Ere Genus CC-T Pro Road saddle review

Dutch brand Ere Research has launched an innovative take on the short saddle. At first glance, this unisex 240mm-long, 145mm-wide CC-T Pro Road saddle with its full-length channel, carbon hull and carbon rails is like other high-end saddles; however, it has rather a unique trick up its sleeve…

The Genus saddle boasts Ere’s patented ‘Comfort Trigger’ red lever mounted underneath the nose, where it’s easily reached while you’re riding.

The trigger has three positions that alter the stiffness in the hull by 10Nm, from stiffest to most flexible. Ere claims that, by being able to alter the hull’s rigidity, you can tune the comfort level to the riding conditions.

About to hit cobbles or rough gravel? You can switch the saddle to the softest setting to aid the 55 durometer foam padding in providing cushioning from the bumps.

Alternatively, in fast riding situations, you can stiffen up the hull for a more stable platform.

Because the hull is designed to flex and the long channel to provide relief, Ere has added a dynamic torsion bar between the two carbon rails to allow the hull to flex freely without putting undue wear on the carbon rails and to spread loads more evenly.

The three settings genuinely do offer different comfort levels: on the stiffest setting, the Ere feels quite similar to PRO’s Stealth, which we’re a fan of but it’s one of the firmest of the short saddles on the market.

On the softest setting, it’s close to Specialized’s legendary Power; the middle setting seems a little like overkill, though, and I found myself using the saddle locked-out on the road and flipping the lever all the way when the going got rough.

As with any saddle, personal preference is a key factor, but I would say that the CC-T Pro Road does favour those who prefer a stiffer hull.

At 136.2g for my test saddle, it seems the trigger switch hasn’t had an adverse effect on the weight. Ere also impresses with the construction quality: it’s beautifully put together and easily the equal of premium saddles from established brands.

It’s a great package, too, coming with a stretchy neoprene-like elasticated cover, to keep the saddle clean when storing/transporting, and a bundle of cleaning wipes to keep it in tip-top condition.

A closer look

1. The full-length channel extends right through the seat and relieves pressure on your most sensitive areas.
2. The Genus saddle’s unique ‘comfort’ trigger offers three positions that either stiffen or soften the saddle’s base.
3. The split shape is claimed to improve comfort and Ere has equipped the base with a torsion bar to improve stability when pedalling.