BiSaddle is a saddle with adjustable width. It's a concept so universally great you wonder why nobody thought of it before. After all, we move our saddles up and down and forwards and backward, so why not in and out as well? The trick then, as is always the case with bike products that break new ground, is to turn the concept into a practical application that has a demonstrably positive effect on the rider experience.
As one of only three contact points with the bike (handlebars and pedals being the other two), saddle selection has always been an important choice for triathletes. Long-distance triathletes typically favour an ISM or Selle Drakon style saddle. However, rather than try to produce saddles of different shapes to fit different posteriors, Bisaddle has made a saddle that you can adjust to fit your own undercarriage.
We tested the Bisaddle SRT, which is a shorter, snub-nosed saddle, billed as the ideal saddle for triathletes. In particular, half and full-distance triathletes should be very interested.
Bisaddle SRT 2.0 Bonneville key facts:
Length: 216mm
Width: 100-165mm
Weight: 340 grams
Buy it at https://bisaddle.com/collections/all
Simply put, it's a two piece adjustable saddle. It comprises left and right saddle pieces, connected with an adjustable rail system underneath which can be altered with a hex key. It also comes with curved mounting pieces to position between the base and the top, should you need a different angle to suit you. Chrome, titanium and carbon rails are available depending on your preference and budget.
The box has all sorts of lovely touches before you even get to the saddle ("Are you checking out my bottom?" on the underside is hilarious) and the whole package has the feel of thoroughness about it. There's a set of instructions on the inside of the lid to tell you how to get a good position for your new saddle. It does rely on you being able to do a bit of accurate measuring to get the height and fore-and-aft positions correct. The height issue is particularly important since the Bisaddle stacks rather taller than most saddles due to its adjustment system underneath the padded upper.
Once you've mounted it, you're then advised to go for a few rides, testing and making micro adjustments as you go until you find the perfect position. We did just that.
Is it any good?
Oh yes. In fact, it's the best saddle we've ever used.
Firstly, the saddle pieces themselves are very comfortable, with a thick gel padding for sitting on. Think firm, rather than plush. Even at mile 50, we didn't experience any discomfort. There was none of the wiggling to find a new position that so plagues some saddles. Looks-wise, the upper is beautifully stitched and detailed. It looks terrific.
Crucially though, the fine adjustment to the saddle created a riding position so blissfully comfortable we felt like we could ride all day. In fact, we did. Twice. This was in part due to the fact that the 4 adjustment areas of the saddle can be adjusted independently, which suited our slightly asymmetric sitting position. We're quite flexible, but often experience numbness in our perineum when riding in an aero tuck position, and have really struggled to find a saddle that fits us properly. In fact, we've never managed it.
Once we'd attached the Bisaddle to our rig though, numbness and pain were a thing of the past. We tinkered with the saddle until we found a position that that prevented any rolling of the sit bones off the outside or inside of the saddle, and after two century rides, and one Olympic distance triathlon, we can report it as being the most comfortable saddle we've ever used. We were able to avoid both inner thigh rub and pressure on our perineum, allowing us to really stay comfortable in the aero tuck position.
Any problems?
Triathletes should be aware that this is a short saddle, and this may mean some trial and error to store it securely in a transition rack. It does come with the ability to attach a rear bottle cage mount to the saddle to resolve this, but you do have to pay extra for it. However, if you're switching from a longer saddle, we'd just recommend that you mount your bike carefully on the rack. It's not a problem, exactly, just a thing to note when you switch.
Should I buy it?
Currently, Bisaddle is only available in the USA. It retails for $239.95. It's clearly a premium product, but in theory, you'll never have to buy another saddle ever again, so it's a great investment.
Verdict: 5/5
The brilliant simplicity of the Bisaddle concept is matched by its fantastic execution. It's an incredibly comfortable bike saddle for athletes, weekend warriors, or people with coccyx or perineum pain. Triathletes looking for a saddle that can stand up to the demands of a 70.3 or full-distance triathlon would be insane not to try the Bisaddle SRT, but it's just as great for shorter distance triathlons. The shortness of the saddle needs to be considered when racking the bike in transition, and at the end of the day, north of $200 is a lot of money to spend on a saddle.
That's a bit of a false negative though, as once you've bought a Bisaddle, we think you'll never need another perch. It's a triumph. It's wonderfully comfortable, superbly engineered, and triathletes should rightly ask why they should ever buy an off-the-shelf saddle again when a product like this is available. It's a crying shame it's only available in the USA though. Hopefully, with increased demand will come increased supply. The cycling world needs this saddle.
Buy it at https://bisaddle.com/collections/all
We thank the clever boffins at Bisaddle for sending us an SRT saddle. This did not affect the outcome of our review, which was conducted after around 250 miles of cycling on a road bike over varied terrain in the south of England.
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