Selle Italia PROLINK

Price Paid:  $65.00 at LBS

Favorite Ride:
any

Bike Setup:
Litespeed classic
Litespeed Ghisallo

Summary:
I brought this saddle after riding a friends bike that had it (Prolink Tran Am). Instantly I fell in love with the fit and feel. However I am taking it off my Ghisallo becuase I want to lighten the bike.

Strengths:
COMFORT, COMFORT COMFORT

Weaknesses:
weight Wieghs nearly 430 grams.

Similar Products Used:
flight, O2, Kobbie

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Bike Swap Meet

Favorite Ride:
Old San Marcos Pass

Bike Setup:
My Pro-Link is on a Trek 5200 with Ultegra.

Summary:
The Pro-link Trans Am (with cutout) has been surprisingly comfortable for a modern, skinny & fairly light saddle; better than a Flite or Aliante for me. Shape is excellent, construction first rate. It flexes a bit but not too much. I've tried probably 50 saddles; this one is a keeper. It is comfortable enough for touring.

Strengths:
Pretty light, very refined shape, no leg rub at rear of saddle, nose is long enough, construction excellent, smooth surface, cut-out works.

Weaknesses:
A bit longer would have been better for me; I'm 6'3". Not to complain; for most people I'd say this is an excellent shape.

Similar Products Used:
Koobi(my current favorite), Flite, Fizik Aliante, Regal, dozens more; the ones I've listed are the best....

Price Paid:  $60.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere

Bike Setup:
Custom Seven Alaris, Full D/A, Velomax wheels, Speedplay Zero pedals.

Summary:
I've been a loyal Flite rider for years, but on my Cannondale was just getting beat up too much and was swayed by the "shock absorbing" pads in the Prolink.

The good news is I was impressed with the pads. There was a slight, but noticable improvement.

However, the carbon on the rails is rather lame, and though I use a Thomson post (the best) I have had issues with the carbon flaking off.

I also have not liked the overall fit of the saddle. It is slightly wider than the Flite (which I like) but the recess in the middle makes for awkward fitting. I have tended to angle the nose up to avoid sliding to the middle of the saddle.

Overall good quality (except for the carbon fiber on the rails), but not the saddle for me.

Strengths:
Elastometers are great. Fit and finish are typically high Selle Italia quality.

Weaknesses:
Carbon fiber wrap flakes off easily.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Body Geometry, Selle Italia Flite (many!).

Price Paid:  $15.00 at Cayuga Ski and Cycle

Bike Setup:
Old Colnago frame, Ultegra level components with an assortment of Italian stuff here and there.

Summary:
This saddle is definitely the most comfortable road saddle I have used. There is not a great amount of padding, but it flexes a good amount. The smooth streamlined design makes it comfortable without a chamois too. I appreciate the lack of stitching and ineffective "genuine gel" patches that lead to chafing. The store I got it from had taken it off of a sold bike and gave the buyer a $15 dollar credit. The store, in turn, sold me the saddle for $15 dollars. Mad props to CS&C.

Strengths:
Good flex, good shock absorption, really soft once it breaks in. Plus it looks really cool from the back.

Weaknesses:
A little bit heavy--this is the reason it gets 4 stars instead of five.

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia XO Genuine Gel, Salsa Zona Tres, SDG Bel-Air

Price Paid:  $120.00 at westend bikes housto

Bike Setup:
Scattante 2003 CFR Carbon w/ Double Ultegra

Summary:
After a few months trying to break in an over-embroydered Selle Genuine Gel and suffereing numbness every time I cycled for more than an hour, I can only say that the Prolink is luxury in comparison.

Strengths:
padding where it matters, works for my backside!

Weaknesses:
vibration dampening mechanism looks like a gimmick to me

Similar Products Used:
Selle Genuine Gel