PRO

Griffon Carbon AF Saddle

If we're at all aware of a saddle through the course of a ride, then it's failed at its primary mission. The best thing a saddle can do is virtually disappear. PRO's Griffon Carbon Anatomic Fit Saddle balances the two noticeable elements of a saddle—comfort and weight—with a layer of ride-supporting padding, a weight- and soft tissue-saving central channel, and the incorporation of carbon fiber throughout.

It may carry a few more grams than the typical Italian ultralight model, but that extra weight manifests as light padding—a feature that takes obvious steps to address comfort. The Griffon doesn’t simply leave you perched on a carbon board. It does strategically incorporate carbon in the body and rails, though, saving weight and adding an element of vibration and road noise damping in the process.

We're obligated now to temper our comment about the padding's additional weight by noting that the Griffon was the choice of all-rounder Dumoulin at the 2015 Tour. The saddle's body doesn't get as wide as some popular models at the back, but its profile does allow for positions ranging from settled in the slightly scooped rear half for long climbs to perched on the flat nose when the race is on the line and you're on the rivet.