Sella San Marco makes a number of saddles that would work for a triathlete. I've ridden a Rolls for years, both as a road race saddle and as a tri saddle. I like the Rolls for a number of reasons, one of which is its flat aspect.
But it's the Azoto TriathGel I'm going to write about, and I'm intrigued about this saddle on a number of levels. It is rare that a company will inquire, listen, and then manufacture precisely the saddle that manufacturers in the triathlon marketrequest be made. That is what this saddle company has done. But I'm going to save that story for the product review we'll do over the next few weeks, and switch to another story for the purpose of this overview.
As I recall I wrote I specifically pointed out Ryan Bolton and Spencer Smith in our Kona Survey as having particularly dreadful bike set-ups for the Hawaiian Ironman. I pointed this out because of the irony involved, at least for me. Both these athletes had ridden for me when I was heading up Quintana Roo, and both were quite successful on the bike segments during that stretch. Something had happened to both of them in the interim period, however, and in both cases somebody somewhere had managed to shove them both back in a road race position. Both have since gotten onto new bikes and/or been retrofitted with new positions, and both are now back riding in 78-degree configurations (more or less).
In the case of Smith, after his DNF in Hawaii I went over to his house, and we went down to his garage and started fiddling with his bike. We borrowed an old QR from Nytro's display wall, one of the QRs on which Spencer had won a world championship (back when it was non-drafting). We configured his Sigma bike with precisely the same set-up in preparation for his race at Ironman Florida.
I give this long intro because when I asked Spencer why he was reticent to ride in a steep configuration in prior long distance races, he replied that he didn't feel confident that he could ride in a steep configuration for 112 miles. But he said he'd give it a try in Florida, because he hadn't been happy with his bike results - and his run off the bike - in recent long races.
He rode away from the group in Florida and more importantly continued his dominance off the bike and onto the run. When he returned and I queried him about it he had nothing but raves for the position, and in particular he felt that the saddle was a big reason why he was able to ride the whole distance comfortably. The Azoto TriathGel is what he rode.
Just a few weeks ago, as I was preparing this section for publication, I spoke to Selle San Marco's agent, Tom Petrie. I told him the story I relate above, and he said, "That's great, that's really authentic, just our style, perhaps we should talk to Spencer about a deal."
So I called Spencer to see if he'd be interested in talking to Petrie. "Hey, Spence, do you have a saddle deal?"
"Can't do it mate, I'm all set."
"Oh well," I thought, "Nice try." I was preparing to give Petrie a call and break the bad news, but I thought I'd ask Spence which company he went with.
"I'm riding San Marco," he said. When I further inquired as to whether he'd worked out a deal with them unbeknownst to me, he clarified his point: "Look, it's this way. I'm riding Selle San Marco. That's the saddle I'm riding." It became apparent to me that he thought I was bringing another saddle company to him, and he wanted to let me know in no uncertain terms that it was this saddle he was riding - end of story.
I went on the explain the purpose of my call, and perhaps they've worked out a deal. I don't know. But I love the authenticity of that relationship, and it's rare enough in sport that I thought I'd share that story, both because of its intrinsic value and as an explanation why this saddle rates a mention in our saddle overview.
The Azoto TriathGel is not made with the most hoity toity saddle construction, but it's still a nice saddle. It does have titanium rails, and is well-built. The saddle has a flat shell across the top, but doesn't look that way because of the gel that grows progressively thick as it extends toward the saddle's nose.
It sells for right around $125. If you can't find this saddle at your local or mail order tri shop call Tom Petrie at Velimpex at 970-282-1880, or email him at tpetrie@velimpex.com, and he'll point you in the right direction.
