I don't know about this particular saddle, but in France, doing a "diagonale" is a highly esteemed cycling accomplishment.
If you think of France as a hexagon (as the French do), you can connect the cities at the far points that make diagonal lines across the map. These self-paced, unsupported point-to-point rides are many hundreds of kilometers long and involve high daily distance averages and not much sleep time at night to make it within the respective time limits. The national cycle-touring federation (FFCT) oversees the keeping of records, etc. It is up to the rider to determine his/her own route that takes mountains and busy urban areas into account and this is then submitted with the application. The rider can do a diagonal alone or with a small group. (I think there might be some limit of around 5 people?) Upon completion, I think there is a certificate and/or medal, but no cash. It is strictly an amateur event for one's own personal satisfaction. Some riders try to do all of them (!) over a period of years and earn special honors. At any rate, the need for a comfy leather saddle should be obvious! ;-)
So, I would suspect Ideale was pitching this model at the long-distance touring riders. In the US we see a lot of cycling product names and rider endorsements from the racing world, and that is true also in France. But there, at least in the not-too-distant past, they also value(d) the slower, long-distance accomplishments too; some products are aimed at the tourists with this in mind.
Bill Bryant Santa Cruz, CA
on 8/12/02 1:11 PM, Old Town Cyclery at oldtown@kcnet.com wrote:
> anyone tell me about this saddle? is it a newer model? also marked
> "diagonale" ideal stamped intot he rivets, size about that of a b17, maybe a
> bit wider. chromed rails, no markings underneath. thanks
> peace
> sarah g
> kcks