Selle Italia

C2 Gel Flow Saddle - Men's

The Selle Italia C2 Gel Flow Saddle blurs the lines between a firm race saddle and a comfort-oriented setup. The anatomic cutout and gel padding reduce the incidence of hotspots, while the manganese rails and leather top ensure that the C2 Gel Flow is built to put in the miles. So, if you find a rock-hard racing saddle to be too minimalist, but you still want a supportive saddle, you've just found a match.

The comfort of the C2 saddle starts with its nylon shell. It's designed to provide plenty of support for pedaling all-day, but it has enough flex built-in to cancel out most chatter and road vibration. The targeting padding tells a similar story -- it's supportive, but with plenty of give. It starts with an extra dose of foam as compared to Selle Italia's race-driven saddles, and it's topped off with a thin layer of gel. The gel used here is a far cry from the seat covers that you've seen. Instead of feeling like a bar stool, the C2 uses just enough padding to take the sting out of the roughest roads and bumpiest trails. However, it's still firm enough to protect you from hot spots. Additionally, the shape of the saddle naturally directs your body weight towards the rear of the saddle where your sit bones are able to take the brunt of support. And to make this more comfortable, the C2 features a 136mm width -- that's around 5mm wider than the SLR linen of saddles.

Differentiating itself from the standard C2 Genuine Gel saddle, the Flow features a respectably sized cutout. As a result, that 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.

Supporting the saddle itself are Selle Italia's Manganese Tube rails. These rails are lightweight, but they're also strong enough for off-road use. And on the topic of durability, the perforated leather cover not only breathes to keep you cool, but it's hard wearing and naturally abrasion-resistant.

The Selle Italia C2 Gel Flow Saddle is available in a 136x276mm size and in the color Black.