San Marco Regal

Price Paid:  $100.00 at Western Bikeworks

Favorite Ride:
Stave Lake

Bike Setup:
Carl Strong custom steel, Chorus/Record 10spd mix.

Summary:
Please see my review of the San Marco Rolls Ti for details on my saddle preferences and history.

The Regal is a very good saddle. I have it in white with Ti rails. I have been using on my 2nd bike while the Rolls has been my primary saddle for the past year. The two saddles are close in size and shape, the Regal is definitely more firm in its padding but not uncomfortably so. It has a slight concave profile front-back, but nothing as position-limiting as an Aliante, one can still move around fore-aft with ease. The main difference for me between Regal and Rolls is that the Regal is a little wider at the nose and starts to widen a little more in the middle before it flares. The Rolls stays slightly more narrow from nose to flare and that seems to be the deal breaker for me. Otherwise the saddles feel very similar. The Regal has deep side skirts so no buttock pinching from any sharp edges, or catching one's leg or shorts on the nose.

The Regal like the Rolls is very well built with durable leather and a durable shell. It will last multiple seasons, unlike the majority of the lightweight saddles. Yes it is heavy but comfort is more important than weight for a saddle. I will still give the Regal a "5" because it is worthy, the Rolls is the "5+" in my stable.

Strengths:
Comfort, durability, classic looks (plus it is still ridden on the bergs of Flanders by Tom Boonen and Stijn Devolder).

Weaknesses:
Weight. Like the Rolls, the deep skirts might make it impossible to mount on a Trek Madone integrated seat mast.

Similar Products Used:
Turbo, Turbomatic, Flite, Aliante, SLR, Arione, Rolls.

Price Paid:  $64.00 at eBay

Favorite Ride:
Hilly terrain

Bike Setup:
Basso Diamante, Campy Record group, Campy Eurus wheels, FSA SL-K compact crankset

Summary:
I own two Regal saddles, both with steel rails and perforated. The build quality is exceptional and the saddle provides the right amount of support and coushining for my butt. After a while I forget I am sitting on it. Your mileage may vary. I have also used San Marco Rolls which is very similar to Regal, but the shape of Regal suits me better.

Strengths:
Superb comfort and quality.
Totally pro and Euro way to go.
Perforated leahter looks great.

Weaknesses:
For me none. Weight weenies will find it heavy. As one of the reviewers put it, it's not the weight of the saddle that's holding you back, dude.

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia Trimatic, Fizik Arione, Selle Italia SLR, San Marco Rolls.

Price Paid:  $37.00 at ebay

Favorite Ride:
No rain

Bike Setup:
'02 Colnago Master, Campy Chorus/Record

Summary:
I bought this saddle used on ebay about 4 years ago. It is a cross between an old retro saddle and new age (nickle rivets and ti rails). It is very well made, with smooth leather (the new models have textured leather). It's wide and long (150mmx220mm). It's very comfortable saddle. I have numerous saddles I have used over the past couple of years and I always come back to my Regal.

Strengths:
This is a very durable saddle. Well tested with time and it will last for years.

Weaknesses:
Because of the way it is constructed it might not work on all seatposts. The skirts on the side come all the way down and you might not be able to get it back far enough. If you have a seatpost with lot's of setback you will not have a problem. Saddles are a very personal thing and it might not work for everyone. It's probably works better for riders with wide sit bones. Set up is very crucial.

Similar Products Used:
S.I. Flite, S.I. Max Flite, S.M. Era, Brooks Team Pro, S.M. Rolls, Fizik Pave, S.M. Aspide

Price Paid:  $100.00 at sagami cycles

Favorite Ride:
Zongdian to Dechan, Yunnan China

Bike Setup:
Cro-mo frame, with disk brakes. There's a photo of it on bikechina.com

Summary:
A very good saddle for touring, not too wide, not too narrow, good amount of padding without being spongey, and it has good support at the back which helps when climbing.

Strengths:
It has worn well considering that I sit on it everyday and it is often in the rain and sun. It still looks new. I can see that I'll be getting years of use out of it.

Weaknesses:
none except that I paid too much for it (which is usual in Japan)

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia Flite, Selle Royal Gel

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