Saddle selection can be one of the most frustrating aspects of cycling, and it doesn’t take long looking at various saddle brand websites to become overwhelmed and frustrated by choice.
While a quick look at Prologo’s extensive range might initially overwhelm you, the Italian brand hopes to simplify the choice and get you on the right saddle quicker with its new fitting system.
For those new to the range, Prologo breaks down the road saddle options into three shapes. For riders seeking a rounded shape at the rear, consider the Scratch models. Semi-round seekers should look toward the Nago Evo. While those who prefer flatter saddle shapes should consider the Zero.
Prologo MyOwn
The four steps of MyOwn
With just about every major saddle brand offering their individual take on saddle fitting, Prologo has joined the game with a system dubbed ‘MyOwn’. Blending aspects from various other well-known and trusted fitting systems, MyOwn works in four steps that are to be completed by an approved dealer.
Step one is simply a matter of selecting the desired type of riding – anything from triathlon through to downhill racing. Proving the system is most refined for men at this point, women have their own category where it appears riding discipline is immediately ignored.
The second step is to sit on Prologo’s MyOwn gel measurement box which checks the width of your Ischial Tuberosity bones.
All done, the enormous saddle range is narrowed to just a few choices
You then sit on top of the MyOwn box again and do a basic lumbar flexibility test by leaning forward. And then finally, this data along with your height and weight is entered into Prologo’s cloud-based dealer portal – at which point it provides you with a recommended saddle and a few alternatives.
The system is certainly a step in the right direction, but like most other bone-width systems such as those from Specialized and Bontrager, personal preference is likely to play a factor in saddle shape decision.
PAS and CPC now available together
Prologo has combined channel design with its gripper technology
Many Prologo saddles of recent time have featured ‘CPC’ technology. This rubber surface treatment provides traction to the top of the saddle, but is also claimed to increase comfort and airflow.
‘PAS’ is a pressure-relieving channel that’s achieved through a particular foam-mould shape, leaving the saddle’s base unchanged.
For 2016, Prologo will offer the Scratch 2, Nago Evo, Zero II, Zero C3 and T Gale models with a combination of these technologies.
New carbon tech in Zero C3
The C3 carbon shell is designed to resist sagging and wear, while remaining lightweight
Said to be a new benchmark in Prologo’s road saddle range, the Zero C3 features a flat shape across its 132mm width. C3 stands for ‘carbon composite compound’, which in real terms means the saddle’s shell is moulded in carbon as a single piece – the result is a lightweight structure that's said to resist sagging at common pressure points. A Zero C3 saddle with CPC+PAS is claimed to weight 162g.
SPACE widens for uni-sex market
The SPACE Scratch 2
Perhaps the saddle that’s most applicable to the everyday rider, the new range of SPACE saddles, offer increased width, multiple foam densities and a pronounced pressure-relieving channel. The range is said to be suitable for both men and women, road or mountain bike.
Available in Scratch, Nago Evo, Zero and Kappa, widths range from 141mm to 147mm depending on the model. The Kappa features a Cromoly rail, while the other three models will offer titanium rails.
Tri a T-Gale
T-Gale is built for the clock racer
Designed for both TT and triathlon riders, the new T-Gale has been wind-tunnel tested. Its shape and construction is optimised for a more forward-riding position – a shortened 240mm length offers a 128mm width.
Proving its built for the triathlon racer, the nose features a hook for hanging between transitions, while the rear is compatible with Prologo’s own U-Cage, which can be used with either one or two bottle cages of your choice.
The T-Gale also offers a shock-absorbing elastomer at the nose. T-Gale is available with PAS+CPC, PAS and a CPC-only version.
X20 for the downhiller
X20 for the gravity rider
Designed with help from the Devinci Global Racing team, the X20 is a saddle designed specially for competition downhill riding. Featuring a semi-round shape, the X20 is suitably basic and designed to offer minimal catch points. The titanium-railed version is said to weigh 225g,
Accessories
Prologo now has a reflective bar tape
OneTouch and OneTouch Gel bar tapes are now available in even more style variants. Most interesting is the new reflective and Hi-Vis options.
Additionally, there are now bar tapes in a variety of team patterns to suit the various sponsored WorldTour teams, including Tinkoff Saxo, Lampre-Merida, IAM Cycling and Bora-Argon 18.
For the mountain bikers, there are now silicon handlebar grips which are said to weigh 35g for the pair, in a choice of seven colours.