Flat: The Flat profile has the flattest rear section and the lowest amount of padding, and is designed for the most aggressive riding position. It also has a thinner nose to allow better leg movement. Ti rails are offered on the Race range and only a little lighter than cromo but they are more flexible and provide the most comfort of all rails. Choose this for long periods of time in the saddle. Heavier riders (over 100kg) can buy this but it will feel a bit too soft for them

The Fabric Scoop has long been a favourite of many riders and this Sport model makes that level of performance and comfort available at a budget price. With three profile options, there is also plenty of scope for whatever type of riding you do. First of all, you can get the Scoop in the three shapes. Flat is for the performance rider as it has the flattest rear section and lowest amount of padding, which suits an aggressive position with a high saddle-to-handlebar drop. A thinner nose allows for better leg movement. Many saddle manufacturers make overly stiff based/ padded saddles so the instant you get a channelled saddle, the difference is noticeable. However, the Scoop is very flexible and forgiving so for some riders used to channels in their old saddles, it will be an easy transition as the nose flexes enough to take pressure away. Choose the right shape to suit your position and those areas of discomfort will completely disappear. Cromo is offered on the Elite range and is ideal for heavy and light duties. Also ideal for heavier riders.

Value

By far the most common size sold by ourselves and others is 142mm and reflects the majority of people out there. I wouldn't go so far as to say that it's going to be the out and out best choice of saddle for serious mile-munching, but for me it's ideal for my usual training distance of about 50-60 miles. At this mileage I suffered zero numbness in the perineum, and I didn't get soreness anywhere either. Carbon rails are the lightest and stiffest (a little stiffer than Cromo) so best for race applications such as Crits or short ride where pedalling support is quite important for putting out the watts. Most hardened derrieres can do long rides on these no problem. These have a weight limit of 100Kg. What is the torque setting for the carbon rails? Of course, they work really well on mountain bikes. Some carbon bikes have larger moulding around the bb area so the bottles may not fit on all full suspension mtb’s. Can I use the water bottle in normal bottle cages?

Cell and Scoop Women Gel use the Radius shape based on a more upright ride position. How does each saddle profile help with the ride position? The Scoop Race Shallow is a high quality and durable option that is ideal for the rider seeking a no-frills saddle with great pedaling performance. It has an excellent shape that allows for great freedom of movement and a clean and powerful pedal stroke. While we do think this a versatile and solid option for most riders, it was bested in this test by lighter saddles that offer a higher level of comfort. Other Versions Saddle manufacturers employ all kinds of tactics to make their saddles appear and function more ergonomically. We’re talking cutouts, grooves, gel padding, nose removal and more. And, all of those tactics are valid and helpful for many riders. But, for most things in life, simplicity is often best. This has proven true thus far with the Scoop Shallow Race saddle. Scoop Shallow for a slightly more stretched out position such as CX, XC or Sportive/ GranFondo – can we say Gravel now too? This is great for those with bars just below the saddle or those who prefer to ride on the hoods/ flats on road bikes. Shallow: The Shallow profile has a more rounded rear section and medium padding and is designed for riders leaning forward in a more natural riding position where the handlebars are slightly lower than the saddle.Scoop Radius for an upright position such as Urban riding or MTB (all-mtn and dh). Ideal for bars at the same height or above the saddle. Scoop Flat for a stretched out position on a road race bike. Although this shape is really popular for some on trail mtb also and the majority of our women road racers. Perfect for a big drop from the saddle to the bars and if you use the drops a lot. There are three different types of saddle to choose from depending on how you want to sit – upright, normal, or low. Then, within each of these categories are different models depending on the seating style you want, as well as different seat widths, different seat rails and, naturally, different colours (though not on all models). Whatever the performance gains, it certainly looks a much smarter way of doing things, and gives a neat and clean finish.

According to my seat to bar drop, which is quite considerable (blame my long legs), I'd probably be more at home on the racier Flat type of saddle (though Fabric doesn't make the Line in this seating position), but in reality I found that the Race Line seemed to work as well sat as upright as possible on the tops as it did when I was down really low in the drops, without the nose getting in the way. Fabric is a design house that has taken on bicycle components as their canvas. Improving saddles, re-thinking water bottle mounts and more are all fair game for these guys. Now a part of Dorel Sports (parent of Cannondale, etc.), Fabric is making bigger waves in the industry. After almost a year with the Scoop Shallow Race saddle, its unassuming looks have masked all kinds of magic on the inside. The Scoop has been around a fair few years now and has a well-deserved reputation for being a very comfortable saddle for smashing out the miles. This titanium-railed version continues the theme, impressing with its levels of comfort, build quality and value. The Fabric Line Race Shallow saddle is a bit of a classic. Though it's been around for a few years now, it's still one of the best all-round performing saddles out there: comfortable on long rides, suitable for a range of riding styles, with subtle styling that looks great on any bike. Those with sit bones over 100mm to 135mm, choose the Scoop or Line wide (except the Scoop Women’s Gel)

Honestly, it can all get a bit much, and so I'm delighted to save you about an hour of wading through the entire range by telling you that the Fabric Race Line Shallow is a fantastic all-round saddle that will probably suit the majority of bottoms and riding styles; it's the saddle you should probably go out and buy right now. No, really. The Shallow in the name denotes the type of riding this version of the Scoop is intended for. In this case it's sportive or endurance type-riding, where most of your time is spent on the hoods, with the odd blast on the drops. As a rider who spends probably 90-95 per cent of my time on the hoods, I found this to be a pretty spot-on description. However, I did try a one-hour flat-out training session entirely on the drops, and it didn't restrict my ability to do that at all. It was still really comfy. Our state-of-the-art Line saddle design builds in comfort to every ride. Our unique three-part construction strips away the compression and tension found in traditional hard, stretched-cover saddles. We do this by bonding a waterproof microfiber straight onto a flexible base, allowing us to use a softer foam, giving you added comfort, wherever you're headed.

The Radius has the most padding, this is because all body weight is concentrated through the sit bones, this works in tandem with shape of the saddle which spreads your weight over the entire surface so there are no single points of pressure. The accentuated curve in the top prevents your body from sliding around too much using preventing expending more energy. Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

GET IN TOUCH

Something extra nice about this saddle is the extra nose width. Compared to other saddles, the nose is noticeably wide and that is a great attribute to have in a saddle. I especially appreciate that extra width when climbing and you’re on the forefront of the saddle.