【SELLA ANATOMICA】 A new favorite I recently purchased.

2021/5/1 池山豊繁

I’m sure many of you have started a long weekend, but the forecast says the weather in Nagoya will turn for the worse starting this afternoon. Just as I picked up my pen, it started thundering and raining outside.

It’s hard to get around during a long weekend like this, but if the weather is bad, I recommend taking it as a sign to show your bike some love and focus on maintenance instead. Speaking of this rainy Nagoya weather, today I’d like to introduce something that is personally the best purchase I’ve made recently. It’s a reliable item to have on rainy days like today, and one I highly recommend for the upcoming rainy season.

SELLE ANATOMICA makes a rubber saddle?!

I finally replaced the saddle on my My Doppo ATB, which sees a lot of action as my partner for commuting and BikeToFishing. I purchased the new R2 Rubber Saddle released by SELLE ANATOMICA.

Selle Anatomica is known for receiving tremendous support from long-distance cyclists around the world—from global long-distance tourists to local Randonneurs. Their saddles are defined by the large cutout in the center known as "THE SLOT." This comes from the concept that "when a person and a bicycle become one, you must focus on human body movement when designing the saddle—the center of gravity—and because both legs move independently while on a bike, the saddle should accommodate that movement."

I had been keeping an eye out after hearing that Selle Anatomica had created an all-weather rubber saddle. My original BROOKS Cambium C17 Carved saddle's canvas top had worn out, and the rubber was getting pretty tired, so I decided to take the plunge and replace it.

Comfortable flexibility that rivals leather

This is actually my first Selle Anatomica saddle, including their leather ones. I’ve sat on other staff members' and customers' saddles, so I was already aware of how comfortable the leather versions are. I was curious how the rubber version would feel, and although the stiffness was a bit noticeable at first, I felt a comfortable amount of flex relatively quickly, and so far, it’s been great.

Even though the material is different from leather, the structural design with the large fore-aft cutout remains the same. Honestly, my impression after using it for several months is that it flexes and is easier to ride than I imagined. Furthermore, it features a structure that allows you to adjust the tension just like their leather models (a first in the industry), so even if it becomes more flexible over time, I can adjust it to keep using it for a long time. I have high expectations for this.

In addition, just like the leather saddle series X2, H2, and NSX2, the seat surface and rails are attached with bolts rather than rivets. This means that if the seat surface ever reaches its limit after long-term use, it’s possible to replace just the surface while keeping the rails. Considering the adjustable tension feature I mentioned earlier, I think this saddle can be used for a very long time.

Of course, since it's rubber, don't forget that it is also fully waterproof!

I’ve been focusing on the benefit of longevity, but we shouldn’t forget the main purpose of using rubber: its water resistance. You can use it without worry even on rainy days. This is a truly reliable saddle as we head into the rainy season. Another thing I noticed after I started using it is that thanks to the rubber, the grip is good, so even when wearing rain pants, your position on the saddle feels stable.

Of course, there’s no need to worry about color fading, and so far, I haven't seen any signs of the rubber degrading from storage outdoors in the sun. That said, I imagine this could become an issue with long-term use, so I will continue to monitor it. Storing it out of direct sunlight is probably best if you can.

If you are interested in the comfort of a leather saddle but are a bit worried about the maintenance (or you find maintenance too much of a hassle, haha), or if you are looking for a saddle for a bike you use daily rain or shine, I highly recommend this one!