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Selle SMP Strike Plus | $238.66
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It may look odd but the Strike works, particularly good for long rides

BikeRadar verdict

4 out of 5 stars

"The design might deter some, but it's extremely comfortable, if a little pricey"

By Michael Stenning

The Strike is probably the most outlandish cutaway design I have seen - the cutaway section's so large I could almost pass my hand through sideways. In keeping with the genre, Selle SMP claims this alleviates pressure and compression on the genitals and offers improved blood flow to the legs. Compared with traditional saddles, it is very long and the phallic shape prompted some risqué remarks from my wife and might not suit the self-conscious.

Fitting and set-up are laughably easy, even on slightly awkward twin-bolt seatpost cradles, thanks to very long chromoly rails with clear markings. In terms of weight, there's a penalty of 330g, but that will only worry those whose bikes are on a strict diet.

Fitting and set-up are laughably easy, even on slightly awkward twin-bolt seatpost cradles

I was really impressed - while I'm not particularly prone to numbness around the genitals, I felt noticeably more comfortable on rides longer than a couple of hours. The slightly sloping tail affords greater control, allowing you to place your weight over the back on long descents or tricky off-road sections, making it a good choice for road and cyclo-cross riders alike. However, the padding in the tail could have been more generous.

The leather top is durable, resisting accidental abrasion from the back wall and a tumble or two off-road - although Kevlar scuff guards are pretty much standard fare these days. The bottom line (excuse the pun) is that despite the quirky design, this has become my favourite saddle. It's as comfortable as they come and will add a bit of quirkiness to your ride.

Manufacturers description

The SMP saddle is the pioneer in a new way of conceiving the bicycle saddle: a meticulous study of the positions taken on during the race and the functional analysis of the interactions of the various parts of the body with the saddle.

User Reviews

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  • User review of Selle SMP Strike Plus

    Saddles are a personal thing. I found this saddle like sitting on two rails. After 5 hours of riding, hoping it would get better, it never did. This saddle is for somebody who rides in their drops for the majority of the time or perhaps a TT rider. Rails have absolutely no give. The rise in the front of the saddle cause pressure on my privates.It not for a rider that likes different positions on their seat or a rider that spend a lot of time on top of their bars. For a rider that likes a curved top. My shop was nice enough to give me a money back guarantee, so I just trade it in.

    0.3
  • User review of Selle SMP Strike Plus

    I chose the Stratos model about 6 months ago, after trying several saddles.

    There are a range of models in the SMP range, and each has a different distance between the rails, amount of padding, etc. The Stratos was almost perfect for me, although when I first bought it I thought I'd like a bit more padding (since my rear has none...)

    It took me about a month to really get used to it, although I knew from the start that it was comfy enough. Since I bought it from my LBS I had a 'swap it if you don't like it' guarantee.

    The last few months I've never even thought of saddle comfort, since it's proved really comfortable, and isn't that what everyone wants from their saddle?

    It is top quality, but I still can't see how they charge so much for them. If you can get over that, you should really try one.

    0.3

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Specification

Name:
Strike Plus
Built by:
Selle SMP
Price:
$238.66
Available Colours:
Black
Ergonomic Saddle Features:
Cut-Out Section, Droop-Nosed, Long
Road/Performance Compatibility:
Cyclo-cross, Road
Saddle Cover Material:
Kevlar Side Panels, Leather
Saddle Decoration:
Logo
Saddle Padding:
Foamed Elastimer
Saddle Rails:
Chromoly
Saddle Shaping:
Split Shell
Saddle Shell Material:
Nylon
Weight (g):
330 g

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