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review
Saddles
Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle
Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle

Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle

8
by James Whateley
UPDATED Wed, Mar 30, 2016 00:01

First Published Mar 29, 2016

0
£29.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A cheap but good quality saddle specifically for those who like to ride hard in a tucked position
Weight: 
254g
Contact: 
www.wiggle.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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Wiggle brand Cosine's range of saddles features four men's and two women's models for a variety of disciplines. This, the Ti Sprint Road Saddle, could be classed as the most extreme, with racing in mind. If that's what you're looking for, it's very good; just bear in mind it's not for long endurance rides.

The design of the saddle is optimised specifically for those riding in a tucked aerodynamic position. The 140mm-wide flat body, with a long relief channel, helps to distribute your weight evenly on your sit bones rather than on any soft tissue. The narrow nose will stop your inner thighs from rubbing against the saddle during a pedal stroke; that seemed to work, although it's safe to say my climbing-sized thighs have never had much of a problem with that anyway.

Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle - nose.jpg

If you just want to ride 'normally', look elsewhere. For anyone not riding constantly in a tucked position, the profile doesn't make for a comfortable ride. I found myself wanting to shift position constantly and never really able to settle until I was back in the tuck. That puts a strain on your body, especially if you don't have a very flexible lower back. I wouldn't recommend it for any lengthy riding and certainly not for long casual rides or commutes.

> Check out our guide to choosing the right saddle

That's not to say it's a bad saddle, it's just very much fit for purpose. I was pleasantly surprised by its quality and looks. The waterproof microfibre cover is a thin layer of EVA foam padding which, when combined with the nylon fibre base, makes for a firm surface with a little flex.

Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle - surface.jpg

The titanium alloy rails, coated in chromium nitride, provide a clean and sleek look to the underside while being stiff, corrosion resistant and remaining light. This rigidity means less flexing so, again, don't expect much comfort on rough roads. The measurement markers on the rails help with setting up your position, which is important if you want to get comfortable when tucked up.

Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle - underside 2.jpg

Saddles are always an incredibly personal component of the bike, which makes this review a very hard one to judge. I didn't find it particularly comfortable, but then I'm not one to be out riding my local chaingang every weekend. If short, hard rides are your thing, this may well be the right saddle for you; if you'd rather a four-hour comfortable ride in the countryside, you may be more interested in Cosine's Endurance or Sport models.

At only £30, it wouldn't be an expensive mistake to try the Ti Sprint, though, and if you like it you'll certainly be getting value for money.

Verdict

A cheap but good quality saddle specifically for those who like to ride hard in a tucked position

road.cc test report

Make and model: Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle

Size tested: 140mm wide

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?

Wiggle says: "Comfort, support and stability for flexible, speed orientated cyclists. With lightweight titanium rails, minimal cushioning and a flat profile, the TI Sprint saddle excels on time trials, tri stages and high intensity road rides."

It's designed for speed orientated cyclists and excels on high intensity road rides or time trials. The geometry has been optimised to be comfortable when in a tucked position. It's certainly not designed for your average ride and can be quite uncomfortable unless you are in the tuck.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Flat profile optimized for flexible cyclists.

Lightweight Titanium alloy rails with corrosion resistant Chromium Nitride (CrN) coating and fore/aft measurement markers.

Waterproof Microfibre cover.

Minimal high density EVA foam padding.

Solid nylon fiber base.

Shallow pressure relief channel.

Narrow nose reduces contact with the inner thigh.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Very well made product with very few faults.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Does what Cosine says it will. Rigid flat saddle aimed specifically at riders in the tucked position, which is when the saddle becomes comfortable. Ideally, a saddle would be a little more versatile than that, since few people will solely be out riding hard all the time.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

Slightly heavier than the endurance model, but at 254g it isn't going to be holding you back.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
6/10

Comfort is a hard one to judge. I would say it is comfortable, albeit not amazing, when in the tucked position as it has been designed for. But the second you stray away from that and try to sit up to ride, things become very uncomfortable. I certainly didn't enjoy commuting on it or anything other than the occasional hard ride.

Rate the product for value:
 
10/10

A good quality saddle for only £30! It's excellent value for money if, again, it is designed for what you want to ride. I would say it's worth a try if you're looking for a new saddle for your TT bike and aren't sure what to buy.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

For its designed purpose it was a good saddle, but if you stray away from a tucked position you may come to regret it.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Nice looking, and well made, for a fraction of the price of many out there.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The lack of versatility. If you weren't tucked up, things got very uncomfortable.

Did you enjoy using the product? Only when I was riding hard.

Would you consider buying the product? Not really for me.

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes depending on what they are looking for.

Use this box to explain your score

It is a very good saddle at an excellent price, as long as you're sure what you are buying it for.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 22  Height: 5ft 8in  Weight: 62kg

I usually ride: Cannondale CAADX  My best bike is: Scott CR1 Pro

I've been riding for: Under 5 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: road racing, cyclo-cross, commuting, touring, club rides, sportives

Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle 2016
Cosine Ti Sprint Road Saddle
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