Bontrager dropped a surprise on us last week in the form of not one or two, but three new saddles (plus a rear hydration mount). Two of these saddles are for the TT\Tri crowd, while one is for the true weight weenies out there. So without further ado, lets dive in and see what Bontrager has to offer!
The Bontrager Carbon XXX Saddle
68 grams … or for comparisons sake, the weight of two GU gel packs. That’s the quoted weight of the Bontrager Carbon XXX Saddle. This is a mass market saddle for the weight weenies among us. The XXX features a length of 250mm and a max width of 138mm.
To achieve such a light weight, it’s built with oversized carbon rails (this does require an oversized rail-compatible seatpost and 7x10mm seatpost ears) and OCLV XXX carbon that utilizes premium materials and resins with industry-leading domestic manufacturing.
The XXX will not be for everyone, however. It is designed for highly flexible athletes that ride with a forward pelvic rotation. For those who can ride with it, Bontrager has utilized inForm BioDynamic to optimize your natural movement for sustained higher performance and a Contour Relief Zone Plus (CRZ+) full saddle cutaway that enhances soft tissue protection.
The best part is the price. While $379.99 isn’t cheap, other saddles at this weight can easily cost a few hundred dollars more.
The Bontrager Hilo Comp and Pro Saddle
The Hilo Comp (and Hilo Pro) are designed for all-out TT and Tri efforts. Measuring in at a length of 240mm (25mm shorter than the Hilo XXX) and a width of 134mm, the Hilo Comp and Pro are designed for symmetric and stable pedaling in multiple positions and provides additional compliance from oversized rails and a strategic dual-layer foam that maximizes comfort so you can maximize your effort.
The new saddles feature split support zones to eliminates soft tissue pressure for a more powerful rotated position. The saddle nose structure is designed for stable and symmetric pedaling. They also feature Channel Flex on the bottom of the shell for added compliance.
To enhance your comfort, a strategic dual-layer foam provides a soft top layer for comfort and firm base for support. Bontrager designed the Pro and Comp to work with the forward pelvic rotation commonly found in triathletes.
The Comp is quoted at 331g, features steel rails, and will retail for $119.99. The Pro gets oversized carbon rails (like the XXX, this does require an oversized rail-compatible seatpost and 7x10mm seatpost ears), weighs in at 236g, and will set you back $229.99.
Bontrager Integrated Speed Storage
To go along with the new Hilo and Comp is a new rear storage system for TT and Tri Bikes. The Integrated Speed Storage mounts directly to the Hilo Pro or Comp saddle to add a verstatile storage component to your TT or Tri bike. Multiple configurations enable storage for one or two water bottles, tube or tubular, as well as multi-tool, tire levers, and CO2. This will retail for $119.99.
Wrapping Up
We have always been fans of Bontrager’s Hilo line. It’s rare you will find our chief editor on a road bike and not have a Hilo XXX along for the ride. The only reason he doesn’t typically ride with a Hilo on his tri bike is that it’s a bit too long for his taste – something the Hilo Comp and Pro look to have solved. Throw in a 68g saddle for those days we want to climb, and we really like this release. Bontrager tells us our saddles for review are already in the mail, so keep an eye on https://www.instagram.com/aerogeekstri/ for their arrival!
Did the weight weenie thing for a while. Now, looking at $1.15/gram additional for the Pro vs Comp saddle plus however much the seat post will cost (not insignificant) and you may well loose some of the weight saving with the 7×10 clamp…hmmmm. Do I really need that extra hotdog?