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!
Selle San Marco Regale
Old timers may think of old school saddles when they hear Selle San Marco, imagining the plush Rolls saddle. But the Italian saddle company has been on a roll, developing featherweight saddles and incorporating new materials. And the new Regale showcases that new tech. Served up is a shell that’s carbon-reinforced nylon, said by the company to be lighter and more compliant than standard polypropylene. The rails and cover have gotten high tech as well, with tubular Xsilite rails made of alloy with silicon, titanium, and carbon. Selle San Marco saved Italian cows in favor of a Microfeel cover for the Regale that shares leather’s breathability but is more UV resistant and can better handle the hot and cold cycles that most cyclocrossers subject their bikes to. That’s a lot of tech talk, but the result is a svelte saddle that comes in different widths and adds comfort through some subtle shell flex.
Price: $219.99 USD
Weight: 208 grams
Options: narrow or wide, 3 colors
More info: sellesanmarco.it
