Selle Italia

Flite Flow Saddle

Selle Italia has been a key player in the saddle game for over a century, and it's brought it's A game to the table with the Flite Flow Saddle. Building on the foundation laid by the original 1990 Flite, the Flow version sees the same mid-width shape and moderate padding, only it boosts the comfort with a pressure-relieving cutout. Throw in titanium rails and a snag-free Lorica cover, and you have a guaranteed recipe for comfort.

The Flite Flow starts with a mid-width, carbon-reinforced nylon composite base. And, if you're wondering what the composite percentage is, it's 10% carbon fiber and 90% nylon. This is around 20% less carbon fiber then what's found in the SLR line, but it adds to the support, while enabling a natural flex that neutralizes road and trail chatter. The tail is 145mm wide, just a millimeter narrower than the original 1990 Flite design and 14mm wider than the SLR. But, the noticeable difference is the anatomic cutout, which is designed to direct pressure away from your perineal artery and adjacent soft tissue. As a result, pressure is directed to your sit bones (ischial tuberosity), which are far more adept at supporting your body weight. Additionally, they're able to do so without causing numbness during long rides. This principle is further supported by the wide cut out, as it removes pressure from the pudendal nerve. Essentially, this is a nerve that runs from around the third vertebrae, all the way down towards your foot. And when compressed at the perineum region, it is one of the major contributors to numbness. So, by relieving the very threat of pressure, your blood flow remains consistent, eliminating numbness.

To boost the comfort, the Flight Flow receives more padding than Selle Italia's SLR line of saddles. However, it's worth noting that this isn't a couch. Instead, it was designed to be a responsive saddle that's well suited to racing and all-day rides. Furthering this concept is the Flight's quick-drying and breathable Lorica cover -- the same material found on a majority of SLR saddles. Additionally, it has the added benefit of being non-abrasive and low in friction, meaning that your shorts will slip right by instead of catching and chafing.

The Flite rests on Selle Italia's TI 316 Tube titanium rails. These rails provide plenty of strength, and just as importantly, without stacking on the grams. They also feature the additional benefit of vibration absorption, meaning that you'll experience less numbness of long rides.

The Selle Italia Flite Flow Saddle is available in a 145x275mm size and in the colors Black, White, and Red. Please note that this saddle is approved for both off-road and road use, and that it has a claimed weight 210 grams.