On a cold, windy morning riding out of town in a women’s only biking event, I was feeling the need for a saddle update. Therefore I decided to check out bike seats during snack stops.
I fully knew that at some point the nagging discomfort of my bike saddle would make me wish for my 50 mile ride to be over long before it actually would be. I suspect we have all experienced such moments.
During those snack stops, I believe I found the answer in the Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow saddle. Having already tried at least three saddles for my road bike, I found the Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow saddle, and I am now a preaching convert.
The saddle is designed specifically for females. It’s part of the company’s sport touring group and it is an extremely popular seat–for good reason.
Review In A Nutshell
Pros:
- Women specific design
- Softer gel cushion, but not too soft
- Durable technical microfiber cover material
- Comes in two size widths, 135 mm x 270 mm, or the 152 mm x 270 mm
Cons:
- The seat has become popular with men, so we lost the obvious female pink signature on the top of the saddle, and it has been moved to the underside of the saddle
Price & Where To Buy:
- $159.90 List
- Check price at SelleItalia.com
- Check price at REI.com*
- Price not available at Amazon.com* **
** (Last updated: 2023-03-20 at 07:03 – More Info
Putting The Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow To The Test at RAGBRAI
During that fateful 50 mile ride, I spotted the Selle Italia Diva seat on several of the ladies bikes and I finally asked one of the riders what she thought of the seat. She raved about it, along with two other women I eventually asked.
My interest was peaked. I was headed to RAGBRAI, a seven day road biking event through Iowa, and I needed a saddle that would not cause me saddle sores in the humid heat, and be comfortable, of course!
The Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow seat fit my sit bones perfectly, and distributed my weight evenly on the seat. During those long ride days I would re-adjust once in a while to ensure I really was being supported by it correctly, and I always was.
There was no need for re-adjustment, nor a need for relief from my usual sitting position. The cut-out is the right size to also relieve pressure and improve performance.
It also has a lightweight gel which gave me sitting comfort and absorption of road vibrations. On some saddles I have tried, the gel is too pronounced, but this seat has an ideal gel fill.
At RAGBRAI my husband’s other brand saddle caused him the usual discomfort and deep saddle sores caused primarily by the humidity and an ill-fitting saddle. I biked nearly 500 miles on the Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow saddle during that event and it is a winner.
My Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow saddle made me proud and I could enjoy my ride. I did get hot and ridiculously sweaty, but the excess moisture on those long rides did not affect my comfort level on this seat. Considering how much pain my husband was in, I was constantly reminded by how lucky I was to have bought this seat.
Additionally, on days when we were making huge descents, particularly on our final day descending into the Mississippi River basin, I reached speeds of 36 mph for considerable distances. I easily sat further back on my seat. Some seats are too wide in the neck to sit back comfortably with my thick thighs, but I had no problem doing so with this one as the neck is slim so it didn’t interfere with my inner legs, and the middle cut-out sits reasonably long, at 5-1/4 inches. I did realize early on that I had the front neck of the seat raised a tad bit higher than the back of the seat and eventually made that adjustment, much to my relief on those long days of riding.
Intended Use
The Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow saddle is designed for road riding and for touring. It’s not quite as aggressive as a racing saddle, and is ideal for women riding longer distances or in a more upright position.
Although it’s not designed for mountain biking, I want to try the saddle on my mountain bike. Although less actual time is spent sitting on the saddle for mountain biking, why not experience comfort when climbing?
Popular Even With The Men
I really liked the pink markings on the top of the saddle on older versions of this saddle. Unfortunately (for me), I have been told that this seat is now becoming popular with men as well so the marketing team at Selle Italia got rid of the overtly feminine vibe. We now only have two pink strips on the underside of the seat.
At least the company continues to give women, albeit minor, recognition that this seat was designed for a woman’s anatomy in mind. Guess the men have caught on and it’s no longer our female-only secret.
Weight And Size
For those who take weight as a serious consideration, the seat’s rails are made of titanium, making the saddle lightweight. It weighs between 275g and 285g depending on the size.
The Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow seat comes in two sizes, and I rode the 152 mm x 270 mm seat. Women with narrower sit bones may prefer the 135mm width.
Bottom-Line: The Perfect Saddle For Long Days In The Bike
If you are looking to increase your time (and comfort!) in the saddle, I’d highly recommend the Selle Italia Diva Gel Superflow saddle. You don’t have to suffer–even on long rides like RAGBRAI.
