Koobi, a Colorado Springs-based company,  designs and sells a broad line of saddles, produced by Selle Italia in Italy and aimed at specific niches in the cycling spectrum—from all out racing and triathlon use to touring. The PRS Century, Koobi’s newest saddle, is similar in dimensions to a typical racing seat and uses a combination of both Lycra and leather for comfort. The PRS Century is aimed at the person who hasn’t been riding long enough to harden his posterior to the extent that he is ready for a minimalist racing saddle.

TECH
Koobi sent us the manganese rail model (there is also a titanium version available) of the PRS (Personal Ride System) Century to test. At first glance, we were suspicious of the small elastomer springs that we spotted at the rear of the saddle, attached between the rails and the base. Digging deeper into the box we found two more sets of the elastomers, which provide up to one centimeter of extra cushion to be used to alter the ride characteristics of the saddle, depending on your weight and degree of rear-end conditioning. We found that the yellow (soft) elastomers worked best for our 170-pound test rider. The slightly turned–down nose of the saddle was covered in leather, while the rear had a Lycra covering. Considering the built-in suspension, a weight of 317 grams is right in the ballpark for this level of comfort.

RBA SAYS
We gave the Koobi Century to RBA’s marathon rider who occasionally suffers nether-region numbness. His report was very favorable, and the Koobi Century is now a permanent addition to his double-century bike.

The leather-covered, turned-down nose of the saddle relieved pressure from sensitive areas while riding in the drops. Further comfort was available from a slot running half the length of the saddle—for pressure-point relief, and extra ventilation to keep sensitive areas dry. For those who move around the saddle more than others, the Lycra covered rear-half of the  saddle reduces friction and thus prevents hot spots from arising during long rides. Our test rider’s quote of the moment was: “After the first few miles, I forget it’s there.” It was only after he reverted to his rock-hard leather racing saddle that the Koobi Century’s elevated comfort level was fully appreciated.

Cost: $144.95
Weight: 317 grams
Contact: www.koobi.com