Whereas gravel bikes may seem to be a trend in Italy, in the USA they are the result of a practical need because almost all secondary roads and not tarmacked, and many cyclists use these roads to avoid increasing traffic. That's why in the USA many people are rediscovering the pleasure of cycling on white roads, and sales of gravel bikes are rising at an exponential rate.
So what are gravel bikes? To put it simply, we can say that their origin is in racing bikes and cyclocross bikes, with a focus on cycle tourism. From the technical aspect, the design of the frame allows a more upright and less extreme position, and a more comfortable and stable ride. The wheels are fitted with larger and slightly rough-textured tyres, with disc brakes and superior overall sturdiness. Finally, it is a highly versatile bike, as it is used not only for cycling on dirt tracks but also on roads.
A gravel bike is still new but gaining a fair share of the market in Italy and this may suggest that it will not be just a passing trend. Although many people consider it a mere fashion, others see it as a real passion, a lifestyle. It is still too early to know whether gravel bikes will remain a temporary phenomenon or not: only time will provide us with some definite feedback.
Whereas gravel bikes may seem to be a trend in Italy, in the USA they are the result of a practical need because almost all secondary roads and not tarmacked, and many cyclists use these roads to avoid increasing traffic. That’s why in the USA many people are rediscovering the pleasure of cycling on white […]
You have surely heard of a prostate saddle or, better still, you use one on your bike. What you may not know is that this type of saddle was created to solve a wide variety of problems, not just those related to the prostate. And what may surprise you is to discover that not all saddles with a hole really solve such problems. Let's try to make it clearer, shall we?
Saddles commonly referred to as “prostate” saddles have been designed to deal with various problems that arise in the genital area of males and females.
These problems are caused by the compression of veins, arteries and nerves in this area. The most common sensation is one of tingling or numbness of the genitals. However, other problems are of a more serious nature and regard fertility, difficulty in urinating, the prostate gland and other diseases.
In addition, you may have experienced pain or discomfort on the saddle: in this case the genitals lose sensitivity during and after cycling. Doctors talk about disorders due to compression of veins and nerves in the genital area therefore cyclists do not enjoy riding their bike.
In short, the human body was not meant to sit on a saddle. In fact, the bike is also one of the causes of small injuries to the penis and vagina, i.e. the perineal and genital area that cyclists call “the perineum”.
So should you stop cycling for this reason? Certainly not! Cycling is accessible to everyone and it provides you with aerobic exercise that has beneficial effects on the heart, which has been confirmed by many medical studies.
Hence, cycling is one of the most popular sports in the world. Millions of people of all ages use a bicycle to get around, have fun, keep fit, do sport and do cycle tourism. So how can you enjoy your bike without any problems? The answer is in the right saddle.
What should a real prostate bicycle saddle be like?
First of all, you need to choose an ergonomic saddle, i.e. with a wide and completely open channel along the entire length. With this "hole", whatever your position, your weight is only on the pelvis bones (ischial tuberosities) and there is no compression of the genital area.
The shape of the saddle tip is also important. A downward curved tip not only improves the rideability of the bike, but also prevents crushing of the outer genitals when in very low positions on the handlebars and compression of the perineal area.
Finally, the shape of the supporting surface is crucial. The increased load on the pelvic bones can make you feel sore and painful in the buttocks area. To avoid such discomfort, check the design of the support surface and test the saddle. The various shapes are designed to adapt to the physical build and specific posture of each user.
Now that you can recognise a good prostate bike saddle, take a look at our saddles here. Or discover the medical research (officially approved by the international scientific community), with which Selle SMP has obtained 5 world patents.
You have surely heard of a prostate saddle or, better still, you use one on your bike. What you may not know is that this type of saddle was created to solve a wide variety of problems, not just those related to the prostate. And what may surprise you is to discover that not all […]
Linda and Silvia are “Accidental Cyclists”, two great cycling enthusiasts.
On 11th July, they left on their Gravel bikes to accomplish an extraordinary feat in America: the Grizzly Tour, a bike trip from Canada to Mexico.
This is what our fearless cyclists have to tell us
“We spent 48 days riding more than 4,000 km. We travelled through Canada, the United States and New Mexico. Our equipment comprised a Gravel bike specifically for this type of trip - but in retrospect an MTB would have been better -, technical clothing adapted to the temperatures that changed along the way and SMP Well M1 Gel saddles, which were so comfortable that we never had to use a cream a perineum cream”.
But how did you prepare for such an adventurous journey?
We are not cyclists so during the winter we trained hard in the gym and on rollers. We went out at weekends, sleeping in a tent and testing various loads. In this way, we found an optimal load of about 35 kilos. Our weekend trips were also useful for testing the saddle and the seat insert. We decided to invite two female friends to come with us on the trip for safety reasons: four is better.
Do you have any tips for those who want to undertake a bicycle trip of this type?
First of all, you need to train hard. Not only on your bike but also in the gym.
Then it is absolutely essential to plan: it is an adventure but you need to know the territory well, study the maps carefully to find somewhere to sleep and find water. Everything needs to be planned with the utmost care.
Finally, you need to be able to adapt because you can only take the bare minimum with you and you need to be well organised.
What did you bring home from this extraordinary bike holiday?
Empathy and sharing with other cyclists. Impressive wild nature: thanks to your bike you can become part of it. And the ability to withstand huge effort because the route is all uphill.
If you would like more information or you are curious to find out about the stages of our Grizzly Tour, read the Accidental Cyclists blog
Linda and Silvia are “Accidental Cyclists”, two great cycling enthusiasts. On 11th July, they left on their Gravel bikes to accomplish an extraordinary feat in America: the Grizzly Tour, a bike trip from Canada to Mexico. This is what our fearless cyclists have to tell us “We spent 48 days riding more than 4,000 km. […]
Providing comfort on bikes, improving performance and guaranteeing the health of cyclists: these have always been our goals. Hence, we have designed the new Selle SMP bar tapes.
These bike accessories allow a firm and secure grip in all weather conditions. They also provide excellent comfort, since they reduce vibrations that are transmitted from the ground to the wrists. In some cases, these vibrations may cause disturbances, even severe ones, to the joints. Finally, bar tapes are quick and easy to apply.
Our new accessories are just this but they offer something more. It's called HPP - High Performance Polymer - an innovative compound, 100% Italian in origin, created in Selle SMP's labs. This material guarantees comfort, high performance and superior durability.
We developed all these qualities in collaboration with our teams and professional athletes under road and cyclocross conditions. We then had them tested by the most demanding amateur cyclists. Like all other Selle SMP products, bar tapes were also designed and tested with cyclists, precisely to obtain a high-quality functional accessory.
This is how GRIP, GRIP GEL and AIR, our three new bike bar tapes were created. They are all available in two colours: black and white.
GRIP ensures a firm grip in all conditions and has a special micro-perforation that allows excellent breathability (2.8 mm thick).
GRIP GEL has the same features and textures as GRIP, with the addition of a new generation inner layer of gel for exceptional comfort and unrivalled absorption of vibrations (3.0 mm thick).
AIR stands out for its extreme lightness and breathability, thanks to its special micro- perforation. In this way, you can cycle while saving energy and absorbing vibrations (2.8 mm thick).
The handlebars, saddle and pedals are the three points of contact between the cyclist and the bicycle. The choice of bar tape is therefore extremely important and should not be made only according to the colour or the latest trend.
Providing comfort on bikes, improving performance and guaranteeing the health of cyclists: these have always been our goals. Hence, we have designed the new Selle SMP bar tapes. These bike accessories allow a firm and secure grip in all weather conditions. They also provide excellent comfort, since they reduce vibrations that are transmitted from the […]
All our products have been created to meet the specific needs of cyclists: comfort, safety, the best performance and wellbeing. Also the two new Selle SMP F30 and F30c saddles have been designed to meet a precise need: to let you move freely and find the right position on the saddle.
Cycling with the F30 and the F30c saddle is a unique experience. The new patented ergonomic design allows greater control of the bicycle and easier backward and forward movements on the saddle. They both support your every move, helping you find the right position, which you can easily and effortlessly change at any time.
The new design is in perfect harmony with all the special features that make Selle SMP saddles ergonomic and different to all others. This can be seen in the eagle-beak tip that provides greater comfort when pedalling in a low position. The fully open central channel is a "must" that eliminates all compression in the perineal and prostate areas. And finally, there is the rear depression that protects the coccyx from blows caused by rough ground.
Starting with these fundamental features, we have worked with strong professional teams and athletes including Team Bardiani CSF (Protagonist of the Giro d'Italia), Team Femminile Valcar PBM (recent Champions of Italy) and the Braidot Twins for the off-road bike. Advice, feedback and field testing have made the SMP F30 saddle and the SMP F30c saddle functional precisely because they were designed alongside those who use them.
Now that you know what distinguishes our new saddles from other Selle SMP products, let's take a look at their other features.
First of all comfort: the tapered shape of the central and front part makes you feel comfortable and prevents any rubbing of the thighs against the saddle.
The F30 and F30c saddles are easy to adjust. They are unisex models and are recommended for all road and off-road disciplines.
The standard version has an AISI 304 alloy tube frame, however, a CRB version is also available with an ultra light tube frame made of unidirectional carbon fiber.
Both models are available with genuine leather upholstery for the black version. Alternatively, if you prefer other colours, saddles are available in special high-quality microfibre.
Finally, we can discover the difference between the two models. The F30c is the compact version of the F30 and it is 46mm shorter. In addition, the F30c is also ideal for Triathlons precisely due to its shape.
Take a look at the product data sheets for the SMP F30 saddle and the SMP F30c saddle and improve the way you ride your bike, enjoying every single moment.
All our products have been created to meet the specific needs of cyclists: comfort, safety, the best performance and wellbeing. Also the two new Selle SMP F30 and F30c saddles have been designed to meet a precise need: to let you move freely and find the right position on the saddle. Cycling with the F30 […]
Selle SMP was one of the Official Sponsors of the Mountain Bike Marathon Championships. The MTB Marathon Championships took place on 15 September in our region, Veneto. Participating as an official sponsor gave us the opportunity to meet off-road cyclists: we talked to all of them, gathering their opinions and suggestions.
We also gained international visibility thanks to the attendance of many members of the press and to live TV. The World Championships in Auronzo was widely acknowledged as the most exciting event held in Europe dedicated to long distance mountain biking.
To find out more, visit the website: 3epic MTB Marathon World Championships
Selle SMP was one of the Official Sponsors of the Mountain Bike Marathon Championships. The MTB Marathon Championships took place on 15 September in our region, Veneto. Participating as an official sponsor gave us the opportunity to meet off-road cyclists: we talked to all of them, gathering their opinions and suggestions. We also gained international […]
Our partnership has been renewed with the International Master Cross Circuit, which has now been active for five years and is constantly growing, with a special focus on the youth category.
Here is the International Competition calendar of the Selle SMP Master Cross:
21 October - Cles (TN)
25 November - Brugherio (MB)
8 December - Faè di Oderzo (TV)
9 December - Gorizia (GO)
16 December - Vittorio Veneto (TV)
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to experience with us the excitement of these races and to find out who will win them.
Our partnership has been renewed with the International Master Cross Circuit, which has now been active for five years and is constantly growing, with a special focus on the youth category. Here is the International Competition calendar of the Selle SMP Master Cross: 21 October – Cles (TN) 25 November – Brugherio (MB) 8 December […]