off-road.cc

The Giant Romero SL saddle, found on the brand's top-end Reign and Trance bikes but available separately, is a comfortable if slightly flexy saddle aimed at trail and enduro riders. The shape is great if you prefer a rounder saddle, but it’s not quite as supportive as some of the competition.

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The Romero SL is aimed primarily at the enduro rider, and it's packed with interesting tech to help it flex in certain areas with special foams, all in the name of comfort.

It gets a nylon/glass fibre composite base, Particle Flow padding (something ported from its road saddle range, and which amounts to a sack of squishy balls) and the Rebound foam – Giant's premium blend. As for the rails, they're Giant's lightweight alloy SST rails.

The Romero SL gets an extended nose, and it's narrow for far enough that it never interferes with your thighs.

This saddle measures in at 138mm wide and 277mm lengthways. Its stack is 44mm.

Over long rides I never found the Romero SL uncomfortable, so Giant has done a great job in that respect. All the clever foams and squishy pouches keep everything comfortable.

However, the flex in the lower sides (intended to boost comfort when you're stood up hammering a rough descent, and excitingly dubbed Side-Flex) leaves it feeling quite unsupportive in those areas.

The overall shape feels quite round over the top – it slopes rapidly if gently either side of the central line – and, while that doesn't personally suit me, the long nose and small kick at the rear offer a good level of fore and aft support.

Also the overall flex, unlike that of the lower sides, is well judged. The saddle absorbs a lot of impact without sacrificing stiffness.

If, like me, you like the support a flat saddle gives, the Romero SL won’t be perfect for you – though it's unlikely to cause any real issues either. It's a well made, comfortable saddle that's full of considered details (and also a pile of squishy balls).

• www.giant-bicycles.com

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