Fabric Scoop Saddle – Review
Fabric are the components offspring of Charge bikes, we park ourselves on their Scoop saddle to see if it integrates, or just grates!
Charge make some really slick looking bikes and have done some innovative and exciting things over the years, the one that sticks in my head is their 3D printed titanium dropout. If you get a chance to see one in the flesh they are a piece of art. Coming from the same guys behind Charge bikes we were expecting great things both aesthetically and in terms of performance. Fabric offer 3 styles of saddle with different widths to suit different body shapes and riding styles. The 134mm wide line is a very racey number, the 142mm scoop carries over from Charge, and the distinctive 155mm cell is aimed at more comfortable and relaxed ride. On test we have the Scoop in “Ultimate” spec meaning the base and rails are made from carbon fibre. This gives the saddle a weight of about a third of the aluminium railed version, as well as that rather pimp edge.
The scoop is available in 3 different shapes from the aggressive flat to the curvy radius and 4 different specs to suit your weight and wallet requirements. Ultimate has a carbon base and rails, Pro has a nylon base and carbon rails, Race has a nylon base and titanium rails and the Elite has a nylon base and alloy rails. The elite is also available in a whole range of different colourways to perfectly match your ride, while the other options are available predominantly in black. I love the styling of the black on black with black logos that somehow just works seamlessly.
In terms of practicality the scoop series is well up there, the top cover is a robust microfibre that is waterproof, covering a reasonably firm layer of padding. As well as the Fabric number on our current long termer Bronson, we’ve had a Scoop that has moved across a few bikes and is still looking in great condition despite, frankly, getting a battering – the graphics are still bright and crisp and there are no holes or wear patches, and the padding is still in good shape, impressive given how easily we’ve seen saddles get battered in the past.
The underside of the saddle is especially clever, being a single smooth piece means it sheds mud and filth easily and is also easy to clean with no awkward nooks and crannies to trap detritus that will then work its way into the saddle and make a mess.
Comfort is impressive, despite firm and businesslike look, it has proved comfy even after long rides with tons of saddle time in damp shorts. The 142mm width is about right for your “average” backside, and still leaves plenty of room to get off the back of the bike if you need to, the loss of any extra bulk means it looks sleek and sheds weight into the bargain. The back edge of the saddle doesn’t feature any aggressive sharpness to make a mess of your groin if you stack it on the steeps.
Basically, if you need a new saddle, have a think about your wallet and weight requirements and purchase one of these saddles, I doubt you’ll regret it!
RRP – From £39.99 to £169.99
Saddle Tested – Scoop Shallow Ultimate £169.99
For the full range, visit http://fabric.cc/shop/saddles/scoop/
