Sea Otter Play – Prologo

When we caught up with Prologo at Sea Otter Play, talk centered around what the brand is most known for, saddles. In particular, we focused on the Proxim W450 and W650 models, along with AGX editions of their saddles.

Proxim

The Proxim saddles had me curious. When I was told they were designed for e-bikes, it got me thinking about what specifically goes into an e-bike saddle that you wouldn’t find in a regular saddle. Forget about the thick, chunky saddles you find on a lot of casual e-bikes. Prologo wanted to create something that was comfortable, sporty and has a few unique features for e-bikes, but would also be at home on any bike.

The models are identical, other than the W650 having the PAS System (perineal area system) cutout and the W450 has a closed cover with the Active Base. The Active Base has a cutout in the shell to provide pressure relief, but has the added benefit of protecting you from mud and water. They feature the Multi Sector System, which uses different foams and padding that are visibly sectioned off in the cover. They work independently to provide cushioning and support in a range of different positions. The composite shell provides overall support for the saddle and minimizes flex when riding hard, while working with the padding on the sides of the saddle to flex with the rider through the pedal stroke. The saddles have a semi-round shape to them, making them comfortable for a wide range of riders.

Both models are available in Performance and Sport levels. The main differences between the two levels are the texture of the cover, amount of padding, and the rails. The Performance level has a textured rear portion of the cover to help hold you in place, 6mm of padding, and Tirox rails, while the Sport has a smooth cover, 12mm of padding for additional comfort, and T2.0 rails.  The Performance saddles come in 145 and 155mm widths, with padding customize for each size. The Sport is only available in the 155mm width. Weights range from 220g for the W650 Performance in 145mm to 250g for the W450 Sport.

So what makes these e-bike saddles? Well, there are a few touches that sets them apart from others. One is the rear handle designed into the base. This gives you a grip point for moving the bike around, which is probably a bit heavier than your normal bike. Secondly, reflective touches are added to different parts of the saddle, including the rear cover on the Performance models. While the reflective touches would be welcome on just about any bike, many riders use e-bikes for commuting and the reflective additions help them become more visible to other road users.

The great thing is that if the Proxim saddle sounds good to you, but you aren’t an e-bike rider, here’s nothing stopping you from using it on your regular bike.

AGX

Moving on to the AGX versions of their Scratch M5, Dimension, and Akero saddles. AGX stands for Adventure, Gravel, and Cyclocross. As a technical partner with the Italian classic, Strada Bianchi, the focus of the AGX line is to develop saddles for long hours on the bike over challenging terrain.  Each model focuses on ergonomics, providing round (Scratch M5), semi-round (Dimension), and Flat (Akero) options to help riders find an option that fits them the best.

All three models are part of Prologo’s push into multidiscipline saddles focusing on ergonomics.

Starting with the Scratch M5, it is considered a T-shape saddle and is the narrowest of the three at 250mm long and 140mm wide. The anatomical center is located the furthest back of the three saddles, focusing on long-distance ergonomics. It uses the same Multi Sector System that was mentioned above for the Proxim W450/W650. It uses Tirox rails and weighs in at 201g.

The Dimension is a V-shape saddle with the anatomical center the furthest front. Following the trend of snub-nose saddles (245mm long by 143mm wide, it is made to be the performance-oriented saddle of the three. It is available in Tirox or T4.0 rails, and weighs in 187g and 220g respectively.

Finally, the Akero is more middle of the road. The anatomical center is in between the other saddles, and it is the widest at 255mm long and 150mm wide. It is also considered a V-shape saddle, and focuses more on endurance. The Akero uses the T2.0 rails, and weighs in at 225g.

While the Dimension has a PAS System cutout, the Scratch M5 and Akero both use the Active Base shell to provide pressure relief while protecting you from mud and water that can be kicked up during your ride.

What makes the AGX versions different from their counterparts is the padding and the textured cover. The AGX versions use 10mm thick foam padding to provide additional comfort for those long rides over challenging terrain. The rear of the cover also has a raised texture to help provide some grip when seated.

All saddles are available now through Prologo.it, or their dealers.

http://www.prologo.it