At their Sea Otter booth this year SDG was showcasing a revamped version of their popular Bel Air saddle. While the original saddle will still be available, and both will share more the less the same shape, the 2.0 version has a few new features which make it much more of a performance saddle.
Probably the biggest difference between the two models is the one that is not visible to the eye, because underneath the cover SDG has made the change from Mid-density PU foam to the lightest EVA available. This foam not only cuts down on weight, but it’s also slightly stiffer for better power transfer, and should hold it’s shape better in the long run.
Some other big changes were done to make the ride a little more friendly to your “soft tissue.” The new saddle has a Peri-canal which has been widened and extends the full length of the saddle to offer perennial relief. The 2.0 has also been redesigned with more rear-rise, to help rotate the pelvis forward to help place the rider in a better position on the bike.
One of their most popular saddles, the Duster is a fairly versatile saddle that has been ridden by their sponsored XC team on everything from road rides to mountain bike epics. At the booth, they had one of the saddle bases on display, so you could easily identify the rubberized compound that skirts the edges of the main base plate. These rubberized wings flex to provide traction when cornering and add an extra bit of comfort when pedaling.
Every year, SDG chooses five of it’s most popular saddles to give a special color treatment to. They year, they’ve gone with a muted black color scheme with gold accents, which will match perfectly if you have a stealth and kashima bike in the works.
The saddles all have a nice blend of gold and white accents, for a really clean and simple look.
SDG is also developing saddles in conjunction with The Sensus. Their first product is a reworked version of the Apollo saddle, which has fresh artwork with intricate details. For example, on this saddle sweet Lady Liberty is carrying a SDG emblazoned six pack of PBR.
The second iteration of the Apollo currently in development is the “Beer-berry.”
