Selle Italia Novus Boost TM Superflow Saddle

The Selle Italia Novus Boost TM Superflow saddle is marketed as 'shorter, more powerful, more comfortable'. The latter are very subjective sentiments, but happily they're ones I agree with so it'll stop, pride of place, on my fixed gear winter/trainer for the foreseeable. That said, although it's very well made and delightful on my derriere, its asking price is a little steep for the specification.

• Pros: Very well made saddle that performs well in all contexts
• Cons: No scuff bumpers, manganese rails may seem a bit low rent for the price

Materials/Specification

On test was the base model, which features hollow manganese rails. These are proportionately weighty compared with carbon composites, but while some folk consider them inferior to chromoly, they are compliant, relatively lightweight and durable (and likely to be more forgiving of accidental over-tightening than carbon composites).

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The rails are also powder coated for durability, too, and white graphics make precise alignment/adjustment that bit easier.

Staying with the underside, standards of construction are equally good – and slotted and screwed, as I'd expect.

Flipping it over, the Duro-Tek faux leather cover is similarly well executed. Perforated sections supposedly provide ventilation and improved grip, which is bolstered by the rear panel's matt suede finish. Beneath lies padding of varying densities.

As others have observed, saddles are becoming shorter, especially in time trial circles. Theory goes, this serves those wanting a more aggressive stance without compromising comfort on a more traditional road build.

Ours measured 256mm long – 7mm shorter than my default – and 135mm wide; there's also a 256x146mm option.

A bevelled tip and very pronounced, perineum pressure-relieving channel complete the package.

Test rigs

I have used the saddle on both my fixed-gear TT build and fixed gear winter/trainer. The former, as you'd expect, is designed for speed, the latter sports a more relaxed geometry.

Comfort

Save for the strangely satisfying masochism of moulding traditional leather seats to my own shape, the sign of a good saddle is that it goes unnoticed. Initial impressions were 'firm yet very forgiving'. Padding density is a little less supportive than my Selle SMP Strike Plus droop snoot model, which tends to be sat in, rather than on.

However, the Novus Boost's shorter nose permits a more aggressive stance than the Strike, welcome when trying to complete 20-mile circuits within the hour, yet at the other extreme I was able to cruise along in complete comfort with no hint of chafing, nagging buttocks or numbness for several hours.

Being a sportier design, it lacks the outright refinement of my Selle SMP Strike Plus, but over comparable distances it was more forgiving than my TT bike's Specialized Toupe, sadly pensioned off, after almost 10 years, this summer.

Regardless whether it's been paired with titanium or 7000 series aluminium alloy seatposts, the rails provide some tangible and welcome damping over rougher/washboard road surfaces.

Compared with some cutaways, sans mudguards, this one hasn't resulted in a crotch douche when tackling wet roads sans guards. The Duro-Tek covering really delivers in wet weather too: rain and spray seem to bed up and roll away pretty seamlessly. There's no hint of annoying 'surf' either; it passes my slippery/shiny Lycra test with flying colours – though I'm pleased to report it's very conducive to minute shuffling.

A quick damp cloth once-over is as involved as maintenance gets.

Durability

In some respects, it's too early to say how well it will stand up to use. Being picky and thinking price point, some scuff bumpers around the rear sections would be nice, but gently leaning it against rendered brickwork and similarly abrasive surface hasn't made any negative impression.

Swapping between bikes had zero impact upon the rails' powder coated finish, too, so no worries there.

Conclusion

While it is well made and very competent (thus good value) on paper, there are designs with chromoly rails, such as BBB's Echelon, commanding a good tenner less. Whether the Selle Royal Lookin saddle falls into the same category is perhaps debatable, but it is considerably cheaper.

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I noted (and stand by) my comments about the Selle Royal being better suited to more upright configurations, whereas the Novus Boost is more chameleon-like and genuinely works well in road and off-road contexts.

But comfort and similar values are very personal. The Novus Boost worked for me, and you're getting what you pay for in terms of standards of construction. If you can, I'd suggest you nip down to your Selle Italia dealer and give the Novus Boost a go; if it suits you, it's a very good buy.

Verdict

Well-made and versatile road saddle, but pricey relative to others of similar specification