Long Term Review: Selle Italia’s SLR Superflow 145 Saddle

This an outstanding saddle. A positive not mentioned is the leather’s smooth surface. Saddles with textured coverings wear holes in my shorts and/or chamois, or at least cause piling. The SuperFlow’s smooth surface allows me to fine tune sitting position while in motion without having to lift & place, and allows a frictionless transition when moving in and out of the saddle. Another plus, in addition the pleasing lack of perineum intrusion, is welcome aeration of the same region.

I was having numbness issues, and this saddle fixed the problem asap. It is by far the most comfortable saddle I’ve ridden on for both long and short efforts. If you think it’s right for you, do a little online snooping; it can be found for sub $200.

Early 2000’s?
http://www.oldbike.eu/museum/history/1890s-cycling/1898-cycle-saddles-the-anatomical-saddle/

@Naton: do some research before making silly statements. Specialized never invented bike fitting. This was being done in Europe (at least) many decades before Specialized even existed. Marketing is one thing, but reality is another.

oK, what I see is a huge hole in the saddle and two screws from underneath sticking up. Looks like a recipe for something very unsavory. I recently had an accident where the nose of my Prologo Zero II broke, so I must have come down pretty hard on the saddle (I only remember that part of the accident where I flew over the handle bars), so, coming down hard and two screws sticking up does not sound very comfortable in my ears…
But this seems to be not so much a feature of the saddle itself, but of the underlying fixing mechanism, so it might not be an issue on my bike at all. Currently I am riding a Specialized Phenom expert, which I bought in a bit of a hurry due to aforementioned accident and because I needed a new saddle (I ride to work every morning). So far it feels great, even a slight improvement over the Prologo,which I also liked, yet this might be also due to a slight change in inclination of the saddle. But I have just done tours of up to 75 km with a light rucksack, so I couldn’t say how it stands up to > 200 km and a tent, sleeping bag and 3 l of water in the rucksack…

this brooks surely pre-dates any BG offering! http://brown-snout.com/events/2006_paris/img_8310.jpg

There will be a Demo Program in 2014 (to go along with the IDMatch system), so you will be able to test the saddle if you want.

I recommend trying the IDMatch system – really helps in narrowing down a saddle selection.

And about Specialized – they take other ideas and market them very well. I’m hoping the comment from Naton was a joke, otherwise, learn your history. Next he’ll say Specialized invented the wheel!

Selle SMP saddles have been around a while now, yet aren’t given any mention in the article. Looking at this saddle, it seems to have taken many design cues from Selle SMP, which is a good thing IMHO. Prices are comparable.

@Robo – they weren’t the first nor the most innovative. There was a number of companies before Specialized who marketed cut-out and ergo saddles for years. The rest is Spesh’s marketing BS which you choose to believe.

Naked cyclist scrotum guillotine

@Dennis and Ben,
Okay Dennis, did Ben get a good translation on what you were saying? I was guessing it was something along those lines. Nutmeg to a fallen rider if he somehow stays in the saddle. I usually find some trajectory that ranges from 2 – 10m, however.

@Myke – saddle reviews with measurements like this are helpful. It gives you a baseline for comparison to what you have already ridden. And, the article never said specialized innovates. It did allude to the fact they they helped popularize saddle fitting.

Speedy, I actually own this saddle. I did a ton of research comparing measurements and sizing. It didn’t really help. I don’t find it comfortable on my road bike. The edges around the cut out are very hard and was never really comfortable.

I’ve used this for a little less then two years on my cyclecross bike. I’m 145-155 lb depending not the time of the year. Cut-out is great, nor does it pose risk to the user and this includes remounts after running barriers. I do wish it was a bit more round in the back (the industry seem to moving more in flat wafer direction) as I still prefer the shape of original Flite, Rolls, & Regal, but finding traditional shaped seats with a cut out is more difficult. I have yet to try the SBC Chicane, or Selle Turbomatic (None of Selle Italia saddles with gel I’ve owned I ever found comfortable)

Similar to SLR Super Flow and I still prefer the non-gel SLC for shape to cut out ratio. Not sure why but Selle Italia never promoted the SLC. I thought non gel was one of finest seats they ever produced. Only other issue is wafers seats tend to wear out where the thighs rub, it is starting to faintly show on nose of the saddle.