domestic road racers. The vulcanised rubber top moulds to fit any anatomy, and acts as a hammock, moving with the rider and absorbing both friction and road buzz. The Cambium is available with and without a cut-out, and in a variety of widths, to suit the needs of different riders. brooksengland.com

SELLE ITALIA SLR LADY FLOW £117.99

This is a classic, seen on bikes from the pro peloton to the Sunday club run. It has one of the larger cut-outs on the market, which offers some potential for riders who struggle with narrower models, and slightly more padding than comparable models by other brands. With its carbon shell and titanium rails, the SLR Lady Flow is at the lower end of the weight scale – and the upper end of the price range. However, Selle Italia’s Diva and Donna models offer similar shapes at far lower prices. selleitalia.com

ISM PN 3.1 £185

ISM takes a two-pronged approach with this saddle, which has proved popular among triathletes and time triallists, who tend to favour a more low-down, aerodynamic riding position. It differs significantly from other offerings in that it is effectively noseless, and instead has twin arms that claim to reduce pressure on genital tissues, allowing unimpeded blood flow and thus avoiding the twin problems of ischaemia and oedema seen elsewhere. Recent updates to the design have narrowed the front end of the saddle, which ISM claims will offer better thigh and hamstring clearance and reduce chafing. shop-uk.ismseat.com

ERGON SR PRO CARBON WOMEN £169.99

This is a saddle designed for pure racing – and heartily endorsed by former road, cyclo-cross and mountain bike world champion Pauline Ferrand-prévot. It is fairly minimally padded but has taken women’s anatomy and greater hip mobility into account, by providing a wider nose and a longer cut-out that extends into the nose of the saddle, so the rider avoids numbness and discomfort, even when bent forward in a racing position. Ergon has also inserted proprietary Orthocell inlays around the sit bones and genital area, to better distribute pressure, and added sliding flanks to reduce friction and chafing around the inner thighs. ergonbike.com

FIZIK LUCE S-ALLOY £89.99

Unlike many brands, Fizik specifically avoided using professional cyclists when developing this saddle, reasoning that their requirements and riding style are likely to be different from those of the average amateur cyclist. The Luce has a slimmer nose than many saddles on the market, intended to reduce friction on the thighs, and a narrower cut-out that some reviewers found a touch restrictive. Padding is kept to a minimum, but the wings of the saddle are designed to flex as the rider pedals, as well as offering a sharper transition between the nose and the rear of the saddle, to prevent chafing on the backs of the thighs. fizik.com