We're taking a look here at the saddle round-up we brought you in Issue 30. While saddles aren't always the most exciting piece of equipment to look at, they have a very definite impact on your riding enjoyment and are key to your comfort. See some of the latest saddles here and maybe you'll find your next seat.
by The CXM Test Crew
Saddles, like helmets, have gone through a number of technology and construction changes recently. Even if you think you found the right shape for you a long time ago and have been loyal ever since, it’s worth a look and test ride of the latest generation of saddles to see if there’s a more comfortable ride.
Until recently, shopping for saddles has been mostly about finding the right shape, and then perhaps deciding how much padding you wanted. Maybe you also decided whether you wanted to save some grams through tubular rails or exotic materials. More recently, cyclists and cyclocrossers could opt for a cut-out for potential pressure relief or water cooling during a wet race.
Now, construction techniques, shock absorbing materials, width options and even new rail designs are all being touted as the secret to a more comfortable ride, especially when the terrain is not smooth asphalt. And for those of you with new bike lust, but a new chain budget, a new saddle, paired with some cushy new bar take, can be the ultimate trick to feeling like you got a new ride.
We put seven of the latest saddle designs to the test in Issue 30 to see which ones are deserving of your upgrade dollars. Saddle up!
ISM Adamo
The ISM Adamo saddle perched on a review bike garnered more groans and comments than any one piece of equipment we’ve ever tested. Because the saddle is noseless, when its rider is in the forward position, as in the drops, there is nothing there to put pressure on the center of the crotch or groin. The saddle’s “fingers” rest on the pubic rami bones, forward of your ischial tuberosity, commonly called the sit bones. The feel of the saddle takes some getting used to, and over time we tilted the saddle down again just because we felt the two “fingers” impeded forward hip roll slightly, not because of pain or numbness. Surprisingly, we had no problem with cyclocross remounts since we typically come onto the saddle from the back. The additional padding of the ISM Adamo in general makes even a bad landing a bit softer.
Price: $250 USD
Weight: 308 grams
Options: black and white, 2 widths
More info: ismseat.com
