What if I told you about a secret trend in road cycling that’s captured some of the biggest names in the sport, both male and female, across a multitude of terrains? It’s not the next new aero trick or nutrition fad, but something much simpler: Comfort.
For the longest time road cycling has shunned being comfortable. It has to hurt to be fast, right? Wrong. Riders with glittering palmares like Pauline Ferrand-Prévot and Simon Yates have been opting to ride the most important races of their careers on saddles highly suitable for road racing, even if developed for the far bumpier demands of cross-country mountain biking, for the simple reason that they are more comfortable, and if you’re more comfortable you ride more smoothly, and smooth, as we all know, is fast.
Prologo has launched its next generation line of NDR saddles designed for off-road, but the performance benefits can be felt on the road, and given their feathery construction there is no longer the substantial weight penalty that so often accompanied fitting any MTB componentry to one’s road bike.
MTB saddles for the road?
Off-road saddles, for cross-country riding at least, aren't hugely different from road saddles. They still have to prioritise low weight, given the climbing involved, but in the case of Prologo’s NDR saddles they offer 3mm more padding. It may not sound like much, but it was enough to see Ferrand-Prévot over the cobbles of Roubaix without much issue for a famous victory, and given the state of many of our home roads it can really aid in reducing fatigue during big days in the chair.
There are other features that actually translate surprisingly well to road racing in the line. Shorter noses favour the modern trend for slammed-forward saddles, coupled with wider, flatter noses to give you a greater surface to produce power from when riding on the rivet.
What’s more, Prologo’s Grip Cover technology, designed to keep the rider in place over rocky climbs can help lock you in position for those tucked in, solo efforts with your nose in the wind and your elbows tucked in. Now you can rely on a series of tiny groves on the front sections of the NDR saddles to keep you planted and putting the power where it’s needed without having to constantly readjust your position.
The full NDR Line
The new suite of NDR saddles comprises four models: Two versions of the Nago (a standard and a PAS versions), along with a Scratch and a Dimension R2. As with all saddle ranges they will be a personal choice, but there are ways to help you decide which would best suit your particular anatomy.
The Nago is a semi-round, T-shaped setup for riders with good pelvic mobility (flexibility, basically). The closed version uses three different padding levels mapped across the body of the saddle to provide support where you need it most, while the PAS version sports a large central cutout (always this writer’s choice it must be said), or Perineal Area System. The closed version still features a cut-out in the base, but offers a touch more support in the central region as well as greater mud protection for your delicate areas. The Nago models weigh a mere 152 and 158g for the open and closed models.
The Dimension R2 NDR in contrast is a flat saddle that offers support and comfort in even the most aggressive of riding positions. It also features the PAS cutout, with no closed model, and is wider at the nose and flatter in profile than the previous generation. It’s a touch heavier at 165g, but what’s seven grams between friends?
Finally we have the Scratch, the rounded shape for riders with limited pelvic flexibility, and used by Tom Pidcock and Simon Yates. It, too, is offered with the PAS cutout and also tips the scales at a very light 158g.
