The Ascent is a long, narrow, racey looking beast, but the mid-depth padded central groove and long hull with a pressure-relieving cut-out make it comfortable for most riders.
Despite our initial worries, the long side seams didn't cause any chafing. Reinforced slippery fabric side panels, Kevlar back panels and plastic front and rear bumpers give good durability, although the embroidery quickly gets mucky.
The rails are long enough to provide some fore/aft movement and the hooked nose and rounded shoulders reduce the chance of short snagging. The pricing is excellent and the lighter titanium version is only £10 more.