The humble saddle may be one of the last bike components you’d expect to get the aerodynamicist treatment. However, Prologo has other ideas and has unveiled the all-new Choice, named after its first saddle, released in 2007.
The new Choice takes a different design approach. Firstly, the rail-to-seat distance is reduced greatly. Prologo claims reducing the saddle stack height when combined with the CFD-designed shrouds on the saddle's flanks creates a much more integrated design that’s far more aerodynamic than traditional saddle designs.
In comparison to Prologo’s premium Nago R4 PAS 3D saddle, the Choice is 35mm at its deepest point, while the Nago measures 42mm. It sounds a subtle difference, but it means the full length of the rails is hidden by the saddle's hull and the aero wings.
The shrouding wings of the saddle are claimed to help condition the turbulent air channelling through the ports and smooth out the airflow behind the saddle.
Pro-rider developed
Prologo says the development of the saddle was undertaken with pros, including riders from Visma–Lease a Bike, while Wout van Aert and Jonas Vingegaard have both raced using the new Choice.
The brand also used its saddle setup and selection tool, MyOwn Pressure Map, to acquire data that helped define the saddle's shape.
At 240mm long and either 140mm or 147mm wide, it closely follows Prologo’s short-saddle designs such as the Nago R4.
Prologo says this design "better optimises the connection between the rails and the base, which means increased stiffness, improving power transfer and delivering more controlled handling on technical descents".
Sit-down aerodynamics
This isn’t the first time Prologo has experimented with aerodynamics in saddles. However, with the incredibly priced Predator//01TT CPC (£999), that aerodynamic shaping was reserved solely for a select few time trial bikes, due to its requirement of a special seat clamp.
In a step away from current saddle designs, the Choice can be disassembled. Undo the two screws at the rear of the saddle take off the rail cover and you can remove the rails completely.
Prologo says this approach makes the saddle more sustainable, both in that it can be separated for recycling and in the event of a crash you can replace damaged component parts.
Lightweight
The more complex construction has a bearing on weight, although the Choice is still a very light saddle. Our test unit weighs in at 162g for the 140mm-wide option. In comparison, a £315 Prologo Nago R4 PAS 3DMSS weighs 149g.
The new Choice PAS 140 Nack is Prologo’s most expensive road saddle, at £399 / $500 / €430. That puts it in line with saddles such as Fizik’s Vento Argo 00 at £399, Selle Italia’s SLR 3D carbon £409.99 and the fully custom Posedla Joyseat at £399.
