The saddle has got to be the most important piece of equipment for the cyclist when it comes to comfort and performance. If your ass is rubbing the wrong way, causing chafing and sores, or all circulation is cut off rendering you unable to locate vital organs for nature breaks, then it’s fair to say you don’t have the right saddle. And just as it is with significant others of the human kind, finding ‘the one’ is usually a trial and error process that can take years before you hit on the perfect companion for your nether regions.
Most pros will have a favourite saddle they will use throughout their career, and despite sponsorship commitments will often go to great lengths to ride the same model, perhaps disguised to try and fool the fans or appease said sponsors. Or they’ll just insist that their new team gets on board with the seat supplier to keep them happy. It’s that vital. Rumour has it that Mark Cavendish insisted on Sky teaming up with fizik when he joined them for the 2012 season. And having been riding on their Aliante for the last month, I can see why.
I’d had an early version of the Aliante on an old Giant TCR back in the mid 2000s, and it was a great fit for me. The curvy shape seemed to work with my riding style and/or body shape pefectly. I did a long road tour of Tasmania on it, riding 2500 kms in ten days with nary a grumble from downstairs. Then they released the Arione, longer, flatter and firmer, and I was attracted to it and switched over. While I never hated it, we just didn’t seem to get on as well and I consequently moved on to many more relationships, most not very long lasting and ultimately unsatisfying.
When the Keepers Tour partnership with fizik was in its conception, I was excited about their new shoes, but a touch apprehensive about the saddles; I checked out the website and looked into their Spine Concept, where you can enter information about your body type and riding style and be recommended one of the three shapes on offer. All my characteristics pointed me back to the Aliante, as I’m apparently a ‘Bull’. The shape and profile of it also was most compatible with the older school styling of my Profetta. I requested a black cover with braided carbon rails, as the weight weenie in me influenced my decision. But how would it handle the cobbles and long days ahead in Flanders and northern France?
Well, I think if I ever find the perfect woman, she’ll be a lot like the Aliante. Shapely, sexy, reliable and great to sit on. Ok, maybe not the last one. This sadlle is awesome. To be able to ride for over five hours in a sitting (pardon the pun) on the roughest ‘roads’ in Europe and still be able to tell what’s going on down there at nature breaks is all you can ask for. I didn’t get a hint of a saddle sore or any chafing, even without chamois cream. The carbon rails survived the constant pounding and the cover endured some pre-tour crashes with flying colours. When my seatpost head loosened and slipped a cpuple of times on our second Roubaix ride, our mechanic Matthias was leery of cranking up the bolt onto the rails. He asked what the torque was, and not knowing I replied “as far as you can go”. It was torqued so hard that when I tried to loosen the bolt to fix the seat clamp, it took an extra long allen key with a pipe on the end to budge it. That’s some serious torque, but the carbon wrap didn’t even have a mark. Impressive.
I think I’ve found my perfect match in the Aliante. At least that’s what my boys are telling me, and in this case it’s better to be doing the thinking down below than up top.
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@RedRanger
I think all of those are Antares, which has a bit of a kick up in the back. One from the site looks pretty level. On the others it's hard to say; judging by the perspective it's shot with a wide angle lens which can warp the perspective.
P.S. The Swift has Ti rails so it is a modern version.
On the Rolls, I used to have one of those. I believe Stuey O'Grady used one for a long time too.
Personally I didn't find it that comfortable - the San Marco Rolls is a formed shell covered with leather, so it doesn't mold the way that the Brooks does, which has no backing or shell underneath.
It is hard to see in photos but my Brooks are so molded to me they are shaped differently on left and right, as I have one leg slightly longer than the other. Because my right leg comes down more the saddles are noticeably lower on that side.
And for anybody who is wondering why that screw is there, it connects to a sort of frame supporting the leather. You turn it slightly every year to keep the tension in the leather and stop it from sagging. You used to need a special tool from Brooks but in a radical innovation they now use a standard bolt.
I chose to ride fi'zi:k on three bikes, and I've never looked back. They each have a different shape and contour, but I have a slightly different position on each bike. My road bike has the Antares, 'cross bike has the Tundra, and my single-speed rigid 29er has the Arione CX.
@Marcus
Can't win a a team pursuit or match sprint to save your freckly country though can you.
Keep up princess, I AM in your country, residing in the retirement village you call Canberra, tuning your women and bludging off your social welfare.
Yeah Australia would be a good place to ride if New Zealand wasn't better. And there was a fucken hill within 200km of anything including other hills.
@Monty
Alright all, I'll deal with the elephant in the room that is this post.
I was smiling away when I read the first few lines, knowing where it was going, but enjoying it anyway.
Then.
"Today I'm without a saddle at all, unless you count the cheap plastic ones I use from time to time. Most days it is just me and my seatpost."
WTF??
Too much info, Monty, too much. I really hope you can act on some of the recommendations above and find a good saddle, cos you are definitely in a bad place right now.
@minion
Canberra?!? Great choice. Hope that it's a really special guy you have chased there.
@ChrisO
Jeepers, I'd be tightening that tension screw quickly before your sag is irreversible!
@Oli
But if that happens he could just go back to the guys he bought it from and claim warranty:
@Blah
Ahahahahaaa! BRILLIANT!
@minion
Two things:
Canberra is not in Australia. It exists in a parallel plane known only as satans bottom. Anything of any nature that has anything or anyone to do with it does not really exist. There is simply no excuse for living there - none - bar the fact it is 1.5 hours drive from the tallest mountain ( kosciusko ) in Australia - and some spectacular cycling country. But you knew that.
Carry on.