Repente Nova: New bike saddle from Italy "with a green soul" & still affordable!
Sebastian Brust
· 08.02.2024
It looks sporty, the new Repente Nova bicycle saddle, which is made of lightweight and fully recyclable material. And it is also made for sporty cycling, whether on a mountain bike, gravel bike or racing bike. Repente knows a thing or two about this, as the company website shows numerous professional sponsorships.
Ah, and the company name translates as sudden movement in Spanish. And so the Repente Nova is also typically spartan for racing. The minimalist seat surfaces on the slightly rising rear end look tightly padded - and according to the manufacturer, they are. As if there were a proverbial sign hanging on the door: For seat humps only. And they have to fit in the space provided, as the saddle is only available in one size: 260 millimetres long, 142 millimetres wide.
A generous cut-out in the saddle cover saves weight, but is primarily intended to protect the perineal area from too much pressure. The relief channel runs along the entire length of the saddle from the rearmost end to the tip of the apparently relatively wide saddle nose. After all, if you change your sitting position on the saddle slightly and, for example, slide forwards a little when climbing, it shouldn't immediately give a warning jab to the nervous system.
Cover & padding: One material, fully recyclable - plus the saddle frame made of steel
This makes the new Repente saddle ideal for price-conscious cycling enthusiasts who, on the one hand, are inclined towards a certain, shall we say, martial look and, at the same time, want to join the general and highly recommended sustainability movement. According to the manufacturer, the Repente Nova has a green soul.
No, it is not biodegradable, but at least it is: apart from the frame, the entire saddle is made from one and the same TPU material (TPU: thermoplastic polyurethane); the saddle cover and the foamed seat pad are bonded together without additional adhesives or solvents. An additional protective layer on the surface, such as is used for other TPU bicycle saddles, is not necessary, as the material is robust enough. At the end of its life cycle, the plastic upper part can be completely recycled separately from the metal frame.
A small number of materials and the simple design allow Repente to manufacture the product easily, which in turn should result in a smaller ecological footprint and lower costs. And the manufacturer passes on the cost benefits, so that the 230 gram Repente Nova Aero is available for 85 euros. A slightly heavier 285 gram Nova ST4 version with a simple steel frame is already available for 69 euros.
Facts & figures Repente Nova (manufacturer information)
- Fully recyclable
- Anatomical channel for pressure relief
- Semi-flat shape
- Anti-slip surface
- Seat cushion: Expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU)
- Seat cover/surface: Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
- Length: 260 mm
- Width: 142 mm
- Weight: 230 / 285 g
- Price: 85 euros (Repente Nova ST4, 285 g, 69 euros) RRP
More on the subject of bicycle saddles
Sebastian Brust
Editor
