While a full carbon saddle may not be for everyone, if you have the buns of steel to accommodate one, it can provide a unique sense of comfort.
As a rider who suffered immeasurably from chafing in the past, needless to say, I tried virtually every brand of chamois cream and embrocation along the way, rising to the level of carnival grease in a desperate attempt to soothe my undercarriage to no avail.
After all attempts failed, I began experimenting with different saddle shapes and materials.
To make a long story short, I ultimately arrived at a full carbon saddle as a way of trying to reduce the amount of friction between my love-making tackle and the bike seat.
I must admit however, the initial transition from a padded saddle to one with no more cushioning than a railroad spike, was not an easy one. However, over time my beef cakes began to develop an endurance for a carbon saddle, and at one point it actually became quite comfortable.
That was nigh-on to twenty years ago. And, until this day, I’m still riding a full carbon saddle. And, yes the elevator still goes to the top floor. 🙄
Every once and awhile though, I’ll revisit a padded saddle. However, it isn’t long before my undercarriage revolts, and I quickly retreat back to my coveted carbon slab.
On the style side of things, I must admit how I admire the way the carbon saddle looks on my bike, and how it serves to shave-off quite a bit of weight as well.
I equally enjoy the reaction of other riders, who when they see it, inevitably ask the question – “how do you ride that thing”? – to which I often respond, “quite dedicatedly thank you”.
There aren’t a lot of full carbon saddles available, but if you have the will (and the buns of steel as I said), every now and then a new model emerges.
One of the more recent saddles to hit the market comes from the German boutique brand Tune, who offers its Skyracer that weighs in at a gravity defying 69 grams.
At 69 grams, the Skyracer is clearly one of the lightest saddles available, if not the lightest, which took Tune no fewer than five years to develop.
The manufacturing process combines high-modulus carbon fiber to form a one-piece saddle without epoxied joints. And, despite its astonishingly lightweight, the Skyracer is also approved for off-road use as well.
Additionally, the Skyracer’s forged carbon rails are compatible with all common seatpost clamps and offer a wide-range of adjustment in order to adapt to both the geometry of the bike and the anatomy of the cyclist. Moreover, the saddle is shaped in a way as to provide the cyclist with two different seating positions. For instance, Tune says the raised rear end facilitates power transmission and makes it easier to climb very steep gradients.
Lastly, the color of the Skyracer’s padded nose is available in black, red, green, blue, orange or yellow, which is designed to keep the edges of the nose smooth and protected, and prevent the cyclist’s shorts from getting snagged up on it as well.
At €335, the Skyracer doesn’t come cheap, but then again nothing ever does from Tune.
Tune
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