Rubber Meets the Road

Vibram (www.vibram.com) has teamed with Selle Italia (www.selleitalia.com) to make a unique set of bike saddles that feature patterned rubber under the nose and flexible rubber tabs on the wings.

Vibram, a brand synonymous with the deep-rutted rubber tread of hiking boots, touts its rubber trim on these saddles as providing good grip when shouldering the bike; shock absorption; and a firm hold on your shorts at the back of the saddle.

Available in two styles, the Yutaak Genuine Gel and Yutaak Gel Flow, the saddles sell respectively at about $130 and $145.