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review
Saddles
Pro Turnix carbon saddle Pro Turnix saddle

Pro Turnix carbon saddle

8
by Mat Brett
UPDATED Thu, Oct 15, 2015 04:24

First Published Aug 12, 2013

5
£119.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Lightweight saddle that doesn't compromise comfort.
Weight: 
158g
Contact: 
www.madison.co.uk
How we test

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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Pro's Turnix saddle is a superbly comfortable perch that's also lightweight and well made.

I say 'comfortable' but we all know that saddle comfort is largely down to individual taste, so all I can really say is that I found this saddle really comfy, the shape and the amount of give suiting me really well.

Pro now produce Falcon saddles for riders with a naturally stable position; Griffon saddles for those who shift around more; and Turnix saddles for riders between the two extremes.

I use a whole variety of saddles day to day but my favourite over the past few years has been the Selle Italia SLR Kit Carbonio. If you know that saddle, this Turnix is a broadly similar shape; the overall dimensions are almost the same although the Turnix's nose is just a touch wider.

The Turnix measures 280mm long and 132mm across at its widest point. Measured halfway along the nose, it's 43mm across, which is pretty slim. It's a fairly flat saddle with just the slightest of rises towards the nose.

The base is carbon injected and there are reinforcing ribs in there designed to increase the durability and the stiffness. That said, there's still a reasonable amount of flex in the base to stop potholes sending shockwaves right through to your spine.

Pro use foam padding over the base – not so deep that it's squishy – and a leather cover on top of that. The leather has proved durable over several months of riding. The saddle rails are carbon and a long (85mm) clamping section provides you with loads of fore/aft adjustment on top of your seatpost.

I've been on all kinds of rides using this saddle over the past few months – including 100+ mile Sunday rides, rough road rides, and all sorts – and the Turnix has been excellent throughout. It hits the scales at just 158g, so you don't pay a weight penalty for that comfort either. That's a highly respectable weight.

The Turnix is also available with a central hole (£119.99) and with titanium rails (£74.99).

Verdict

Lightweight saddle that doesn't compromise comfort.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Pro Turnix carbon saddle

Size tested: 132mm

Tell us what the product is for, and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Pro list the Turnix as a 'race' saddle - seems reasonable given the light weight and low profile design.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Really well made, tidy construction.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
7/10

Started to look quite worn early on, but no problems at all in terms of durability.

Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
 
8/10

You can get lighter saddles, but this is a low weight, particularly given the level of comfort on offer.

Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
 
8/10

It's largely a matter of taste but I found this among the most comfortable saddles I've ever used. It might even tempt me away from my beloved Selle Italia SLRs.

Rate the product for value:
 
6/10

Lightweight saddles generally aren't great value but it's not a crazy price.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The combination of the light weight and the high level of comfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The finish started to look worn fairly early on.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.

Would you consider buying the product? Yes.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 41  Height: 190cm  Weight: 75kg

I usually ride:   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding,

 

Pro Turnix carbon saddle
Mat Brett

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

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5 comments

Avatar
TheHatter | 11 years ago
0 likes

I have one a couple of years old that I settled on after trying many others. Mine was the white one which got tatty but I recovered it myself in stealthy black leather and it looks great - much like the one above.
Saddles are very personal but I would really recommend this one.

Avatar
andyspaceman replied to TheHatter | 11 years ago
0 likes
TheHatter wrote:

I recovered it myself

Chapeau!! I wouldn't know where to start.

Avatar
TheHatter replied to andyspaceman | 11 years ago
0 likes
andyspaceman wrote:
TheHatter wrote:

I recovered it myself

Chapeau!! I wouldn't know where to start.

merci!
Learnt from this : http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-recover-an-old-bicycle-seat/
Actually quite easy , just get the right glue and from the top at least it looks totally professional.

Avatar
andyspaceman | 11 years ago
0 likes

That looks great. I had a lend of my brother's Ti railed version and was very impressed with it, although its black/white/grey design was a little bit 'euro'. It looks really nicely understated in those colours.

Also worth noting that they do each saddle in a wider version too.

Avatar
Bikesoup | 11 years ago
0 likes

I thought it was a Fizik saddle on first glance... That font is very much Fizik-esque & logo positioning is the same too. Not sure if that matters to anybody, though..... Maybe a copyright lawyer - http://www.fizik.it/en/saddles/road/Arione/white/

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