The perfect saddle!

The Fizik Arione. There's a thread about this saddle in this section - you might have to go along a couple of pages. Awesome bit of kit, but not cheap.

Brooks B17 Narrow........after a couple of hundred miles

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mjw_byrne
The Fizik Arione. There's a thread about this saddle in this section - you might have to go along a couple of pages. Awesome bit of kit, but not cheap.

I've got about 300 miles on the Arione now. It's a well-made piece all right, but I don't find it perfect. I think the profile tilts up a little too much in back; I'm used to the flatter ERA and Aspide.

The padding and isolation from road vibration is great, so I'm hoping it just takes some miles to get used to the shape. I'm doing a Century this weekend; that'll be the acid test!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
I've been looking for a new saddle and it quickly became clear that there is no such thing as a perfect saddle. Obviously because everyone is built differently a saddle that works for one person is agony for another...

... so what is YOUR perfect saddle?

I just bought a Cannondale, it came with a selle Royal saddle, it looks really cheap, but I spent 30 miles on it on Sunday and it was really comfy!!

But you're right, it IS hard (and consequently spendy) to find the Perfect saddle...

Fizik Gobi. Shorter than the Arione and supposedly more suited to MTB but it fits my [censored] quite well. I no longer have prefered pairs of knicks. They all work fine on this saddle.

I joined the Fizik Arione cult. No saddle is perfect, as we seem to agree, but the Arione is sort of close -- for my crotch, at least. Extremely supportive, big-time surface area, minimal padding and a touch of measured flex.

I like Fizik's saddles in general; I also ride a Pave (classic, narrow, fairly supportive). As a shorter Arione variant, the Gobi looks pretty comfy as well, though I've never sat on one. Someday, maybe.

On my "perfect saddle" search I came accross the "customise your saddle" setion of the Fi'zi:k web site http://www.fizik.it/Shop_Customize.aspx

I had fun customizing saddles for my Team Zebra Allez Comp (pretty easy as the bike is black and white) and then trying out all the colours of my mates bikes (and taking screen shots to email). You can waste a serious amount of time doing this.

Here's a pic of the saddle (Fi'z:k Pave cp3) "I" designed for and the bike it goes with. And before you ask... yes I did see the Zebra stipped saddle in the Fizik "Animal saddles" setion... very cool.

Have a go and post your combinations.

Note. If anyone from Fi'zi:k reads this. How abou t tt a free saddle if you get lots of sales from this thread.

I actually emailed Fizik a week ago... apparently, full online customization for the Arione is on the way. A few months off (which in customer service speak, might mean 5-6 months), but on the way...

I'll be first in line! 🙂

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by lokstah
I actually emailed Fizik a week ago... apparently, full online customization for the Arione is on the way. A few months off (which in customer service speak, might mean 5-6 months), but on the way...

I'll be first in line! 🙂

You've already got a white one with a rainbow down the middle on your Klein, haven't you? You'll have a tough time designing one that looks more "trick" that that 🙂

P.S. The silver/red one I was talking about a while back is referred to as the "Simoni" version, so I guess that means it's the colours of the one he rides.

does anyone know the Avocet X-Country 55 Saddle? I heard good things about it, but I cant find it...

I am amazed! A thread about saddles and only one post about Brooks!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Dominic Sansom
I've been looking for a new saddle and it quickly became clear that there is no such thing as a perfect saddle. Obviously because everyone is built differently a saddle that works for one person is agony for another...

... so what is YOUR perfect saddle?

As a variation on this thread, has anyone noticed any difference with using a "male friendy" saddle? You know, the kind with a groove or indention so that Mr. Happy stays happy?

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Babbar
I am amazed! A thread about saddles and only one post about Brooks!

Make that 2, Brooks Swift here, titanium rails of course as it's on a carbon fibre bike.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mjw_byrne
You've already got a white one with a rainbow down the middle on your Klein, haven't you? You'll have a tough time designing one that looks more "trick" that that 🙂

P.S. The silver/red one I was talking about a while back is referred to as the "Simoni" version, so I guess that means it's the colours of the one he rides.

Yeah, I've got the white/rainbow WC edition on my Klein, and it's pretty bold... but a touch too bold. The bike is a little 'busy,' ya know? Too much going on. I'd love an Arione in, say, white with just a silver stripe down the top. Or maybe something with a kiss of blue.

We'll just have to see how cool the customization options are!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Cowboyathlete
As a variation on this thread, has anyone noticed any difference with using a "male friendy" saddle? You know, the kind with a groove or indention so that Mr. Happy stays happy?

Well I've used a saddle which inexplicably had a lump in the middle, and let's just say Mr. Happy was not happy at all. Saddles with a cutout tend to alleviate that problem but the sides of the cutout tend to move around, which can cause shorts to bunch up, and unless you're razor-happy down below, can lead to some painful hair-pullage. A conventional saddle without a cutout but with a shape which doesn't squash the tender bits is the best bet IMO.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by mjw_byrne
Well I've used a saddle which inexplicably had a lump in the middle, and let's just say Mr. Happy was not happy at all. Saddles with a cutout tend to alleviate that problem but the sides of the cutout tend to move around, which can cause shorts to bunch up, and unless you're razor-happy down below, can lead to some painful hair-pullage. A conventional saddle without a cutout but with a shape which doesn't squash the tender bits is the best bet IMO.

I know many who swear by cutout saddles, but the two I've used didn't agree with me. The Selle Italia Flite Trans-Am, besides having too long a name, is well shaped, but the cutout seemed to impose a pair of rigid edges that clamped off more arteries and nerves. Numbness in a flash.

The Terry Men's Firefly was a little better in some respects -- nice profile, and even better in shape, with more rounded cutout edges. It ended up feeling too heavily padded, though; my bony rear seemed to sink through it. Soft tissue compression, numbeness, same story.

Again, though, others swear up and down by the love channel. The most enigmatic game in the room remains predicting what saddle will work for you bum. Of course, this year, I took a gamble on media hype, and it paid off. Viva Arione!

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by lokstah
I know many who swear by cutout saddles, but the two I've used didn't agree with me. The Selle Italia Flite Trans-Am, besides having too long a name, is well shaped, but the cutout seemed to impose a pair of rigid edges that clamped off more arteries and nerves. Numbness in a flash.

I can back up that experience with a ST Flite gel flow - same deal for me with "cutout seemed to impose a pair of rigid edges that clamped off more arteries and nerves. Numbness in a flash". I'm sworn off cutout saddles - give me SUPPORT! I've tried more than a few in search of saddle nirvana and come back to the SI Turbomatic 4 every time. It just works for me. That said, this Arione thingy has me intrigued...

I ride the avocet racing model and love it. Any saddle maker who realizes that putting an indent in "the right place" is a good idea and makes it look sharp is ok in my book. different models are different widths so you can find one that hits your sit bones right.

I ride three "made in Italy" saddles:

*Selle Italia Prolink Trans Am(carbon + Ti rail) Gel Flow. I've been riding this saddle for the last 4+ months........ and it works great for me. The love cannal works well...... and overall good comfort... no numbness for me. Not exactly a super light weight saddle by no means.

*Selle Italia Novus "Ferrari designed" Carbon railed. This saddle came out back in 1996... or so , and I have rode mine for about 3-4 years. Its a great saddle..... light weight...... and shock absorbing. Depending upon what kind of shorts your wearing ..... the firmer the shorts.... the nicer the ride. If there is any bunching up of the shorts..... then one can have numbness(even though there is a center recessed section of the saddle... which is supposed to eleviate pressure).

*Avocet O2 , Ti 6/4 railed saddle. Great saddle...... comfy for the most part(on rides less then 40 miles...... not sure above that mark).

I try juggling .... playing musical saddles for the most part...... so that my bum gets a different experience from ride to ride.... although I have been using the Prolink saddle for the most part recently.