<P> Women - specific saddles have been recently introduced by several manufacturers . These incorporate a variety of differences designed to suit female anatomy . These differences may include a wider seat area, shorter nose, and center relief . </P> <P> No - nose saddles do not have the front nose (also called horn) part of the seat . This is to eliminate the crushing injuries experienced by riders . In standard seats the weight of the rider is often supported at the contact point between the pelvic bone and nose of the seat . The high pressure caused by the small contact area causes crushing injuries in the perineum over the center of the nose, and the muscles and tendons connecting to the interior side of the "sit bones" (ischial tuberosities) at the back of the inner thighs over the sides of the "nose". The "no - nose" seats eliminate the nose, and support the body at the bottom of the "sit bones", spreading the body's weight over a larger contact area causing lower peak pressure areas to avoid the crushing injuries caused by standard seats . No - nose seats require different bracing forces to keep the rider from slipping down . This is often done by keeping the legs or arms under moderate constant tension which can cause additional effort on the part of the rider . While not adopted by competitive cyclists, no - nose saddles have been shown to improve erectile function among cyclists suffering from ED . A 2008 study measured ED and genital numbness among bicycling police officers who used traditional saddles versus the same officers after using no - nose saddles for six months . The number of officers experiencing genital numbness fell from 73% to 12% . Cases of erectile dysfunction also fell significantly . This research won the Bullard Sherwood Award of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, for intervention research . However, some authorities say this type of seat causes more problems than it cures . </P> <Ul> <Li> <P> A "banana seat". </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Anatomical racing bicycle seat </P> </Li> <Li> <P> Ergonomical saddle EasySeat II (Hobson) </P> </Li> </Ul> <Li> <P> A "banana seat". </P> </Li>

The frame that creates the structure of a saddle is the