Tricks, solutions, technical suggestions for a Ride at the top of comfort and performance.
When speaking about choosing the ideal saddle for women, a common topic is often the width of women’s hips, which according to some are wider than those of men. In reality this is absolutely false and is the perfect example of how evaluations can be completely wrong in the absence of in-depth and multi-directional studies. […]
Bike safety and comfort no doubt depend on elements of primary importance such as the saddle, wheels, frame size, clothing… but they can also depend on seemingly insignificant details, such as handlebar tape, for example. This essential accessory offers an easy and affordable way to revive the look of your bike, however its role is […]
A clean bike works better and lasts longer. This isn’t a slogan for a brand of detergent, but rather the pure and simple truth. And when you come back from a ride, the sooner you clean it, the better. Let’s not let laziness and negligence get the better of us: cleaning our bike is the […]
Choosing the ideal saddle – as we all know – is essential in obtaining high-level performance without compromising on comfort and well-being while riding. Today, thanks to the idmatch system and in particular measurements made with the Smart Caliper, it is possible to identify the ideal saddle size with absolute precision, guaranteeing each person the […]
The saddle is the most important point of contact between the human body and the bike, that on which comfort and performance depends, and we will never tire of repeating that the ideal choice of size and model cannot be left to chance, but rather must be selected based on each cyclist’s body measurements and […]
Comfort and “setting” the saddle: to obtain the former, or rather comfortable pedalling that guarantees well-being and high performance, the latter needs to be done in accordance with strict measuring criteria. After many years of studies and findings on thousands of cyclists, Selle Italia has adopted a scientific saddle adjustment system valid for all types […]
The pleasure of a spin on our bike is also dependent on our outfit. Over- or under-dressing can adversely affect the comfort of our bike ride – no more and no less than using a badly fitting saddle. Each time a cyclist gets ready to go out on his bike, he is assailed by […]
Special training can help to make strides in your performance levels, but it has to be done methodically, staying clear of any half-baked schemes. One approach within everyone’s reach which is highly effective for boosting performance levels is the Slow Frequency Repetitions method. It is one thing to fit in as many rides as […]
We met Dr. Daniele Porru, Consultant Urologist at the University Hospital of S. Matteo di Pavia, to gain some insight into the links between avid cycling and a healthy functioning urinary tract. The link between Urology and cycling has received little attention from scientific literature so far, however, several studies have been carried out […]
An innovative bar tape which makes for a particularly pleasant and safe grip on the handlebar because the smooth overlapping of the edges gets rid of any unevenness. Always wear a helmet, use a rear-view mirror for road riding, make sure you are perfectly visible, ride carefully, avoid taking pointless risks when going downhill… […]
Uphill slog and downhill freeriding. Put in very simple terms, these are the two extreme poles which go to make up each single outing in the mind of the average cyclist. And all things considered, it is not far wrong. But it isn’t that clear-cut either, because a descent can be anything but fun if […]
Does everyone wear a helmet? Always? Each time you go out? Silly question, isn’t it? Today (almost) nobody rides out without a protective helmet, but only fifteen years ago things were very different and the questions we have just asked would not have invited the same replies…. Luckily, even though it is not yet legally […]
Long before food science came onto the scene, veteran cyclists used to have a saying which went: “if you put off eating until you are hungry, you are bound to succumb”. What we are trying to get at is that cyclists are well aware of the importance of drinking and eating properly. That means snacking […]
Recently we came across an article on a cycling magazine which discussed frame materials and it started like this: “The steel era has come to an end…”. Let’s stop right there. It was a bad start, there was no point in reading further. The days of steel are far from gone. Actually, steel has just […]
The great thing about a racing bike is the feeling of freedom and independence that a cycle ride outdoors gives us. It is all about knowing that such a straightforward lightweight instrument can carry us anywhere our legs can pedal to. But we should never mistake this sensation of mental and physical freedom with the […]
A test made up of a series of examinations which gauges cardio-vascular risks for anyone doing endurance sports like cycling. Over the age of 40, it is best to repeat this test at least every two years to make sure that everything is “in working order”. It can reveal undetected heart disease or simply […]
Knowing roughly how a bicycle works does not automatically make us good mechanics. If we do not know exactly what we are doing, even simple repair jobs can wreak havoc on the bike parts. So, if you are in any doubt at all, go to a “specialist”. If our beloved two-wheeler is to stay […]
Biomechanical analysis carried out in specialist centres will help to identify the best saddle position so that you achieve the smoothest pedalling stroke, greatest power and comfort levels. Man and machine in perfect harmony slicing through the air merged into a single functional entity. In one indistinguishably elegant fluid movement, the power of the […]
Smartphone cycling Apps are becoming increasingly popular even with cycling buffs who are no longer in their salad days. The main reason for the popularity of these Apps (apart from the fact that they are easy to use) is that they exert a strong “social” attraction which boosts performance levels and encourages competitiveness. Once […]
With its strikingly curved silhouette, the drop handlebar enables a cyclist to switch between a series of different grips. It is a comfortable and safe option in any riding situation and can be improved with suitable taping. The handlebar, or rather the drop handlebar, is one of the three body contact points on a […]
The next-generation tyres are very smooth-running, durable and safe thanks to Graphene, the carbon-derived material with extraordinary characteristics. But aside from tyres, all cycling is now undergoing a sweeping scientific revolution, with the widespread use of increasingly sophisticated technologies. Just think of the new futuristic SP01 saddle by Selle Italia, constructed in advanced materials and […]
Cramps are a problem as painful as they are common among cyclists; a hassle that can ruin your day without giving any easily identifiable clues as to their cause. Bad training, overexertion, dehydration and wrong diet are relevant – but incorrect position on the saddle can also be a cause of cramp. What can we […]
Many cyclists think that back pain and bikes are an inseparable pairing, but that’s not true at all. Those osteo-muscular problems that materialise after a ride are often caused by mechanical or adjustment errors, or perhaps by using the wrong saddle type for your anatomy. According to the World Health Organisation, around 85% of […]
Women’s saddles are different from men’s, but in what way? What body-shape factors must be taken into account when developing a ladies’ saddle so that female cyclists can have a long happy ride whatever the circumstances? The university Professor Luca Bartoli, specialised in applied ergonomics in sport and director of the Ergoview Research Centre, has […]
Your bike is sparkling clean and set to go; you have a new comfortable, Novus Superflow saddle, virtually “made-to-measure”, chosen using the innovative idmatch measuring system by Selle Italia; your brakes are properly adjusted and tyre pressures are perfect. Everything’s running perfectly, but at the first gear change you hear that annoying squeak that almost […]
The importance of fitting a saddle that suits our physical structure perfectly should never be underestimated. It is a fundamental element for riding comfort just like the right clothing or the right bike. When we want to buy a pair of shoes that are comfortable, we need to know our shoe size first, then we […]
Determining your anaerobic threshold allows you to customise your training sessions, increasing aerobic capacity over time and improving stamina and performance. Perhaps with the help of a “customised” saddle, chosen with the scientific idmatch measuring system by Selle Italia. Inevitably all cyclists, of whatever level, sooner or later end up talking about and discussing their […]
The first question many cyclists ask when they visit the store to buy a new saddle is which is the most comfortable. But in reality this question is moot, because it is impossible to know this beforehand, and several different subjective elements need to be evaluated. For example, in addition to the size of saddle, […]
We all know that your ideal saddle must be the right size and adjusted to the right height, reach and tilt for your body. But that’s not all. To make sure it is safe and reliable, it also has to be attached to the seat post according to specific criteria. Tightening the clamp exerts a […]
When buying a new saddle it’s natural to expect a step-up in terms of comfort, not just when you’re sitting down, but when you’re pedalling too. But sometimes expectations don’t match up to reality, and after a few rides you’re unhappy with the comfort and complaining of pain in the pelvic area and a suboptimal […]
Raise your hand if you can remember the colour of Marco Pantani’s helmet. Difficult, isn’t it? Of course, because the legendary “Pirata” (“Pirate”) never wore one, like almost all the champions from his era. Today, it would seem really strange to see professional cyclists racing without a helmet, and actually it is almost impossible now […]
Initially, a correct pedalling action can be achieved through training and concentration, then becoming a natural motion. Given the repetitive nature of the action, incorrect angles can lead to symptoms of varying severity due to functional overload of the musculoskeletal system. Technique apart, there are three important parameters that need to be taken into consideration […]
How many calories does cycling burn? Well, calorie consumption depends on a number of variables, including weight, gender and age, but also speed, type of route, and wind speed, etc. So, it’s impossible to know beforehand. We can only make generalisations based on standardised tables. But what we do know is that intense exercise burns […]
A puncture is always an unpleasant surprise. As soon as you notice it your first thought usually goes to a spare inner tube. Have I got one? Is it still in good condition? Then once these initial doubts have been dispelled and you’ve replaced the tube, it’s time to inflate it. But with what? A […]
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