This is the saddle thats been on my winter bike for the past 6-8 weeks now. I've pretty much been testing it out for Paul @ Wiggle. (Mine is the black one..)

I have to say it really is an excellent saddle. I previously had a Specialized Toupe on there and this replaced it. And it replaced it very well! I would say it took about an hour to get settled on it properly and get the height tweaked a little.
But once that was done, its been all good. I guess the best thing I can say is that I haven't actively noticed the saddle because it hasn't hurt, it hasn't rubbed, it hasn't slipped and its been damn comfortable.

That's *damn* comfortable throughout all the random riding I've been doing too. Because its winter training time, the time spent in the saddle has been longer and at a slower speed so you tend to notice things more. Also it has been subject to some time trial efforts (yes I know.. shouldn't be doing them at this time of year) on the way to work and also a few interval sprints (yes.. shut up.) ending in my slapping my arse on the saddle fairly firmly.

The only downside to it, is that it could be a little lighter. Its coming in at 240g+ whereas a Toupe is about 160g so near 100g difference.
I don't think I'd put it on the race bike due to the weight, but for training and winter... its pretty much perfect.

Would I buy it? Hell yeah. Great saddle, great price... only minor downside is that its a bit heavy. Of course... I could just lose some weight.... hmm.

preparing for the weekend

So it's Thursday evening.... and the weekends racing (first of the season) is almost upon me. This week has been interesting. I was happy to get round the Phoenix CC reliability last Sunday without and damn mechanical issues... but it was hard work.

Monday, I did a bit of a recovery ride.
Tuesday, I started to come down with man-flu.
Wednesday, spent all day in bed (more or less).
Thursday, back to work and on the bike... did a turbo session of 90 second intervals.
Friday, working from home as the Sky man is coming to fit a new Sky+HD box.
Saturday, Annaclone GP
Sunday, Phoenix GP

The man-flu is more or less shifted, but nose is still fairly congested... I'm hoping a good nights sleep will sort it out.

Yep... kinda planning to do both races. This is more or less in prep for the Armagh-Downpatrick St. Patricks Day classic... but yes... I am going to be body-bagged if I manage to do both.

Bring it on..... ( I say in pretend arrogance and true idiocy...)

the wheels on the bike...

... go round and round, as the old nursery rhyme goes. Although in fairness... thats all I can remember of it.

Anyway. I digress. (Ha... I've always wanted to say that, even though it has no relevance.)

Ok... so this weekend the start of the reliability trials start in Northern Ireland for all the cyclists. For those that don't know (or care), a reliability trial is known as a faster paced club run over 50-70 miles or so to basically verify your bike is working properly, your winter training has taken etc etc.

In reality... its the start of the 'not-racing' season.
In reality... reliability trials are cunningly disguised as 'not-races'. They end up at race speed, are dead competitive and for some bizarre reason some people put a lot of prestige in doing well in them. Sounds like a race to me. Only in colder worse weather.

So, I'm planning to do the one on Sunday from Lurgan. I believe there is a 65 mile distance for it, so I'll probably go for that and see how I get on. My main dilemma is which bike to take... break out the newest addition... or take the old faithful planet-x? hmmm.