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review

Prologo 2016 Scratch 2 Space Tirox saddle

8
£99.99

VERDICT:

8
10
A very comfortable saddle, ideal for tourers or audax riders who don't want to sacrifice performance
Weight: 
273g

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

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With the proviso that what suits one set of sit bones might not suit another, the Prologo Scratch 2 Space Tirox brings together a decent level of padding with extra width and a rounded profile, with the result being a comfortable and durable saddle.

One of the most interesting things about this saddle is that the level and firmness of the padding allows for a pseudo cutout – without having an actual hole – which helps relieve perineum pressure when you're riding.

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Compared with most other road saddles, the Scratch 2 Space has quite a considerable amount of padding. It's not overly spongy though, a criticism often levelled at well-padded saddles, so doesn't suffer from another common complaint – that it doesn't offer enough support. I felt well supported, without sinking into it too much, even on long rides.

Prologo 2016 Scratch 2 Space Tirox Saddle Detail

It's also comfortable on longer rides whether you're wearing padded bibs/shorts or not – I tested it with and without, and although it was more comfortable with a pad, it was still acceptable without.

I also didn't notice any significant impact on getting power through the pedals, another thing well-padded saddles can be criticised for. Prologo has used multi-densities of padding, strategically placed – firmer at the rear and softer at the front – so the power you generate isn't lost, as can happen with traditionally padded saddles.

The saddle has a Tirox rail system – light steel rails – which Prologo uses on many of its upper end models. They're certainly stiff, but I did find that after several long, high intensity rides the saddle slid on the rails a bit, so when tightening the clamp you might need to give it an extra half turn.

Prologo 2016 Scratch 2 Space Tirox Saddle Underneth

The entire saddle is built around a carbon-infused shell, which gives it a relatively low weight, with the rails' stiffness helping to counter any bounce. The padding is then finished off with a covering of-easy-to-clean microfibre, which is grippy enough to stop you sliding about when riding.

The Scratch range of saddles have a round profile, offering plenty of support, and the Space version I tested suits those with wider pelvic bones. As somebody who falls into this bracket, I did notice a level of support beyond what I'm used to.

In terms of weight, the extra padding means a few more grams compared with others around this price bracket – the Fabric Scoop Flat Pro at £110 is 190g, Bontrager's Serano RL is 225g and £90 – but sitting on the road.cc scales of truth at 273g (claimed weight is 235g), it's not stupidly heavy.

At a penny under £100, the RRP for something this comfortable strikes me as about right. Yes you can find cheaper, but if you're looking for a comfortable and well-supported bike seat, this would not be a bad investment.

> Check out our guide to buying the right saddle and the best 11 we’ve tested

Of course, there's the caveat that one man's comfy saddle is another's... not so comfy saddle. It's always about personal preference, so what might be comfortable for me might be uncomfortable for you. It is always worth testing out a saddle before buying if you can.

Overall, I was impressed by the Scratch 2 Space. It gives a really good level of comfort without noticeably impacting on how you put power through the pedals. The multi-density padding helps keep you well supported in the right areas, and I'd suggest that long-distance and audax riders should certainly consider it if they are due an upgrade.

Verdict

A very comfortable saddle, ideal for tourers or audax riders who don't want to sacrifice performance

road.cc test report

Make and model: Prologo 2016 Scratch 2 Space Tirox Saddle

Size tested: 282x143, Black

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?

Prologo says: "This is a saddle aimed very much for comfort combined with performance. Designed for long rides, audax riders and those with wider pelvises, it has been constructed for comfortable riding without sacrificing power."

It lives up to this, with impressive multi-density padding not detracting from the power you can put through the pedals.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Size (mm): 282x143

Weight (gr): 235

Base: Carbon Injection Monocoque

Rail: TiroX

Cover: Microfiber

Padding: Light PU

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
8/10

Well made with strong Tirox rails, carbon-injection base and microfibre upper, all held together with strong bonds.

Rate the product for performance:
 
8/10

Comfortable without sacrificing power through the pedals, a strong-performing option.

Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10

Good construction and firm padding means it's unlikely to fall apart quickly.

Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10

It is not the lightest saddle you will find, but given that this is very much designed with comfort in mind, the extra 60-70g is forgivable.

Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10

Very comfortable, but as is always the case, this is a personal preference, so worth testing for yourself.

Rate the product for value:
 
8/10

A penny under £100 seems like a fair price for the comfort and innovative use of padding density to not disrupt power transfer.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Very well, it is comfortable and I could ride on it for hours without hotspots forming. It isn't too heavy for hillier rides and would make an ideal tourer or audax option without sacrificing performance.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

The multi-density padding worked very well, allowing power transfer without discomfort.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

The rails did slip a bit, requiring an extra half turn on the brackets.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes - especially if they were long distance riders.

Use this box to explain your score

A saddle that works well for longer rides and those of us with wider sit bones. The comfort is not at the expense of stiffness and power transfer, which is impressive.

Overall rating: 8/10

About the tester

Age: 27  Height: 6 ft  Weight:

I usually ride: Cannondale Supersix Evo 6  My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 5-10 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: commuting, club rides, sportives, general fitness riding, fixed/singlespeed, mountain biking

George is the host of the road.cc podcast and has been writing for road.cc since 2014. He has reviewed everything from a saddle with a shark fin through to a set of glasses with a HUD and everything in between. 

Although, ironically, spending more time writing and talking about cycling than on the bike nowadays, he still manages to do a couple of decent rides every week on his ever changing number of bikes.

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3 comments

Avatar
SculturaD | 6 years ago
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It's maybe a comfortable saddle if you've been riding all your days or you're a 65kg featherweight, but as far as newcomers are concerned and or riders hovering at the upper 80 kgs, forget it.

This saddle is Anything but comfortable, you would be as well sitting on a plank of wood it's so hard. As for the cut out, the channel isn't wide enough & not long enough to offer any relief. I lasted 20 min on mine and I was numb down under & ended up Swopping back to the factory saddle for the remainder of the workout.

Avatar
iandusud replied to SculturaD | 6 years ago
0 likes

SculturaD wrote:

It's maybe a comfortable saddle if you've been riding all your days or you're a 65kg featherweight, but as far as newcomers are concerned and or riders hovering at the upper 80 kgs, forget it. This saddle is Anything but comfortable, you would be as well sitting on a plank of wood it's so hard. As for the cut out, the channel isn't wide enough & not long enough to offer any relief. I lasted 20 min on mine and I was numb down under & ended up Swopping back to the factory saddle for the remainder of the workout.

Saddles are a very personal thing (in more that one sense) but I have I learned that it's the shape that is the key factor. For me a flat profile works best. However I have also learned that once you have determined which shape works best for you a relatively firm saddle will be more comfortable on longer rides. For example I was using a Madison Flux saddle for a few years which I found to very good on rides up to 60 miles but I would be suffering on longer rides. After reading some good reviews I bought a Cosine Ti Endurance saddle. When I first rode it I thought I had made a mistake as it was much firmer than the Flux, however it is much better on longer rides. The extra firmness seems to be more supportive and I think the problem with the extra padding of the Flux is that after a while the sit bones sink into the saddle and greater pressure occurs.

So just to say don't judge a saddle by its firmness but try and find the shape that suits you. Out of interest I have also tried the Cosine Road saddle and it was hell for me - just the wrong shape (round profile). 

Avatar
mejungleman@out... | 8 years ago
0 likes

Good to see this has a love groove!
Crazy so many saddles still don't have this.

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