Selle Italia SLC Gel Flow

Price Paid:  $0.00

Favorite Ride:
Bormio-Umbrail-Prato-Stelvio-Bormio

Bike Setup:
Principia Gaia, Ultegra 9-speed, Shimano WH-R561 wheel set

Summary:
I bought this saddle since I was looking for one not giving any pressure on the centre parts in order to solve the numbness I sometimes experience with my previous SI C2. And because this Selle Italia SLC is the greatest looking version of all saddles with cut out. The saddle is reasonably comfortable though the padding is quite firm to which I had to get used a while. The gel padding is mainly situated at the edges around the cut out and in the nose of the saddle, not in the wings. Numbness is history. There is quite some pressure of the edges around the cut out almost to a level that gets uncomfortable and probably also unhealthy.

Since the wings of this saddle have a considerable inclination, it seems that seat bone distance is critical as to whether this saddle will suit you or not. My seat bone distance is 3,9 inches (= a bit less than 10 cm). I estimate this saddle will definitely not be suitable in combination with a seat bone distance any larger than this, because the pressure of the edges around the cut out will increase to a (very) unacceptable level. Another reviewer described this as if you are sitting on a seatpost! I would recommend this saddle to people with 3,5 inch distance maximum. How to measure seat bone distance? Put a piece of corrugated cardboard on a (low) table and just sit on it in a biking position. Mark the centre of the prints that your seat bones have left on the cardboard and measure the distance between them. It’s regretful that Selle Italia (and many other saddle manufacturers) are not giving any information about the seat bone distance for which their saddle models have been developed!

Strengths:
Great design, image booster for your bike
Exceptional build quality
No numbness

Weaknesses:
Only suitable for smaller people

Similar Products Used:
San Marco Rolls **, Selle Italia Flite Ti version 1 ***, Selle Italia C2 Genuine Gel version 1 ***, SMP Stratos *, SMP Glider *, SI SLR 135 gram version **, San Marco Aspide Glamour 190 gram version w/o cut-out (discharged by my wife!) ****.

Price Paid:  $136.00 at ---

Favorite Ride:
Latigo, Nichols, Marina Sprint

Bike Setup:
Trek 5900 Frankenbike

Summary:
I am a 148 lb collegiate racer.

The saddle and my arse took ~700 mi to break one another in. I nearly tossed it after it annihilated my rear during training camp last winter. However, I am glad that I kept riding it.

Strengths:
The carbon seat portion has gained considerable flexibility after ~4k mi. The saddle now has an exceptionally comfortable fit. Unlike other saddles I've tried, this one applies zero pressure to my gonads. There is no numbness after century+ rides.

TOROTEC disdain the black saddle in general, but I find this saddle to be exceptionally good-looking component on a black frame.

Weaknesses:
Your arse may take some time to become one with this saddle. Use chamois cream, persevere.

If I gained 60 lb, I would be hesitant to ride this.

Similar Products Used:
Bontrager stock junk
Fi`Zik Arione (aka The Ball-Crusher)

Price Paid:  $70.00 at Performance

Favorite Ride:
copper triangle

Bike Setup:
Serotta Atlanta, campi, mavic

Summary:
Good airconditioning and comfortable for the first 50-60 miles. I really want off this saddle somewhere around 70 miles.

Strengths:
light, reasonably comfortable

Weaknesses:
painful on rides exceeding 70 miles

Similar Products Used:
plenty

Price Paid:  $150.00 at Local bike shop

Favorite Ride:
Where there are no cars

Bike Setup:
Scott CR1 Team, stock 105 drivetrain, 3T Rotundo Team handlebar, FSA OS 115 stem, SLC saddle

Summary:
Overall is a good saddle. No numbness at all, it's very confortable even with that big cutout area. It's also flexible and molds into your body after you break it in. It has minimal cushion (except for the nose), although it has gel in certain areas, but it's very thin. I guess you get the comfort in the thin carbon fiber shell, being very flexible. I rode this saddle for about 10 months and sometimes you get a little sored in areas where your body meets at the edges of the cutout, but is very minimal. As far as cosmetics is concerned, looks great, minimalist ala SLR (you could say they are cousins) and has the outstanding Selle Italia finish...

Strengths:
No numbness, comfortable, flexible

Weaknesses:
Expensive

Similar Products Used:
Selle San Marco Aspide