Since we first became intimately acquainted with it in the early '90s, Selle Italia's Flite has earned a special place in our hearts across countless training and racing miles because its middle-of-the-road approach means it suits almost every rider in almost every cycling application this side of triathlon. The Flite TM Saddle is a more economical approach to the model that may not appeal to the most gram-conscious among us but does promise several seasons of comfortable cycling with its reliable, versatile construction.

Compared to the standard Flite, which is made with titanium alloy rails, the Flite TM saves money and gains a claimed 20g of weight by featuring manganese rails. The TM also eliminates the carbon component in the base Flite's body, which is no doubt responsible for adding a few more grams by requiring additional fiberglass reinforcement to keep the nylon shell from becoming a trampoline when cadence tops 85rpm.

The Flite TM has the same slight increase in padding as the standard Flite, which makes slightly more forgiving than the SLR but doesn't quite tip over into throw-pillow bulk. That combination of a moderate width and that light padding may be responsible for the Flite's enduring popularity. It's wrapped in Duro-Tek, an equally enduring synthetic that exhibits an uncanny ability to provide stability but doesn't abrade Lycra.