QUICK HITS
• 142mm width
• 245mm length
• Titanium rails
• Thermo-moldable carbon/nylon frame
• 235 grams
WE DIG
WE DON’T
ABOUT THE REFORM TANTALUS SADDLE
Designed with help from Canadian Enduro Champion Jesse Melamed, Reform introduced the Tantalus saddle for off-road use — gravel and, of course, mountain biking. Reform’s other saddle – the Seymour – is designed with road riding and racing in mind. As expected, Reform uses its patented Thermo-Moldable Technology to allow users to custom-mold their saddles at home.
The Tantalus saddle features 7mm titanium rails, with each set being individually anodized, so no two saddles are the same. The body of the saddle is made of a carbon fiber and nylon composite and is the part of the saddle that is being heated and then molded to the rider’s sit bones. This moldable body is cushioned and wrapped in a grippy microfiber nylon covering, meant to withstand the elements and abuse common to the roughest of trail rides.
The result is a very standard, mountain bike-looking saddle — in all the good ways. New takes on bike parts often result in some pretty funky-looking components. It was refreshing to see the same sleek, modern-looking design we see on current mountain bike saddles. The Reform Tantalus is 245mm long with a 142mm width — a “medium” width compared to other saddle brands, but a bit shorter.
A relatively slim profile is kept with a max height of 47mm from mid-rail to the top of the saddle. The overall weight of the Reform Tantalus is 235g — respectable for a saddle meant to withstand the abuse of trail and enduro riding, but perhaps a bit heavy considering the titanium and composite construction. Yet it must be remembered that the Tantalus houses a molding heating unit, which undoubtedly adds to the saddle’s weight.
THE DIRT
SETUP | Molding the Reform Tantalus saddle is easy as long as you have 20 extra minutes or so. The Tantalus arrives with nearly all recyclable packaging, and everything needed to mold the saddle. This isn’t much — just the Tantalus saddle and Reform heating unit. The heating unit is simple, plugging into a standard wall outlet and the other end plugging into a port on the underside of the saddle near the front.
First, install the Tantalus as you normally would, as if you were about to go out on a ride. It is worth jumping on and riding it around before you heat and mold the saddle to ensure you are happy with your positioning. Once satisfied, plug the saddle in by running the cord over the seatpost and between the rails to reach the port at the front. Set a timer to heat the seat based on your weight — 6 minutes for 170 lbs (77 kg) or less and 5 minutes 30 seconds for 171 lbs (78 kg) or more.
When the timer has gone off, unplug the seat and immediately ride. The “immediate” part is perhaps the most difficult, as Reform says waiting even 30 seconds can be too long. Ride in a normal seated position for roughly one minute, then shift your weight to different positions on the seat for 30-second intervals. The actual riding and molding process lasts only ten minutes.
USING THE REFORM TANTALUS | Before I molded the Tantalus, Ken Bloomer of Reform asked me to go on a pre-mold ride to provide a baseline. The first few miles were comfortable, and despite the Tantalus being shorter than most saddles I’ve ridden, I got along easily with its familiar width and profile. After three or so miles, the saddle began to get uncomfortable. Without molding the saddle, the Tantalus is fairly firm, and deceived me into wondering if there would be enough cushion and support on the saddle.
Molding the Reform Tantalus was like having a completely new saddle. Once I went through the molding process, I found the Tantalus saddle was one of the most comfortable saddles I’ve ever used. My testing of the Tantalus consisted of me going on a longer trail ride, where upon returning to my truck, I realized that I hadn’t thought about the saddle. My butt wasn’t sore, nothing was numb, and I felt like I could easily pedal more if time and my legs would allow.
When I intentionally thought about how the Tantalus saddle was performing while I rode, honestly, there wasn’t much to think about. I was quite comfortable on the saddle – the 142mm width is what I typically ride – and any discomfort with my sit bones before I molded the saddle was gone. I even went through the molding process another time and got the same comfortable results as I previously did. The ability to remold a Reform saddle is excellent, considering many things could go “wrong” while doing the initial setup.
And while this was probably one of the most comfortable saddles I’ve ever used (perhaps the most comfortable?), I’ve found that my but gets along fairly well with many saddles. Considering that I was riding a comfortable saddle that was less than half the price before the Tantalus arrived, it makes Reform seem like a hard sell. At $300, the Reform Tantalus isn’t cheap, and if your saddle is already relatively comfortable, I doubt you will feel the need to drop that kind of cash.
I feel like this then puts Reform in a more niche user case — that is, riders who struggle to find a comfortable saddle. While I have the fortunate genes of having my butt feel comfortable on many different saddles, I’ve met and ridden with people who don’t have that luxury. Some of these people have paid much more than $300 to have a professional saddle fitting, or a custom saddle made. Although the Reform Tantalus is expensive, it could have been a good option instead of getting a custom saddle made.
That said, Reform does help take the sting away from committing to a $300 saddle. If you are someone who struggles to find a comfortable saddle, Reform offers a 90-day money-back guarantee. This makes Reform a no-brainer for those who struggle with saddles. If it doesn’t work, send it back. To further their positive environmental impact, Reform also wants to recycle their heating units. If you form your saddle, and it is as comfortable as mine, you can return the heating unit for a $50 refund.
The Wolf’s Last Word
The Reform Tantalus saddle was one of the most comfortable saddles I’ve used. However, my butt gets along with quite a few different saddles out there — fortunately, the price tag on those saddles doesn’t sting too bad. If I struggled to find a comfortable saddle, I wouldn’t hesitate to try the Tantalus. Yes, $300 is a hefty price for a saddle, but is easily justifiable if it means being able to ride your bike for hours longer.
Price: $300 ($250 if you return the heating unit)
Website: Reformsaddle.com
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ABOUT THE WOLF
The local boy — Travis was born and raised in Bend, OR. Skateboarding consumed his life until his high school years (yes, he can still kickflip), but was replaced by mountain biking…then rock climbing, whitewater rafting, and finally back to mountain biking. After a stint in the big city, Travis returned home, trading a teaching career to be an okay mountain biker and above-average journalist. He is an outspoken 90s grunge fan, cornering poor souls in conversations about the meaning behind the lyrics of Alice In Chains’ “Would.” Most days, Travis hopes to be outside, whether that is on an early morning ride or a hike with his family (the best days include both).
Rank: Contributing Writer
Size: 5’8” / 172cm | 195lbs / 88kg
Social: @travis_reill_writes
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