Saddles are a personal choice – one rider’s armchair is another bed of nails – but the Forza Team Issue provides a smart, lightweight option for cyclists who prefer a flat perch.
Forza – or 4ZA – began life as part of Ridley Bikes before launching as a standalone brand at the back-end of last year, arriving in the UK having signed a distribution deal with Todays Cyclist, with this saddle the first product available.
And the company’s Belgian heritage is reflected in the aesthetic design of the Team Issue Saddle (it was used by the Forza-sponsored Vacansoleil-DCM team in 2011, while Andre Greipel’s Lotto-Belisol use the company’s components in 2012), with the country’s black, yellow and red flag featuring on the top of the saddle, providing a smart contrast to the racy black and white colourway.
So it looks good – and I’ve also found it comfortable thanks to the flat design, with the saddle about as level you’ll find on the market, with no recessed channel or rise at the back.
The saddle, which measures 285mm by 145mm, has a nylon base, which offers enough flex to take some of the sting out of rough roads, while the titanium rails provide means for durable and lightweight attachment to your machine’s seatclamp and the hardwearing Microfeel cover gives a good amount of grip.
Claimed weight is 155g and while ours came in a little heavier at 179g, that remains very competitive for the £69.99 retail price, resulting in an impressive debut for Forza on RCUK.
