Back in the day, the Selle Italia Turbomatic was the saddle of choice for some of the biggest names in pro bike racing. Exactly when “back in the day” was can be guessed from a couple of their names: Miguel Indurain and Jan Ullrich. Big chaps, then, needing, given their respective palmares, a saddle offering sufficient support for comfort throughout a three week stage race…
It’s a comfortable saddle, then. The shape is excellent, with a long nose and pronounced curvature as it spreads rearwards to ensure adequate thigh clearance. The top covering is in real leather, albeit untextured and with a protective coating, unlike the original. There are a couple of innovations: the moulded plastic shell contains 10percent carbon fibres, and under the cover is something called Perfect Fit self-modelling padding.
The shock absorbing elastomer pads at each of the three rail insertion points remain and the saddle, available in black only (there’s a 220g white Team Edition version with carbon-fibre rails and a 260g Gel Flow example with central cutout) weighs 260g with manganese steel tube rails.
Ride impressions soon.
Selle Italia Turbomatic £84.99
