If you like a more upright riding position, the Selle Royal Lookin Athletic is a well-made, comfortable saddle that's great for commuting and touring bikes.
Although this is a unisex saddle, it is designed to sit in that grey area of upright riding style where the necessity for a gender specific saddle becomes slightly less, ahem, pressing.
At 160mm wide, it's not outrageously broad, and Selle Royal's 'Athletic' category of saddles are designed to function best for riders sitting with a 30 degree spine angle. The idea is that this position moves the weight distribution and sit bones further back on the saddle, hence a design tuned to that.
It's a supremely well-made and comfortable looking seat, and boasts all sorts of features promising a world of easy riding, including Royalgel (which sounds like something bees are responsible for) and zoned cushioning.
At 474g (quoted weight 450g) it's lighter than it looks, and isn't going to overburden any bike.
In use, it was extremely comfortable, provided that it was put on the right sort of bike. On anything too sporty, it was just too broad in the central area, forcing the hips forward and the back to arch.
However, on a bike with the right kind of angle, it was very supportive at the sit bones and made café rides and commutes a pleasant and unstressful experience.
It also worked well as a touring saddle, provided again that the tourer in question was a very upright design.
£44.99 is a very good price for such a high tech gel saddle, with Selle Royal's attention to detail and pedigree, so if you have an upright bike, are inclined towards a sore posterior, or would prefer to not always have to wear padded shorts, this is a saddle to consider.
Verdict
A comfortable, well engineered and cost effective unisex option for bikes with an upright riding position.
road.cc test report
Make and model: Selle Royal Lookin Athletic Saddle
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?
Unisex fit, aimed at bikes with a more upright riding style where the spine is at approximately a 30 degree angle.
Comfort focussed.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Royalgel filled
160mm wide
279mm long
Unisex fit
Rate the product for quality of construction:
9/10
Very well made from high quality materials.
Rate the product for performance:
8/10
Very comfortable if used on the correct type of bike i.e with the right riding position.
Rate the product for durability:
8/10
High quality components and materials that will last.
Rate the product for weight, if applicable:
8/10
For its seeeming bulk, it's actually quite light.
Rate the product for comfort, if applicable:
8/10
A good balance of width for upright riding but not too much, and excellent gel content as well as a pleasant feeling cover surface.
Rate the product for value:
10/10
Very good value for money for such a well considered saddle.
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Levels of comfort and relatively low weight.
Also, value for money.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Nothing.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes.
Would you consider buying the product? Definitely.
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes.
Anything further to say about the product in conclusion?
A good option for touring or upright commuting styles.
Age: 37 Height: 1.65m Weight: 67kg
I usually ride: My best bike is:
I've been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: Most days I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, touring, general fitness riding, mtb,
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