Skip to main content

Gusset R-Series saddle


Gusset’s R-series saddle is available for a very reasonable $40 with a stitched three-piece cover (as seen here) or an even more reasonable $37 if you can live with a one-piece vinyl finish. It’s available in nine colours/designs, including this rather fetching camo version for those who like the jungle-stealth look. Hollow chromoly rails (rather than the basic steel often found at this price) mean weight is decent, at 266g. The shape is quite supportive, thanks to the upturned tail, and there’s a good amount of flex in the hull. There’s not much of a pressure-relief groove though, and the nose sticks up a bit more than on most saddles, which we found uncomfortable at times when climbing.

Price $40


Popular posts from this blog

KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

CANYON NERVE AL 8.0

  S ince their entry into the UK market a few years ago, Canyon have made a name for themselves as purveyors of well-made bikes that exhibit often extraordinary value. The secret (or catch, depending on your point of view) is that the brand don’t have dealers – they ship bikes directly to your door.

COMMENCAL EL CAMINO 3

Commencal are going from strength to strength at the moment and they’ve taken their tough trail hardtail bang up to date with 650b wheels. With its skinny rims, crankset and fork, the El Camino certainly isn’t perfect and it’s the least hardcore bike here. The handling, smoothness, speed and all-round agility of the basic bike still make it a real blast for technical trail riding though, and it’s a great base for upgrading over time.

GT Zaskar Evolution

While some bike models last just a couple of years, others change with the times to stay at the top of riders’ wishlists. In the second part of this series looking at the evolution of bikes that enjoy enduring popularity with UK riders, we turn to the GT Zaskar – a bike that was at the forefront of our sport for a long time and still has plenty of appeal today.

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.