- It's time for another GCN unboxing.
(energising music)
(mechanical sounds)
This week we've got some brand new saddles
from the legendary manufacturer Selle San Marco,
and I am going to be telling you all about them.
Then, at the end, I'm going to let you know
how you can enter to try and win one.
And it's not just the three that you see here
that you can win,
we've got a total of seven.
So we have four of the brand new Aspide
Supercomfort saddles, two narrow and two wide,
and three of the Shortfit CFX new model,
which comes in at just 150 grams.
Both of these brand new models are loaded with tech,
so I think it's time we took a closer look.
And we are going to start with the Shortfit.
Why the name you ask.
Well, it is fairly obvious,
normal saddles can be around 275mm long,
longer saddles can be around 300.
Whereas, this thing, well it's dinky,
just 250mm long.
Look at it.
So why would you want a shorter saddle?
Well, initially the drive was behind
the way that bike fit has been developing.
You see, when you have a more aggressive riding position,
i.e. your bar's lower at the front,
your pelvis is generally rotated further forward
and you're sitting further forward on the saddle
in order to get the power out.
And something like this, then,
will be less likely to fall foul of UCI regulations.
There's also, then, less need
to move around on the saddle,
no more scooting forward when you want to get
nice and low on the drops on the front end.
So that was the initial idea.
The reality they have found is
that this saddle works too for
riders with less aggressive positions as well.
The width, 144mm, which seems to be
the holy grail for saddle widths,
as it's just right for the vast majority of arses.
San Marco differentiate between two styles of saddle:
flat, where the top here is almost completely flat,
or waved, when there is a dip of more than 5mm.
As you can see, on this Shortfit,
there is a dip and so it is a waved saddle.
Which one you go for is entirely down
to your own personal preference.
So that is the shape of the saddle,
but you'll also have noticed
there's a massive gap in the middle.
Now, San Marco call this the open fit,
and it is designed to relieve perineal pressure.
Which is particularly key when you're riding
in that aforementioned aggressive position.
This thing is insanely light, just 150 grammes.
150 grammes.
To get down to that weight
they haven't used a carbon shell.
Although, it is reinforced with carbon.
Now, that allows them to keep
a nice amount of longitudinal flex.
I.e. it's supportive where you need it to be,
but also forgiving where you need it to be as well.
On top of that shell is a biofoam padding,
and on top of that is a silk microfeel upper.
Which is a manmade upper designed to work perfectly
in tandem with the padding underneath.
So that's the Shortfit,
but what about these other two beauties,
the Aspide Supercomfort.
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This is the Aspide Supercomfort wide,
and this one over here
is the Supercomfort narrow.
Now, the Aspide is a classic shape.
In fact, I remember when it was first released
back in the year 2000.
Now, for some of you watching this,
that will literally be a lifetime ago.
But, for a company with the history
like Selle San Marco has, it's quite recent.
You see, they first started making saddles
back in 1935.
Fausto Coppi used their saddles in the 1950s,
and they're also the company responsible
for those classic shapes, the Regal and the Rolls.
In fact, they are still available to this day
as part of their historical collection.
I'm starting to get all misty eyed, I could go on.
What about the Selle San Marco Concor Light,
that was a saddle I religiously used,
'cause it was the first one
that didn't give me saddle sores.
Anyway, let's get back to the Aspide Supercomfort.
They also class this one as a wave model
courtesy of that subtle dip, which you can see here.
And you can't help but think that when
a design's been around for around 18 years,
it's quite a good sign.
Since the early designs,
the Aspide has gained a central relief channel
which it shares in common with the Shortfit
that we've just been looking at.
It also shares some similarities on top here,
i.e that biofoam padding and the
microfeel upper on top of that.
But where it does differ is with the material of the rails.
As you can see, they're not carbon.
They call this the Stealth Xsilite frame.
It's an alloy which is reinforced
with titanium, carbon, and silicon.
It does add an extra 60 grammes to the saddle,
which brings it in at 210 grammes.
That is still pretty impressive.
What then about the all important dimensions?
Well, this is the narrow, it comes in at 132mm wide.
This one being the wide is 10 more, so 142mm.
The Shortfit was 250mm long,
these are far more conventional at 277mm in length.
To decide which of the two is best for you,
you'll need to consult the DiMA selector,
which you will find over on the Selle San Marco website.
Once you're on the website,
you'll be asked to input some details
including your gender, your build,
how flexible you are,
but also the natural position of your pelvis.
So, if when you're stood up you've got
quite a curved lower back, they call this anteverted.
Whereas, if it's fairly flat when you're stood up,
they call this retroverted.
Once you've put these biometric details in
it will then suggest the best saddle model for you.
Well worth looking into.
You may also have noticed a letter and number
combination on the packaging here.
That refers to a secondary fit system,
for which you will have to go and visit
a Selle San Marco dealer.
Once you're there, they will get out
a giant set of callipers and take various measurements
including the width of your hipbones,
and also the diameter of your left and your right thighs.
Although, let's face it,
they probably wouldn't need giant callipers
to measure my thighs.
Right then, three fantastic looking
new saddles from Selle San Marco.
And, don't forget, there are seven of these to be won.
In order to enter, all you've got to do
is click on the link which you can find
in the description below this video.
And all that leaves me to say is
good luck to one and all.
Right, we talked earlier about
the tendency for a more aggressive
position on the bike these days,
and Matt did some investigating at Abu Dhabi last year
as to why the pros are doing this.
Why are they slamming their stems?
Find out just here.