SCICON ELAN £180

Shaping up

SciCon’s all-new saddle uses a fashionably short design. The Elan Power Ergo (to give it its full name) measures up a scant 240mm long (the same as Specialized’s Power saddle) and 144mm wide. Its shape is reminiscent of Fizik’s Aliante, curving downwards from the back of the saddle to the centre before rising gently again towards the nose. Its base is formed by carbon rails slotted into a carbon/nylon hull and the whole thing weighs 206g.

Padded out

The padding on the Elan is extremely generous and this, combined with its deep centre channel, large cut-out and flexible hull, helps to create a supremely comfortable saddle. We found it was equally good for brief but fast blasts and long days in the saddle. The top cover is soft and stretchy, but its underside isn’t quite as nicely finished as the one on the Syncros Tofino.

Extra material

The carbon rails have clearly defined clamp zones that are covered in a non-slip texture. The top cover mixes matt and gloss finishes for style while the front third gets a lightly dimpled texture that aids grip, which we found particularly good for riding in wet conditions. It’s also available in a limitededition pack with an Elan saddlebag (loaded with patches, an inner tube, tyre levers and a CO adaptor for £219).

Fit findings

The Elan’s luxurious padding makes for a truly comfortable saddle and its curvy profile works very well in this shortened design. It’s only diminished by the creases on the cover’s underside fixing and exposed staples, which take the edge off its classy looks.