Fizik Saddle - worth it?
Discussion
I recently got in to road cycling and have been racking up the miles. I've noticed from looking online (and feeling when I cycle) the saddle I got with the bike isn't great quality, think it's worth about £15. It's not that comfortable and quite heavy.
I've been looking at Fizik saddles, specifically they tell me the Arione R3 would fit my flexibility. Obviously they're quite expensive but looking around there are some deals out there. Does anyone have experience of this saddle or just Fizik in general and can you tell me if it's worth the high cost? Or any alternatives?
I've been looking at Fizik saddles, specifically they tell me the Arione R3 would fit my flexibility. Obviously they're quite expensive but looking around there are some deals out there. Does anyone have experience of this saddle or just Fizik in general and can you tell me if it's worth the high cost? Or any alternatives?
I use that saddle, I am probably a bit wider than their target market but I tried on on a hire bike and it was way better than my old saddle so went out and bought one. It reminded me of my old flight I had on my MTB.
I find it very comfortable and I am reasonable flexible.
I would suggest going and trying a few before shelling out £100-200.
I find it very comfortable and I am reasonable flexible.
I would suggest going and trying a few before shelling out £100-200.
Get your bum measured!!
Ok get your sit bones measured, some shops have a device that can do this - or other shops can loan you demo saddles and let you try them
Oddly I have had loads and loads of expensive saddles such as ISM and Brooks and in the end my current fave is a £9 selle italia one, it just suits me
Even though im am small and slim, I like a wide saddle and thin ones kill my gonads!
Also shorts are very important, make sure you have a decent pair with a good pad
Ok get your sit bones measured, some shops have a device that can do this - or other shops can loan you demo saddles and let you try them
Oddly I have had loads and loads of expensive saddles such as ISM and Brooks and in the end my current fave is a £9 selle italia one, it just suits me
Even though im am small and slim, I like a wide saddle and thin ones kill my gonads!
Also shorts are very important, make sure you have a decent pair with a good pad
If you want to try one, and nobody nearby stocks them, get on eBay. There are loads on there and you should be able to pick one up at a reasonable price. Most importantly you can have an extended trial and if it's not for you sell it on for pretty much the same as you paid.
I'm following this plan with an Antares I bought yesterday.
I'm following this plan with an Antares I bought yesterday.
Try reading this, I found it helped me understand why one saddle might be comfy and another not.
http://mx.cervelo.com/en/engineering/ask-the-engin...
I ended up with a charge spoon, not expensive, but comfy for me.
http://mx.cervelo.com/en/engineering/ask-the-engin...
I ended up with a charge spoon, not expensive, but comfy for me.
If you want an Arione without the pricetag, the Planet X superlight is identical and only £20.
Get on other bike forums or eBay. Carbon railed R3 versions sell for about £50-60.
I've recently been trying different saddles and so far the PX superlight (arione) and the Fizik Antares have been pretty comfy.
Now I'm swapping between them every few rides to try an decide which one I prefer. Fizik suggest the Antares is correct for me but so far I'm unsure.
Get on other bike forums or eBay. Carbon railed R3 versions sell for about £50-60.
I've recently been trying different saddles and so far the PX superlight (arione) and the Fizik Antares have been pretty comfy.
Now I'm swapping between them every few rides to try an decide which one I prefer. Fizik suggest the Antares is correct for me but so far I'm unsure.
Dannbodge said:
If you want an Arione without the pricetag, the Planet X superlight is identical and only £20.
Get on other bike forums or eBay. Carbon railed R3 versions sell for about £50-60.
I've recently been trying different saddles and so far the PX superlight (arione) and the Fizik Antares have been pretty comfy.
Now I'm swapping between them every few rides to try an decide which one I prefer. Fizik suggest the Antares is correct for me but so far I'm unsure.
good shout on Planet X, cheersGet on other bike forums or eBay. Carbon railed R3 versions sell for about £50-60.
I've recently been trying different saddles and so far the PX superlight (arione) and the Fizik Antares have been pretty comfy.
Now I'm swapping between them every few rides to try an decide which one I prefer. Fizik suggest the Antares is correct for me but so far I'm unsure.
I use the Arione after it came with a bike I bought, I thought I'd have to change it but I was comfier on it than on the Selle Italia and Antatres I'd tried previously, the Antares was meant to suit my flexibility.
Don't trust the flexibility info from Fizik, measure your sit bones or get them measured for you.
Don't trust the flexibility info from Fizik, measure your sit bones or get them measured for you.
Have a look at Fabric. They do a range and they make it pretty easy to choose what you need.
going on what i was told so may not be 100% right but seems to work. First thing to do is measure your sit bones though. Either in a shop or sit on some paper or whatever your sit bones will leave an impression on. Measure between the two imprints and that will leave your saddle width.
Then you need to work out what sort of profile the saddle has and what works with the type of riding you do. i.e. hunched aero you would have flat up to sitting upright you would have a curve. You may want a cut out too.
going on what i was told so may not be 100% right but seems to work. First thing to do is measure your sit bones though. Either in a shop or sit on some paper or whatever your sit bones will leave an impression on. Measure between the two imprints and that will leave your saddle width.
Then you need to work out what sort of profile the saddle has and what works with the type of riding you do. i.e. hunched aero you would have flat up to sitting upright you would have a curve. You may want a cut out too.
I rode for ages on ariones but found them increasingly more uncomfortable - too much pressure on the perineum (even with the vs version with the cut-away). Changed to a specialized power a couple of months back and been much more comfortable. I'm now actually on my sit bones rather than having my weight on all the soft bits in between!
joema said:
Then you need to work out what sort of profile the saddle has and what works with the type of riding you do. i.e. hunched aero you would have flat up to sitting upright you would have a curve. You may want a cut out too.
Pelvic rotation comes into it too - I'm in a fairly aggressive/aero position and the flat arione didn't work for me.addey said:
Oh, and I think I've got an arione kicking round somewhere that you can have for the cost of the postage if you want to try it out? Its got a small crack in the hull so I'm not sure it would be a viable long-term option but would at least give you a cheap way of trying it out 
That sounds good Addey, drop me a private mail if you find it and it looks like it will stay in one piece for a few rides! 
joema said:
Have a look at Fabric. They do a range and they make it pretty easy to choose what you need.
going on what i was told so may not be 100% right but seems to work. First thing to do is measure your sit bones though. Either in a shop or sit on some paper or whatever your sit bones will leave an impression on. Measure between the two imprints and that will leave your saddle width.
Then you need to work out what sort of profile the saddle has and what works with the type of riding you do. i.e. hunched aero you would have flat up to sitting upright you would have a curve. You may want a cut out too.
This.going on what i was told so may not be 100% right but seems to work. First thing to do is measure your sit bones though. Either in a shop or sit on some paper or whatever your sit bones will leave an impression on. Measure between the two imprints and that will leave your saddle width.
Then you need to work out what sort of profile the saddle has and what works with the type of riding you do. i.e. hunched aero you would have flat up to sitting upright you would have a curve. You may want a cut out too.
Marcellus said:
I have the Fizik Arione on all my bikes; mountain, winter and best.... It works for me so just vary the model; cheap on the mtb, std on the winter and pretty carbon on the best.
I, on the other hand, bought one bike with an Arione and found it to be horrific, so when my next bike threatened to come with one too, I made sure I could get it swapped at no extra cost before buying the bike.The moral of the story is that what's perfect for Marcellus was an arse-destroyer for me, and what's perfect for me might be horrendous for him.
The only way you'll ever be able to find out what's perfect for you is by trying some saddles out.
Joeigglypuff said:
I recently got in to road cycling and have been racking up the miles. I've noticed from looking online (and feeling when I cycle) the saddle I got with the bike isn't great quality, think it's worth about £15. It's not that comfortable and quite heavy.
I've been looking at Fizik saddles, specifically they tell me the Arione R3 would fit my flexibility. Obviously they're quite expensive but looking around there are some deals out there. Does anyone have experience of this saddle or just Fizik in general and can you tell me if it's worth the high cost? Or any alternatives?
I've spent a fortune on saddles over the years, but last week went for a bike fit at Bike Science in Bristol. tried lots of test saddles back to back, and then took the best one with me to try for a week or two. Settled on a Fizik Aliante R3 large, despite their online size guide telling me I'd suit a medium - proof that you really need to try them out.I've been looking at Fizik saddles, specifically they tell me the Arione R3 would fit my flexibility. Obviously they're quite expensive but looking around there are some deals out there. Does anyone have experience of this saddle or just Fizik in general and can you tell me if it's worth the high cost? Or any alternatives?
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