Velo Angel Saddles
On the D-Plus in the gulley for a test ride.
Sit on enough saddles and you can tell, usually immediately, if it’s gonna work for you and the new Velo Angel sure did for me. Of course, your mileage will vary, but the Angel has features appealing to the Pacific Northwest cyclist, like the the padding system is built and attached to the shell: it’s totally enclosed and 100% waterproof. So no soggy leather or foam, no rotting padding and this is important because it rains where I ride.
An understated company, but there’s a considerable amount of industry-leading industrial design in that saddle
The Angel also uses ArcTech, a unique rail mounting system to deliver comfort (flex absorbs bumps) while keeping weight down. Not content with a single color, Velo has applied “splashy graphics” to the saddle too and I’ve got the blue flavor.
Also, there’s a personal connection to Velo for me. Rode with Velo staffers once in Vegas, during our Mobile Social. For a company that’s been in business for 35 years and makes 15 million saddles a year, they were sure grounded in being about “the ride.”
Wall art
The Angel line is available in four versions:
- Angel Glide: Carbon rail; carbon base; 128mm width; 282mm length; 122g
- Angel Dive: Titanium alloy rail; gel insert cover; 127mm width; 285mm length; 220g
- Angel Ride: Titanium alloy rail; gel insert cover; 144mm width; 285mm length; 245g
- Angel Fly: Titanium alloy rail; gel insert cover; 127mm width; 285mm length; 245g
Check with your local bike shop for the pricing and availability. Summarized: a light, fully-featured saddle with an MSRP of $130 for the Ti rail version, and $290 for the carbon rail/carbon shell version which is a legit 122g.