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Saddles
Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle
Prologo Scratch 2 134 Tirox saddle

Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle

9
by Stu Kerton
UPDATED Sat, Jul 27, 2019 00:02

First Published Jul 26, 2019

0
£104.99

VERDICT:

9
10
Excellent padding and shape for comfort, especially on longer rides
Weight: 
226g
Contact: 
www.chickencyclekit.co.uk
How we test

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In my opinion Prologo makes some great saddles, and this Scratch 2 134 Tirox model only reinforces that view. Comfort is excellent straight out of the box, and that doesn't change whether out on a five-hour road ride or a jaunt on the gravel.

  • Pros: Supportive and comfortable padding, great shape
  • Cons: Nothing really

I'm pretty lucky in that I get on with the majority of saddles on the market. Some that I test individually or ones that are fitted to bikes in for review require a little adapting to, or need a little bedding in, but I had no such issues at all with this one.

> Find your nearest dealer here

I fitted it to my Kinesis T2 (hardly the plushest of rides) and headed straight out for a four-and-a-half-hour loop. I barely noticed it, in fact when I actually reminded myself why I was out riding and focused on the seat I was amazed at just how supple the upper and padding were without being overly soft.

Prologo Scratch 2 134 Tirox saddle - rear.jpg

I like a saddle to be pretty firm and the 'active density' foam delivers exactly that. It's supportive and doesn't let you bounce around but there is enough give there to take out the road vibrations.

The Prologo has a curved shape from front to rear, dipping in the middle, and I felt this really worked. The upwardly swooping tail end gives something to push against should you want to whack the power out, but for the rest of the time the narrow nose and rounded edges offer plenty of clearance for hip rotation during the pedalling motion.

Prologo Scratch 2 134 Tirox saddle - nose.jpg

Length-wise the Scratch 2 is 280mm, which gives you plenty of options if you like to move about a bit, and it's available in two widths of 134mm or 143mm depending on your sit bones.

Prologo Scratch 2 134 Tirox saddle - rear 2.jpg

Overall quality is really good, and even though the microfibre upper is wrapped over the nylon shell underneath, it is attached neatly with no rough edges, glue or staples in view.

For this model the Scratch 2 uses Tirox for its saddle rails, a lightweight steel alloy, and they do the job. Like the foam, they deliver plenty of support while allowing just a little bit of movement for comfort.

Prologo Scratch 2 134 Tirox saddle - underside.jpg

Price-wise, the Prologo's £104.99 puts it just a little higher than two I've tested lately. The Ergon SR Comp offers a similar build for £89.99, though I'd definitely say the Prologo offers better comfort levels and has a much better finish quality.

I also tested the Selle San Marco Shortfit SuperComfort saddle and that scored well for its £99.99 price tag, but I'd say the Prologo delivers more right across the board here too.

> Buyer's Guide: 14 of the best high performance saddles

Overall, the Scratch 2 is one of my favourite saddles. That first ride was bliss and it has just continued to get better as it beds in.

Verdict

Excellent padding and shape for comfort, especially on longer rides

road.cc test report

Make and model: Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle

Size tested: 280x134mm

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Prologo says, "A round shape saddle suitable for long/medium distance road and offroad riding. Thanks to this shape, the weight is shared on the whole seating area reducing picks of pressure in the pelvic zone. Scratch saddle helps the natural rotation of your pelvis during the riding.

"SCRATCH 2 saddles are available with the Tirox rail: Light-alloy steel rail that is highly resistant to traction and torsion, it is used in the aviation and aerospace industry because it's light and strong. Tirox gives a good balance between weight and strength and it doesn't fear the normal stress addresses a bicycle. It has 7mm rail clamp diameter"

I found the Prologo very comfortable on all rides, but it does excel when the miles start racking up.

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

Prologo lists:

Size (mm): 280x134 / 280x143

Rail: Tirox steel alloy

Cover: Microfiber

Padding: Light Foam Active Density

Rate the product for quality of construction:
 
9/10
Rate the product for performance:
 
9/10
Rate the product for durability:
 
8/10
Rate the product for weight (if applicable)
 
7/10
Rate the product for comfort (if applicable)
 
9/10
Rate the product for value:
 
5/10

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

A really great saddle with a shape that makes it ideal for longer days on the bike.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Great shape.

Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product

Nothing to really dislike.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

The Prologo is a similar price to a lot of saddles using the same kind of materials, but it excels in its build quality and finish.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

An excellent all-round saddle when it comes to quality, performance and comfort.

Overall rating: 9/10

About the tester

Age: 40  Height: 180cm  Weight: 76kg

I usually ride: This month's test bike  My best bike is: B'Twin Ultra CF draped in the latest bling test components

I've been riding for: Over 20 years  I ride: Every day  I would class myself as: Expert

I regularly do the following types of riding: time trialling, commuting, club rides, sportives, fixed/singlespeed

Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle 2019
Prologo Scratch 2 Tirox saddle
Prologo 2019
Prologo
Stu Kerton

Since writing his first bike review for road.cc back in early 2009 senior product reviewer Stu has tested more than a thousand pieces of kit, and hundreds of bikes.

With an HND in mechanical engineering and previous roles as a CNC programmer/machinist, draughtsman and development engineer (working in new product design) Stu understands what it takes to bring a product to market. A mix of that knowledge combined with his love of road and gravel cycling puts him in the ideal position to put the latest kit through its paces.

He first made the switch to road cycling in 1999, primarily for fitness, but it didn’t take long for his competitive side to take over which led to around ten years as a time triallist and some pretty decent results. These days though riding is more about escapism, keeping the weight off and just enjoying the fact that he gets to ride the latest technology as part of his day job.

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