Specialized Alias saddle review

Specialized’s sporty Alias saddle has been lab tested to check that it doesn’t bludgeon your soft bits, and it works. An all-day ride on a brand new saddle produced no pain, numbness or discomfort.

It’s narrow enough not to chafe, firm enough for a long or fast ride, and light enough to put on a race bike as well as a sportive bike. Some riders preferred it to Selle Italia’s very nice Flite TransAm.

The saddle’s shell is reinforced with carbon and covered with firm, minimal padding – making it most comfortable when you’re in Lycra. The hollow rails are titanium, which keeps weight down to a reasonable 247g for the 143mm width.

Like all anatomic saddles it’s designed to shift the weight off your perineum – where there are nerves and arteries that you really don’t want to compress – and on to your sit bones. The Alias comes in 130, 143 and 155mm widths so you can pick the one that supports your bones best.

 The Specialized Jett, made specificially for women, is pretty similar.