Bontrager has unveiled a new lineup of Aeolus 'aero road saddles' – although it's not that the saddles are designed to be aero, it's that they're intended to keep you comfortable while you're riding in an aero position.
Each of the new designs features a full central cutout, a short overall length, and a wide nose. Bontrager, Trek's in-house brand, says that these work together to relieve pressure on soft tissue areas for both male and female riders.
"When road cyclists rotate forward and tuck into an aero position they interact more with the front of their saddle," says Justin Henkel, Trek's Director of Product for Saddles and Essentials. "That can cause a lot of pressure and discomfort. Aeolus saddles solve this problem. They're designed specifically for comfort and targeted support in an aero position."
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All Aeolus saddles feature a split design (a little like that of the Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Kit Carbonio Superflow that we reviewed recently, for example) to minimise pressure on soft tissue.
"Aeolus has a wider nose with a shorter overall length that ensures the whole saddle is usable and comfortable, whether you’re sitting up on the hoods or hammering in the drops," says Bontrager.
There are three models in the Bontrager Aeolus saddle lineup: Pro (£149.99), Elite (£89.99), and Comp (£44.99). They're all short at 250mm, and they come in two different widths: 145mm and 155mm.
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The Aeolus Pro has OCLV carbon oval rails (7 x 10mm), a carbon-reinforced shell, and minimal padding to keep weight low. Trek claims a weight of 170g for this model in a 145mm width. The Aeolus Elite and Comp models have more padding and round (7mm) alloy rails.
Aeolus saddles work with Bontrager's new Blendr accessory mount. This attaches to the rear of the saddle for integration with any Bontrager Flare rear light, leaving enough room for a seat pack.
Mat has worked for loads of bike magazines over 20+ years, and been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. He's been road.cc technical editor for eight years, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a past winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer.