Ever suffered from discomfort in the saddle? Well it’s a safe bet that most cyclists have at some time felt uncomfortable during a ride and whilst this could be down to any number of things, saddle shape/size is undoubtedly one of the main reasons. The RLT saddle from Rido challenges the way we look at saddle design and they claim they have designed it to relieve pressure on the perineal area, which those of you in the know will understand is a key factor in comfort.
So what did we think of it in test?
Reviewing saddles is always very tough as whether a saddle is right for you or not is often out of your control. Whilst some manufacturers have different opinions when it comes to saddle fit, the generally accepted rule is to buy a saddle based on the width of your sit bones (Fizik for example don’t follow this rule and instead focus on rider flexibility). This makes sense as your sit bones are designed for you to sit on (really!) and therefore having a saddle too narrow means they can’t do their job right. On the flip side, having a saddle too wide can cause rubbing and movement issues.
So back to the Rido RLT. Where this saddle differs is in the construction. As opposed to following the traditional fairly flat or curved saddle designs, Rido have developed a system that provides medial lift thus taking pressure of the delicate areas whilst riding on the hoods, but when in the drops rocks you forward and (Rido claim) helps you generate more power. Whilst we have no way of confirming the power advantages we can certainly confirm that when riding the hoods you have no pressure anywhere but your sit bones. For some of our testers, this in itself caused more issues and resulted in just another form of discomfort, whilst other testers absolutely loved it. All however agreed that there is a period of acclimatisation required to adjust to the increased pressure on the sit bones and whilst initially this may cause slight discomfort, it’s worth it in the long run. A ‘breaking in’ period is standard with all saddles though so don’t let that put you off at all.
So how does it work? Well without going in to too much detail you essentially have two raised sections at the rear of the saddle that you sit on when riding the hoods thus lifting your perineal area off the seat – simple, off the seat means no pressure. When in the drops it works much like a normal saddle offering you a pretty long nose to rest on.
Priced at around £68.50 the Rido RLT comes in a lot cheaper than many other big name brands and considering the lightweight and excellent build quality it looks like a great buy if it works for you.
Verdict; 8/10 – as mentioned at the start it’s very tricky reviewing saddles. One of our testers didn’t get on with it whilst the other absolutely loves it and it’s firmly fixed on his bike. No doubt it’s very well made so our advice is if you’re struggling to find a saddle that works for you, give the Rido RLT a try. It’s not for everyone but if it works for you it will probably be the most comfortable saddle you can buy.
For more information and to purchase visit; http://www.rido-cyclesaddles.com/new-rido-r-lt-pre-launch-info-c100130.html