Selle San Marco Concor Racing Fluoro Flash Edition

The rebirth of a classic design from the late 1970s, the Selle San Marco Concor Racing Fluoro Flash Edition is a firm, light, racing-orientated saddle with a touch of dayglo flair.

Saddles are a very personal choice. Not only from a material, shape and width point of view but colour. Get all these factors right and you'll have a pretty decent perch. Get one or more wrong and it'll be downright painful or maybe just fidgety uncomfortable.

Selle San Marco have been making saddles since 1935, based in a small northern Italian town called Rossano Veneto. The Concor model was first introduced in 1978 and is renowned for being lightweight and comfortable. The list of big race winners who have used one of these saddles is seriously impressive.

Back then the original had a rounded, slim profile. The present incarnation has taken the design further by using state of the art materials and developing the saddle over two years to produce what they hope will be another winner.

The Selle San Marco Concor has Biofoam padding to provide support as well as long lasting comfort. On top of this is a cover of Microfeel which is durable, soft and supple. All of this is placed upon a reinforced carbon hull. The hull has a degree of flex but is designed to remain stable under pressure and thus providing the rider with a solid and stable base to push against.

The rails are made from an alloy Selle San Marco calls Xsilite which contains silicon, titanium and carbon and is claimed to be stronger and lighter than titanium. The whole thing weighs in at 190 grams.

In terms of performance it hits all the spots, in the right way. There was some initial discomfort as the saddle moulded to its new position. The wings are not intrusive but on those early rides it was enough to force me out of the saddle more than I normally would. However after some regular commuting with the occasional evening or weekend ride I felt it was time for a proper test.

What better way to prove your saddle is suitable than with an all day ride. The prospect of jumping out of the saddle did not appeal on a ride of this length. My fears were unfounded. There is enough flex on the wings for my thighs to find an accommodating position and when you need to exert additional power the hull is firm enough to allow you to do so.

The only downside to this particular version is the fluoro green stripe right down the middle. It's not subtle, but given that most of the time this will be hidden it's perhaps a small price to pay. Talking of which the Concor is priced at £99.99 which places it mid-range even in the San Marco range.

The Selle San Marco Concor saddle is firm enough to provide a solid power base but offers enough flex to provide stability even on the longest of rides. It's a well made, supportive ride at a reasonable price.

Verdict

Well made and supportive saddle with a prestigious heritage.