The best cycling-related advice I have ever been given is “Make sure the bicycle frame you buy is the right size for you.”
The second-best is “If your saddle is comfortable and isn’t giving you trouble, don’t change it.” I got the advice about saddles from a salesperson at Condor Cycles in London.
In 2012 fi’zi:k launched their Kurve range of saddles.
Photograph courtesy of road.cc
There were three models, in the range: the Snake, Chameleon and Bull. Each shape was designed to suit where your bodyweight was positioned, as determined by your flexibility. That was sufficiently geeky to attract me.
I walked into Condor Cycles ready to buy a Kurve saddle. The salesperson asked me which saddle I was using at the time, and if I liked it. My first road bike came with a Selle Italia SL saddle.
Photograph courtesy of Selle Italia
I said I had no complaints about that saddle. Which is when she told me that she wouldn’t sell me a different saddle.
When I got my second road bike I went with a Selle Italia SLR Superflow saddle. Which was essentially the SL with a larger cutout.
Photograph courtesy of Selle Italia
Fast forward a few years, and my SLR Superflow was showing its age.
There was a cut right at the tip on the left side. A memento from a crash. Riding in the rain with wet and gritty bibshorts had abraded the cover on either side of the nose. And the blue elastomer insert under the rails at the front had been squeezed out of shape. It was time for a new saddle.
Last July Selle Italia announced the latest iteration of the Superflow saddle. The SP-01.
Photograph courtesy of Selle Italia
Immediately noticeble is that the rear frame is divided into two parts. This allows the saddle to adapt and flex subtly to different riding positions and shifts of rider weight from side to side and front to back. That was sufficiently geeky to attract me.
The avice from the Condor Cycles salesperson was ringing in my ears. But I figured I was safe by keeping my new saddle choice in the Superflow family.
I’ve had the SP-01 Superflow for a couple of months now. I like it alot. I still have an SLR Superflow on my Ritchey Break-Away. So I have been able to compare the two saddles. This is a subjective assessment, but the SP-01 Superflow does feel a bit more comfortable and compliant than the SLR Superflow.
The SP-01 Superflow meets that main criteria for any saddle. I have a
Photograph courtesy of worldofsigns.com
Old Roots, New Routes 