In the cycling world, one brand will make saddles and another will make bib shorts, and there is no overlap between those two companies. For two products so dependent on each other for rider comfort, it’s frankly mindblowing that they are considered separately. That was, until today. This morning, UK-based cycling powerhouse Rapha launched a new line of cycling saddles that are designed to work specifically with its bib shorts. It’s a novel idea, and one that in theory could bring a lot of comfort and proper fit to a broad swath of cyclists.
The truth is, most people don’t know how a saddle should fit properly. And while there’s no substitute for a proper bike fitting from a professional, Rapha’s taking a small step to making comfort and proper fit more readily available. By filling out a short questionnaire on the brand’s website (waist size, weight and riding type), Rapha then recommends a saddle and bib short combo for you.
There are two saddles to choose from: the Classic and the Pro Team; designed to pair with the Classic and Pro Team II bib shorts respectively. The Pro Team saddle comes in both a sold and cut out version, and is offered in a black or Rapha Cycle Club colorway. The Classic is available in white, black or the RCC colorway. Each Rapha saddle is handmade in Italy, and while not denoted on the saddle itself, is crafted by Selle Italia. According to VeloNews, while Rapha enlisted Selle to make the saddles, they did all product design and R&D in-house.
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