Kontact Anatomical Saddle

The Kontact Anatomical race saddle feels precisely how a good saddle should feel and I've managed several hundred mixed-terrain miles without a hint of discomfort, and that's pretty impressive from a perch hovering around 200g.

The one amendment I would like to see are scuff bumpers - not that you'd put an 80 quid saddle on a town hack but since bikes are typically propped by their saddles against walls, posts and other street furniture, it makes sense to add some reinforcement in these key areas.

Titanium rails, carbon fibre/plastic bases and leather covers are hardly front-page news but there's some secrecy when it comes to the padding and a damper nestling between the chassis and rails. My money says its some kind of elastomer, although to some extent the origins aren't particularly significant so long as it works and doesn't require any specialist care. Sharing clear similarities with Selle Italia's classic Flite and BBB's unfortunately named Razor, the rear is designed with plentiful support to the ischial tuberosities (sit bones to you and me) while the cutaway nose is shaped to relieve pressure up front.

Twenty miles into our first outing, I knew we were soul-mates with all the components working harmoniously to give a magic carpet experience, without undue bulk (although we're told a 'recreational' model is in the pipeline). Good quality titanium rails offer plenty of zing over poor surfaces while the clever little damper and carbon composite base extra comfort, suggesting this is a worthy contender for cyclocross duties too.

I used this saddle on a Univega with an upright ride position and a Teenage Dream for some long, steady miles on the tri bars and it was equally comfortable throughout.

Verdict

Impressive minimalist saddle for all-round road duties, although scuff bumpers would be a practical tweak.