The Bontrager Aeolus Elite is a short-nose road saddle built for riders who spend time in an aggressive, rotated position. It suits aero bikes and anyone who rides the drops rather than the tops.

The design is split with a full cutout, which is what lets the pelvis rotate forward without soft tissue pressure. The nose is wider than most short saddles at 44mm, so the whole 250mm length stays usable whether you are sitting up on the hoods or down and hammering. Elite specification uses austenite rails, which Bontrager claims are lighter and stronger than hollow titanium, bringing the 145mm version to 219g. The rails run the full length of the shell so the whole saddle can flex.

Key features

• Short-nose profile, 250mm long
• Full cutout split design
• Wide 44mm nose so the full length stays usable
• Austenite rails, 219g in the 145mm width
• Available in 145 and 155mm widths
• Rear-facing Blendr mount

If you want the same shape lighter, the Aeolus Pro drops to 170g on carbon rails, though it needs specific seatpost clamp ears. Get measured before you choose a width.