Tested : Ben’s SDG Bel Air 3.0 Lux-Alloy Saddle Review.

·Monday 24 August 2020

The Bel Air from SDG is something of a modern classic, appearing on a wide range of bikes over the past 25 years.

The SDG Bel Air 3.0 aims to build on that base and bring it firmly up to date with a range of modern features and new materials aimed at improving comfort and performance.

Photos by Dave Price.

Key features:

Lux-Alloy Rails
8 Colours available
Peri-Canal Groove
Lightweight EVA Foam
£79.95 RRP
SDGComponents.com

Buy online at Tweeks Cycles for £79.96.

Available in 8 colours, I chose the purple base to fit on my Vitus Sommet 29 test bike where it stayed for about 4 months of solid testing abuse. First impressions are of a sleek, modern looking saddle, aided by the lack of visible stitching and smooth finish.

The main visible feature is the pressure relieving peri-canal groove that runs the length of the saddle. Other, more subtle features include the raised rear section of the saddle, that SDG say improves seated power transfer and comfort. The underside is a smooth, gloss plastic finish where you also notice another cut out area for improved gusset relief.

Despite all the fancy marketing terms (atomic welds?) and new features, the Bel Air 3.0 feels immediately familiar and comfy. The padding is generous enough and the pressure relieving features all seemed to work together to prevent any unwanted numbness or tingling. At 236 grams it is a competitive weight for an alloy rail saddle as well.

I did some really big days on the purple SDG and basically didn’t notice it, which is a good thing. It seems to be really well made, and after some big crashes and being dropped a few times it basically looks brand new. In the wet and mud, you didn’t slide around on the saddle surface and the only drawback was that the central groove packed full of mud that I had to scrape out mid-ride. There were no creaks from the rails during the test either.