Check out the companion article I wrote for this: www.lavelocita.cc/guides-page... Read my words! I'm an editor over at www.lavelocita.cc Follow me on Strava: / strava Follow me on Instagram: / rideadelaide
This is such a good and thorough review. The differences are really exhibited vs old-style magazine reviews which basically agrees with whatever the manufacturer says in their descriptions.
I’m using the Aeolus Pro carbon saddle on my gravel bike, and the Aeolus Elite saddle on my fixie. So glad to have finally settled down on a saddle I would use across all my bikes.
Thanks for the review. I bought the Aeolus Elite on the strength of this review and I actually quite liked the saddle - except for one key flaw - the nose is too wide for my physiology! My inner thighs (near the groin) keeps rubbing against the side of the saddle where the nose flairs into the wings, which eventually resulted in the tearing of the chamois on one of my bib shorts. (Not the actual "butt" foam, but one of the thinner pieces of foam that borders the main chamois.) That said, I ride with my knees fairly tucked in, and my hips are relatively narrow (62 kg, 170cm, narrow frame - wears DHB bibs in XS) so its not really the fault of the saddle itself, but a mismatch between me and the saddle. Other than that issue, the Aeolus is really quite comfy. But back to my Brooks C13! By the way, I'm a dude (for those trying to make sense of my feedback). My wife somehow hijacked my RU-vid account, and I have decided to accept the situation for the sake of domestic bliss.
@@shutterbyifan7958 www.trekbikes.com/us/en_US/equipment/bike-accessories/bike-lights/bike-light-accessories/bontrager-blendr-saddle-accessory-mount/p/24663/ and add any bontrager tail light! 😀
Good comparison, based on his through test, I think the Aeoulus will serve better, with a true rear spoiler, reminds me of the San Marco Concor or Cinelli Volare , to have that rear boost, and a little forgiving front nose for inevitable forward creep . Sounds like I better get myself that Bontrager. The blood flow result is great on the Power series , but how many racers can stay planted back the whole time? I felt the front too unforgiving for any creep up, unlike the Aeoulus. Bontrager nailed it nice on this one, and the evaluation by RA guy helps me alot, Thanks Mate!
the aeolus looks better. nice looking saddle. best looking saddle i've come across so far. it sucks if your favourite looking saddle doesn't quite work for your butt. been working on making it work. i think i'm getting pretty close to ideal comfort. it's amazing how much difference small adjustments can make.
The Aeolus is actually far more similar to the Romin Evo than the Power / Power arc. The length is the same, the overall shape (including kick at the rear) almost the same too.
The shape might be, but as a reach challenged guy, I felt right at home on the short Aeolus, a full 2cm shorter than the classic length Romin. But you did point out an important difference that many Romin Users may be happier with that one over the Power series which are only 240mm, Bontager was more realistic to please more riders coming half way with a 250mm length.
Sure thing! Ok, so the first thing is to make sure it's roughly 30mm further back than a standard full length saddle to compensate for the short nose. Next I'd recommend angling the nose down slightly. I've found this, and the Specialized Power Saddle, are nice with a slight tilt.
You made it clear the bontrager is better on gravel and rough surfaces. Is it too compliant for the road, or do you still prefer bontrager on the road? Thanks!
Gday mate, have you tried shimano pro stealth saddle? just wondering if you can compare the 3 saddles. What do you think for the best indoor setup? Thanks for the review.
Hey mate, haven't tested the Pro but I've been meaning to try and get my hands on one. Indoor cycling is a bit of a weird one for saddles. I've always found that the bike feels unnaturally angled when it's on every trainer I've used. But really, whichever suits you best on the road will be fine. Perhaps the Bontrager is the better buy of these 2 but there's no way to know for sure until you try it
Im rocking bontrager xxx seat on my sc 5010cc... super sweet. Expensive as hell, hard as fawk and gaurunteed for life.. and only weighs 69 grams laughing
Same story with power saddle vs Shimano stealth. Stealth is wider at the nose and overall flatter compared to power. I find the stealth more comfortable.
@@JustRideAdelaide And as it so happened, i really didn't get along with the Stealth. Whilst i did like the wider nose compared to my power, the sharp flat wing edges and lack of shell flex (it's sooooo stiff) prompted me to return it after a single ride up lofty and back down nortons. The chafe around the glutes was terrible. I have since returned on that guarantee and am now testing the Aeolus under your recommendation
@@tomcolls9264 Tom, let me know how you liked it. The Aeolus looks similar to the original Specialized Power saddle. If you don't get along with the Aeolus, the Specialized Power might be worth trying!
I have so many reject saddles in my collection I'm beginning to think there should be more science and collaboration involved between chamois and saddle design.
Hear Hear! I've had great luck with the RBX Comp Bib Shorts. I did a 12 hour XC style endurance race, and by the end, the only thing that wasn't hurting was my arse, and crotch. I ride a Specialized Geometry saddle.
I work for an ex-cycling apparel company that's now doing stuff in med-tech so I got to learn a whole lot about chamois! Companies like GreenLime (ybc.greenlime.it/) and SQLab (www.sq-lab.com/en) are doing amazing stuff with their chamois. They're making super thin but very high density products and I reckon that's where other chamois brands will be going in the next couple of years. If you want to learn more I wrote an article with an expert in women's chamois that had heaps of information about what makes a good chamois. It's very appliccable to men as well: www.lavelocita.cc/guides-page/ultimate-guide-to-womens-cycling-chamois-padding
Hi, have you tried the Endura Pro SL bib shorts, they come with three different widths of chamois, plus an extra long leg length option. I've a few pairs and they're too quality but as I've never owned Assos or Rapha can't give a comparison.
Yes. It's durable and won't stop you from moving rearward when descending if you don't have a dropper post. It's what I'm riding now with my Trek MTB. It's vertical compliance absorbs more trail chatter when seated. I'm comparing this with the Montrose Comp I installed after the Arvada that came stock and was terrible for me.
I reckon it would be. It's been comfortable on an alloy gravel bike that's not exactly the smoothest so even a hardtail MTB with big tyres should be more comfy. If the saddle fits then you're good to go!
Yes indeed. Measuring from the centre of the stem, right where the faceplate bolts on, to the tip of the saddle. It means you're getting consistent reach if you change the stem, or get on a bike with different geometry. These snub-nosed saddles are about 30mm shorter than a regular saddle so you just add 30mm to the measurement if you're comparing them to a non-snubbed seat.
I'm just a fat slow bikepacker. Not concerned about saddle weight. I rarely lean way forward and I have flat bars anyway. I just want to bike 50-70 miles per day on a weeklong trip without too much discomfort. Is Power Arc good for that or what? I'm 6-2 260 pounds. (188CM / 118KG) I am not sure.😂
It will be interesting to hear about the quality of the build, in Bontrager. I have found the Bontrager brand is nice upfront but after about a year of use, it degrades fast, breaks down and needs to be replaced. I found that with clothing, wheels, shoes and anything else with the Bontrager name on it.
Looks like the Bontrager saddle is a clone of the original power saddle? You had previously done a video comparing the Original Power saddle and the Power Arc saying the arc was better.
I'd say they look a little bit similar but are very different to ride. And yes, the Power Arc is better than the Power, and the Aeolus is better than the Arc. Love the Aeolus!
