It's not easy to reinvent something on a bike, but the English from Saddlespur have done it. The SaddleSpur saddle is equipped with a backrest, the seat has a rather short design with a pressure relief cut-out, with a width of 130 millimetres and weighs 310 grams.

The spur at the end of the seat is there to support the pelvis when pedaling. Company founder John Downing had the concept scientifically investigated at the Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences at Anglia Ruskin University. 16 cyclists tested the saddle during time trials. The comparative values were time, comfort, cadence, once with a standard saddle, then with the saddle with the back support. According to the results of the study, the test subjects were on average over ten seconds faster with the Saddlespur.

So if you want to ride fast - on a road bike, of course - you could take a look at the Saddlespur. It can be ordered online and is available for 120 pounds. The concept is probably unsuitable for mountain biking. Sliding behind the saddle on steep passages is probably very awkward.

saddlespur.com