Bjorn Probka Saddle

Incredibly light and surprisingly comfortable is how I'd describe the Bjorn Probka saddle. A blend of carbon and cork, it highlights the fact that you don't need a lot of padding for a comfortable ride on a race bike. And for such a low weight, it has a surprisingly sensible rider weight limit of 120kg. If you want to check out more options, though, read our guide to the best road bike saddles.

> Buy now: Bjorn Probka saddle for £260 from Sturdy Cycles

On appearances alone the Probka looks like a saddle for pro-level racers who spend most of their time out of the saddle smashing their way up climbs, or that it is designed to sit on a UCI-weight-limit-threatening build as a vanity project.

Neither is true.

The upper is made from 8mm thick cork and is very comfortable. Not only did I use it on the road bike, but the Probka also spent some time on my turbo bike where even on Zwift sessions of over 90 minutes I didn't suffer from any hot-spots or numbness.

A lot of that is down to the shape. It's 143mm in width at the rear (155mm is also available) with a narrow nose, and 250mm in length. The profile sees a slightly dropped nose, and the Probka kicks up at the rear giving you a platform to push against when on the climbs or getting the power down. The sides also slope downwards which means your thighs aren't restricted as you roll through the pedalling motion.

It really is a great shape, one that I got on with very well indeed.

As we always say, though, when it comes to comfort it's entirely subjective – what I find comfortable might, to you, feel like sitting on a bed of nails, or what is uncomfortable for me might make you feel like you're floating on a cushion of air.

Here, the cork has some natural shock absorbance which mutes a lot of the road buzz while still remaining firm enough to resist the power you are putting out. The carbon fibre hull, though, is rock solid unless you are really whacking the power out, which is impressive considering the minimal thickness of its construction. And any movement in it is barely noticeable while riding.

In contrast, the oval shaped carbon fibre rails do have a decent amount of flex, which also aids the comfort levels.

It's worth noting that should you require something specific in terms of the cork upper shape, Bjork does offer a custom option – something it's able to do because it CNC-machines the cork padding itself.

This construction weighs in at a tiny 107g on the road.cc Scales of Truth, which is very impressive, especially when that weight is backed up by a 120kg rider weight limit. You can also carry a saddle bag as long as it weighs less than 10kg.

The whole saddle is very well built; there are no remnants of excess glue or anything around the edges – which is how it should be for a saddle costing £260.

The cork has also been impregnated with a compound that protects it from moisture, salt and UV. Riding in the rain saw the upper remain bone dry.

The cork can damage easily around the edges, though, so you will need to look after it more carefully than you might be used to. It can get scuffed against a wall, or if your bike falls over. I did exactly that – I leant it against a wall and the bike moved, which pulled a small chunk of cork from the side.

It's not a cheap buy, either – although it's by no means as expensive as some saddles we have tested recently, though admittedly, not many of them use cork.

The most expensive saddle we have ever tested, the Selle Italia SP-01 Boost Tekno Superflow, weighs 119g and costs a cool £431.10 according to Selle Italia's website.

A saddle that I also reviewed recently and found to be exceptionally comfortable is the Specialized S-Works Romin Evo Mirror, whose upper is created by 3D printing a polymer lattice. It costs £390, and is heavier at 189g.

Conclusion

Overall, the Probka tips all of my initial preconceptions on their head. Its minimal padding provides a very comfortable perch, and just because something is very light and almost fragile looking doesn't mean it can't carry a big old rider without issues. It's a big chunk of cash, but it doesn't let anything down in terms of quality or durability.

Verdict

Impressively comfortable, and very, very light