Note: Ergon sent the SR Allroad saddle and the BT OrthoCell Road handle bar tape to Guitar Ted Productions at no cost for test and review. Ergon has not paid for, nor bribed Guitar Ted for these reviews. All opinions and images, unless noted, belong to Guitar Ted/Guitar Ted Productions.
Welcome to a new season of reviews on Guitar Ted Productions. I'm kicking things off this season with two items from Ergon. They are sponsors of a new cycling team called Canyon/DT Swiss Alt-Terrain. (Reported on HERE in a recent Friday News & Views post)
I am going to be taking a look at a couple of items the team is going to be using throughout 2026. I have an SR Allroad Pro saddle and the BT OrthoCell Road handlebar tape. (NOTE: The link for the handlebar tape takes you to the Gravel version which is 3mm thick. The tape on review here is not on the site currently)
The reviews will eventually split off but for this introduction I'll be speaking on both products. First up we will take a quick look at the handlebar tape specs and then the saddle. I'll follow up with some comments.
BT OrthoCell Road Handlebar Tape: The OrthoCell component of this product is really what sets this handlebar tape apart from the rest of the competition. OrthoCell is a product Ergon uses which is made by BASF in Germany. The foam padding is applied to the tape in varying thicknesses. In the case of the Road variant, it is thinner than the BT OrthoCell Gravel tape. Overall, BT OrthoCell Road is 2mm in thickness. Ergon suggests the wrapping technique used can vary the thickness and feel of the tape according to preferences.
This tape is 250mm long for each roll so it should cover most modern allroad/gravel handlebars and any road racing type bar.
The OrthoCell material also figures into another handlebar accessory product Ergon makes in a pad set. I tested those for another site and I can vouch for the OrthoCell claims. So, I have pretty high expectations for the handlebar tape. Besides, Ergon BT Allroad Gravel tape is a favorite handlebar tape of mine anyway. I just wish they offered it in more colors than they do currently.
Price for the BT OrthoCell Road tape is not known since I cannot find it on Ergon's site or anywhere online. This 2mm thick version of OrthoCell tape should cost approximately the same as the 3mm thick Gravel version which costs $44.95 USD. The tape should be available through Ergon eventually.
The SR Allroad Pro has a microfiber cover over the OrthoCell padding which is textured in the sit bone region and smooth everywhere else. There is a large, vented pressure relief zone down the middle here which is promising relief from numbness.
Claimed weight is 230 gm but the sample I received is 252 gm.The overall length of the saddle is 248mm and the width is 143mm for the Small/Medium seen here. There is also a Medium/Wide offered which is listed as being 151m in width.A women's variant is also offered in an Allroad Comp version which trades a carbon composite base for a Nylon base.
The Ergon SR Allroad Pro Saddle retails for $154.95 USD. You can purchase the saddle directly from Ergon or through various online or brick and mortar retailers.
Impressions: I have used Ergon handlebar tape and an Ergon saddle for a few years now. If you read my Top Ten Recommendos post last November you may have noticed two Ergon products made the list.
The saddle I used was the SR Allroad CORE Comp, and the shape is very similar to this new saddle I have now on test. The big difference is obviously the cut-out. But I also noted the padding is a bit more luxurious and thicker by a little on the newer saddle.
My expectation is that I will get along with the shape of this new saddle just fine, but I do think the new one will be more comfortable. I should also note here that Ergon plainly sees the OrthoCell padding as being enough to mitigate vibrations and provide comfort because that rigid base is certainly not going to have any give! It is thick and feels like it won't have any problem keeping a firm foundation for your pedaling efforts.
I know I've seen and heard concerns about saddle cut-outs which pierce through the saddle completely. Some feel debris coming off the rear tire could cause issues. I guess.....maybe, but this is why there are fenders. One could also simply paste a bit of duct tape underneath and cover the opening if it really became something of an issue.
On the tape, I have used Ergon's 3mm thick Gravel tape and the OrthoCell pad kit, both things I'd be very glad to have on any drop bar bike. I saw this Road tape with a 2mm thickness and immediately wondered if it might not work well for me. However; the OrthoCell material may mitigate my concerns. We will see. I don't doubt it will be difficult to wrap though, as this has been my experience with any Ergon handlebar tape I've used to date.
Okay, so there is an introduction to these products.; Next I have to choose a bike to put these on and get to riding. When I have installed the saddle and handlebar tape I will get a few rides in and then come back with two separate first impressions posts, one for the saddle and one for the bar tape.
Stay tuned. This might take a few weeks due to weather concerns.
Thanks to Ergon for providing these products to test and review.
NOTE: Tomorrow will feature two press releases. Please make sure to scroll down the page to see both releases set to come out tomorrow morning. Thank you!
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