Selle Italia Sport Gel Flow FEC-Alloy saddle

The Selle Italia Sport Gel Flow FeC-Alloy saddle is described as 'the ultimate embodiment of the spirit of Selle Italia, offering high-level performance even to occasional riders for whom time on the bike can be scarce. The Sport Gel Flow strikes the perfect balance between sporty design and total comfort, the best way to enhance your riding experience'. Several weeks in, I'm inclined – and slightly surprised – to say it lives up to the hype.

• Pros: Generally well made, comfortable on and off road
• Cons: Finishing could be neater, FeC rails add weight

These days I find most cutouts very effective. Aside from relieving pressure, they also channel a consistent stream of cooling air, welcome on longer, warmer rides. The anatomic cutout here provides excellent comfort to “soft tissue” areas by offering greater flexibility at the front of the saddle.

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I popped the Sport Gel Flow on my Univega rough stuff tourer – not the most obvious choice, perhaps, especially given the build's more upright stance – but it would prove a good test of the padding's support.

Said machine sees a fair bit of green lane/dirt road action, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover the Sport Gel Flow offered adequate support. The padding is generous but reassuringly firm rather than squidgy. I really was surprised by the quality of support and overall comfort. Increasing the mileage, ride by ride, the song remained the same.

At 140 x 270mm, the saddle is relatively short and narrow, and the width is conducive to high cadences, with no hint of chafing.

The cover's texture is more slippery than others I've tested recently, permitting minute adjustments but without annoying and sometimes tempo-sapping surf. (Alternating between different tights confirmed this wasn't a garment quirk.) Tenure has been consistently good, rain or shine.

On the underside, the FeC-alloy hollow steel rails have the usual increments for easy adjustment. They're not overly hefty and should prove reliable, but chromoly is increasingly common at this price point and arguably more desirable. The steel rails here don't deliver the same 'zing' as titanium, carbon or manganese types, but have done a decent job of ironing out lower-level vibrations (there's also less risk of doing damage should you need to wind the post clamp bolt tight 'blind' with your multi-tool).

Union between components is a generally tidy mix of bonding, screws and staples. It could have been neater, perhaps, and I prefer slotted and screwed unions, but it all seems a sturdy package and should last. The embossed surface can cultivate a grimy patina, but is easily dismissed with a damp cloth.

Logos and detailing are subtly retro-reflectives, reminiscent of a starling's coat (that could just be me!).

Value

The Sport Gel Flow isn't an expensive saddle, but the Fabric Scoop Sport is lighter, the underside tidier, and it's £5 cheaper.

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B'Twin's 900 Sport was also highly regarded when tested in 2015, and is still just £21.99.

Conclusion

Overall, the Selle Italia Sport Gel Flow delivers on and off road, but it faces stiff competition from lighter models boasting chromoly rails and neater finishing for less money.

Verdict

Sporty and extremely comfortable saddle, but specification and finish are lower than some competitors