Review: Giant Fleet SLR Performance Saddle

(2023) It is quite possible your saddle is in need of replacement. After months - and possibly years - of persistent body aches, a new saddle was installed. The Giant Fleet SLR saddle, along the lines of the new generation in shaping and molding, was employed with hopes of fixing a sagging ride style. After hundreds of miles of testing, we filed this report.

Giant Bicycles is known for OEM manufacturing. In recent years the company has improved on their componentry. Handlebars, stems, and even saddles have entered the aftermarket sales for Giant. Testing out a Giant Fleet SLR performance saddle would complement the Giant TCR road bike, but there were specific heavily scrutinized areas.

Road bike saddles are fit specific. That is, race bikes benefit from race saddles; cross bikes excel with cross saddles, and so on. The weight distribution on a performance saddle can create maximum discomfort on any other bike. The Giant Fleet SLR had a lot of weight riding on its carbon rails.

Over the last few years, body aches set in. Chalked up to advancing age, possibilities of aches stemming from a single bike part were dismissed. But this had happened earlier in the cycling career. A saddle had collapsed, diagnosed later than hoped for. The change was felt immediately. Consider the knee pain that accompanies worn out cleats, now imagine that over the whole body due to a worn out saddle.

The Giant Fleet SLR features a carbon shell and rails. It also sports Ultra-light Giant Rebound foam, shorter nose, and wider aft.

A few rides after installing the Giant Fleet SLR and several parts stood out. The overall comfort was noteworthy, and possibly the best part of the experience. Its lack of pressure points due to weight distribution allowed for instant comfort. Coming off a worn out saddle, the comfort was glaring. Even at slower speeds in a more upright riding position the Fleet SLR felt part of the equation. Though Giant touts its Rebound foam, the saddle's rigidity is what carried the experience. While the saddle is remarkably rigid, it also features a cut-out to relieve pressure points. Miles into longer rides and the ghosts of body aches remained at bay. Could it really have been as simple as using a Fleet SLR?

The Giant Fleet SLR even showed itself on uphills. Climbs were approached with a seated effort. They remained so longer and with more comfort. The wider back end of the saddle allowed for power to be transferred to the pedals while charging ascents. With seated climbing comes better form. Having unknowingly used a fatigued saddle for so long prior to the Fleet SLR, the riding form suffered. Now upward gradients were overwhelmingly spent seated with minimal rocking, setting up for more matches later in the ride.

Racing saddles have had a transformation lately. The long slender saddles from a generation ago have morphed into short-nosed saddles with a wider back end. This allows for more power application to the pedals. The short front end also helps with avoiding bib snags. It also keeps the saddle in the UCI range of acceptable saddle positions. Riders can slide a short-nosed saddle farther forward without violating the bottom bracket plane, providing a closer fit to a time trial bike. 

To hold the entire unit together, Giant features carbon to add to the comfort and stiffness. The Fleet SLR sports stout carbon rails add a bit of vibration absorption, while the shell is made of Giant’s Ultra-light Carbon Composite to enhance the riding experience. Every bit of rigidity is appreciated as longer rides return as well as the speed. All this comes in around 180 grams, a saddle that shaved 70 grams off our old perch’s overall weight.

It is a confidence boost to have added the Giant Fleet SLR atop the TCR. Though many current TCRs come with Fleet SLRs, this one did not. It has made all the difference in the world as full body pains have ebbed since install. Despite being in the cycling industry for approaching two decades, saddle replacement has always been overlooked. Perhaps it’s because the beloved saddle is considered here to stay. But the Giant Fleet SLR looks to be in for the long haul, both in terms of rides and years of future service.