Chromag Lynx DT Saddle - Review
Saddles are not sexy. They lack S-shaped leverage curves, twiddly damping adjusters and the overt sex appeal that so many other products bring to the table. And yet, a crap saddle is something that makes itself known. Quickly. I remember getting just one ride in Ashland on a Fizik saddle, only to discover that the sleek instrument of torture had worn a hole in my backside. So, yeah, although saddles like any overt sense of “radness,” these things matter. And, yes, for that guy in Germany who is annoyed that I am making up English words as I go along, “radness” is a word. Deal with it.
Lynx DT Details
• Seamless synthetic top
• Chromoly rails
• Dimensions: 280 mm x 135 mm
• Weight: 285 grams
• Price: $80 USD
• www.chromagbikes.com / @Chromagbikes
• Seamless synthetic top
• Chromoly rails
• Dimensions: 280 mm x 135 mm
• Weight: 285 grams
• Price: $80 USD
• www.chromagbikes.com / @Chromagbikes
I ride plenty of saddles and most of them fit squarely in the blah range for me. Not bad, but not doing anything particularly positive either. One exception: Chromag’s Lynx DT ($80) saddle.
Just a bit more cushion and breadth than what you typically find on an all-purpose saddle. It's something you appreciate on steep, techy climbs that require you to shimmy forward on the saddle to maintain traction.
Not feeling the red? The Lynx DT comes in a variety of colors. According to Chromag, sexier graphics are on the way for 2017, as well as a new synthetic top that they say feels a bit more supple.
For starters, the Lynx DT isn’t either so skinny or so fat that it limits you to any specific discipline. Cross-country purists still pining for their 125-gram, Carbo-Keramic railed Selle Italia Flite might find the Lynx too broad in the nose and the saddle entirely lacking in titanium or carbon (its rails are working-class chromoly). At 285 grams the Lynx DT is not a featherweight, true, but then again, it isn’t shaped like some kind of evil anal flossing device. I’ll go with the Chromag.
Chromag is loathe to pigeon hole the Lynx DT, saying instead that it’s “an excellent saddle for light all-mountain setups.” That sounds about right. It’s a good, all-purpose saddle that's rugged as all hell. I’ve spent most of my time on the ($90) Lynx and, more recently, this Lynx DT. The difference between those two saddles? The Lynx is a natural leather job while the Lynx DT features a synthetic cover. Between the two, I prefer the more compliant feel of the leather-topped Lynx, though Chromag tells us that the 2017 Lynx DT saddles will feature a new, mores supple, synthetic top and will be available in a variety of new colors. As for overall durability, I’ve yet to bend the steel rails on this or any of my previous Lynx saddles and though the leather on my old Lynx saddles looks beat, they’ve never torn.
Wondering what sets the Lynx and the Lynx DT apart? Never even gave it a thought? Fair enough. Well, the Lynx (white saddle in foreground) sports a genuine leather top, whereas the Lynx DT (in red) features a synthetic upper..
Working class saddle rails. Nope, the Lynx does not feature carbon or even titanium rails. Instead, it's a straight up chromoly party down here. Haven't bent a set to date and I ride like a clown, so that's saying something.
The Lynx DT features a fairly wide nose that gets a decent dose of padding—it’s not overstuffed like a LA-Z-Boy chair, but if you have to scoot up and hunker down on the nose in order to clean particularly steep climbs, you’ll find the Lynx DT far more comfortable than 90 percent of saddles out there. The rear section of the saddle is fairly slim and features rounded edges that don’t grab at baggy shorts during those occasions when you suddenly have to drop your arse back behind the saddle and let it roll.
Pinkbike's Take:
 | There are plenty of lighter, swankier saddles out there. The Lynx DT, however, strikes a smart balance... It's light enough to serve on a featherweight trail bike but far burlier and more comfortable than almost any saddle that comes spec'd on a bike meant for racing. For that matter, you'll see plenty of them on gravity rigs. The right saddle choice is always, ultimately, a personal call--your anatomy may be far different than mine, but if you're looking for an all-purpose saddle, you should check this one out.- Vernon Felton |
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Me too, love it. No more bulky, ass chaffing diaper to worry about anymore
Usually, it's just a matter of seats working for some riders & not others, but I gotta say, I haven't met the guy Prologo's seats work for.
So, uh, Vernon, maybe you could measure your butt and get back to us?
I did a fair bit of road riding when I lived in an area with meh trails accessible from my house. Getting my sit bones measured took the guesswork out of finding a saddle that didn't destroy my nether regions. Here is a link to a measure at home guide: www.artscyclery.com/learningcenter/measuresitbonewidth.html
And yes, that's for roadies. And yes, saddle fit isn't as critical for most of us mountainbikers since technical climbing naturally has us moving around and relieving pressure a lot more than roadies and if you're not descending mostly out of the saddle you're doing it wrong.
Knowing my sit bone size eventually led me to finding a new wider (+/- 145 mm works for me) MTB saddle as well. And while I don't notice the difference most of the time, this one doesn't cause any issues when I find myself on long fireroad climbs. And that is awesome.
On the other hand I'm pretty sure the job qualifications for Pinkbike editor didn't read: "Must be willing and able to ride bikes, drink beer, complain about ever changing wheel/hub/bb standards, sit in front of a computer for an extended period of time, occasionally lift objects up to 50 lbs, and publish the dimensions of various body parts."
So, if you don't want to measure your butt I think you get a pass.
Thanks for replying and keep up the good work.
p.s. I rode a Fizik saddle once as well. Just once.
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