Diatech Gran Compe saddle

There’s no doubt the Gran Compe is a fine saddle designed to capture the imaginations of the traditionalist and hipster alike thanks to the selection of flamboyant and more conservative colours coupled with sharp detailing including embossed logos and brass rivets at the rear. However, giving a penny change from £80 beauty comes at a price and there’s a weight penalty too thanks to steel rails.

Memories are designed to fade and it’d been 20 years since I last broke-in a traditional leather saddle. Having mounted it to the Univega, in preparation for those long steady miles I treated the hide to a generous helping of Nikwax on the grounds it would protect the leather from the elements and hopefully accelerate its moulding to my posterior. Deep mirror chrome rails should, with a bit of care stand the test of time, although you’d hardly put it aboard the hack. The long nose and fractionally wider 150mm base required some initial movement along the rails to prevent annoying slippage-especially wearing mtb trousers.

Surprisingly comfortable around the crotch, the initial twenty miles saw my Ischial Tuberosity (sit bones) screaming a very different tune so, if the opportunity presents itself, I’d be inclined to do some serious miles on the turbo trainer so you can just hop off should things become too harsh on the tush. Maintaining the hide’s tension is simple courtesy of the 4mm Allen bolt located under the nose-our test model has required a few quick tweaks over the test period but after 220 miles much of the moulding seems to have taken place. For all its retro beauty, 540g is quite a weight penalty and it will require more care than common or garden leather topped, Cro-moly perches, although possibly one worth paying for that most personal of contact points.

Verdict

Lovely classic saddle but allow for plenty of bedding in