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review

PRO Turnix Performance Saddle

8
£99.99

VERDICT:

8
10
Long, stiff-based and great for fast road riding, yet usefully comfortable too
Quality construction
Stiff base is great for putting the power down
Suits fast road riding
Various accessories can be fitted
Painted rails scuff quite easily
A bit too stiff for off-road
Weight: 
210g

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The PRO Turnix Performance Saddle has an anatomic cutout, a carbon-reinforced base and stainless steel rails, and is usefully light. It offers a firm ride that's great for putting the power down through the pedals, but it's maybe too firm for gravel or dirt. The quality is impressive for the price, though, and it and looks very smart to boot.

Pro says this is designed for moderately flexible riders who prefer a balanced pressure distribution, and this particular version (there are six) marries a lightweight carbon-reinforced base to stainless steel rails and a durable-feeling (and easy to clean) polyurethane cover. I tested the 142mm width (you can also get 132, 142 and 152mm).

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The Turnix is very nicely constructed, with neat details such as the PRO logos and a dimpled section on one side. The underside is even more impressive, with very tidy lugs for the rails – they almost look like a set of aerofoils from behind. There are also a two bolt holes for securely attaching quite a range of accessories – think GoPros, race numbers and saddle bags.

2021 PRO Turnix Performance Saddle - underside back.jpg

The Turnix is a fair bit stiffer than I expected. Despite the cutout, the base is quite unyielding and really doesn't flex much, and I felt none of the slightly springy feel I usually do with stainless steel rails.

2021 PRO Turnix Performance Saddle - underside.jpg

The main comfort comes from the small amount of cushioning in the PU cover, and the cutout. It works though, or at least it does for me – I didn't suffer any numbness or soreness during the two month test period, which included some 100km+ rides in very hot July weather.

2021 PRO Turnix Performance Saddle - cut out.jpg

The PRO Turnix is really in its element during fast road riding; you can really lever against that stiff base while sticking as much power through the cranks as you can muster. As it's fairly long at 275mm you can also get very far forward, right on the rivet for head down sprints. Here it becomes slightly squashier, too. I appreciated this, as some saddles can dig at the front as the cushioning thins out.

2021 PRO Turnix Performance Saddle - nose.jpg

It's easy to slide fore and aft, too, as there's none of the sticky feeling some saddles have that can almost anchor you to the spot.

> 31 of the best cycling saddles for 2021 — get more comfortable on your road bike

Reposition to the back, on the rounded and raised tail, and again the stiffness helps – it's good for recruiting glute muscles for those long hill climbs. I found the Turnix slightly more comfortable tilted forward by a few degrees to lift that rear end up slightly.

2021 PRO Turnix Performance Saddle - rear.jpg

The stiffness does mean it's best suited to road use, though. On a gravel bike I found it too jarring when hitting the bumps. And while we're on minor niggles, a small amount of black paint scuffed off when adjusting this in the clamp; perhaps it would have been better to keep them unpainted.

Value

At just under £100, the Turnix is about market rate for a carbon reinforced saddle with stainless rails, and the quality is impressive. In fact, it's arguably better-finished than the more expensive (£129.99) Fizik Antares R3 Open, which also has a carbon-reinforced base but aluminium rails, plus dimensions that are almost identical to the millimetre. The Turnix is also lighter than the 227g Antares R3.

Personally I have an Antares, and I have to say, the Pro Turnix is the more nicely-made saddle, in my opinion.

The Astute Star Lite VT also features a cutout and a similar raised rear end (and a more squashy front end for getting down in the drops), and though it has carbon rails it's still heavier than the Turnix at 220g. It's also considerably more money at £179.99.

If you're looking to spend less, the Selle San Marco Mantra Dynamic is similar (if not carbon reinforced) and sits on steel rails, and is just a few grams heavier at 217g. It's around £15 lighter on the wallet at £84.99.

Overall

It goes without saying (although I still have to say it...) that saddle fit is subjective, but with six Turnix models PRO is doing its best to appeal to everyone – assuming you're after a long, stiff saddle in the first place, of course. I found this version suited me extremely well, and liked the firm base that's ideal for fast road riding, sprints and high cadence power-spinning up hills. The high quality and low weight are impressive, too.

Verdict

Long, stiff-based and great for fast road riding, yet usefully comfortable too

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road.cc test report

Make and model: PRO Turnix Performance Saddle

Size tested: 142mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

PRO says "The PRO Turnix Performance Saddle is a saddle designed for a wide variety of riders who prefer a balanced pressure distribution and features a carbon base set upon stainless steel rails. They are available in models with and without a pressure relieving anatomic recess."

I was curious to see if the cutout would work, and if I could make use of the 275mm length, as I tend to move around quite a bit on the saddle.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

PRO says:

Designed for moderately flexible riders who prefer a balanced pressure distribution

Lightweight carbon reinforced base with anatomic cut out and stainless steel rails (full carbon base and railed) versions are available)

Durable Polyurethane cover

Length: 275mm

Widths: 132, 142 and 152mm (Size tested was 142mm) available, as well as with and with carbon rails, and regular or anatomic fit - six Turnix models are available – this one is the PRSA0338.

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10

Nicely constructed and very tidy.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Stiffer than I expected. Despite the open channel, the carbon-reinforced base is quite unyielding and doesn't flex much, and it's in its element for fast road riding.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
9/10

At 210 grams, its light for a steel-railed saddle.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Just under £100 for is about the market rate for the spec, and this is high quality for the money.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very good for fast road or crit racing due to the stiff base.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Quality, smart looks, stiff base is great for putting the power down.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The black painted rails suffered a small amount of flaking. Perhaps they would have been better off unpainted. Also, it's a little too stiff for gravel or off-road.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

At just under £100, the Turnix is about market rate for a carbon reinforced saddle with stainless rails, and the quality is impressive. In fact, it's arguably better-finished than the more expensive (£129.99) Fizik Antares R3 Open, which also has a carbon-reinforced base but aluminium rails, plus dimensions that are almost identical to the millimetre. The Turnix is also lighter than the 227g Antares R3.

The Astute Star Lite VT also features a cutout and a similar raised rear end (and a more squashy front end for getting down in the drops), and though it has carbon rails it's still heavier than the Turnix at 220g. It's also considerably more money at £179.99.

If you're looking to spend less, the Selle San Marco Mantra Dynamic is similar (if not carbon reinforced) and sits on steel rails, and is just a few grams heavier at 217g. It's around £15 lighter on the wallet at £84.99.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

Obviously saddles are subjective, but I liked the firm base – it's good to really push hard against, making it ideal for fast road riding and sprints. It's also good for sitting further back on, recruiting the glute muscles for some power spinning up hills. The quality and weight are impressive too – only the easily-scuffed paint of the rails disappoints. It's a very good 8 out of 10.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 43  Height: 181  Weight: 92 Kilos

I usually ride: GT Grade  My best bike is: Boardman ASR 8.9

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Most days  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, mtb, Zwifting

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