I am new to the sport, and technically not truly a triathlete. I swim and bike, I can’t run due to massive hip damage.
Which indirectly gets me going: I need a new saddle. My Specialized avatar is killing me. its fine for about 10 miles, but as it really only has one place to sit, I can’t take much more than that.
A bit of background. I have a strange bike called “TitanFlex”, complete with the Look Ergostem. The idea is rather simple, I can adjust the bike parameters slightly when I need to, in order to fit whatever hip angle I’m able to achieve (it, sadly, varies sometimes). Currently, my set up is very road bike like, aero position is not working for me right now as I can’t currently get my knee up that far. Hopefully some flexibility will come back to me, but for the moment, thats where I am.
I was about to buy an Fizik Arione saddle based on LOTS of recommendations, but then I saw the Arione Tri (and Tri2). I was told that the Tri version are the exact same saddle but just with added padding, but I simply don’t want to take that at face value. Riding position is different between road and tri enough that I’d expect the tri to have less padding in the back to compensate. Can anyone help me out with this? Anyone use the tri on a road bike and found out “hey, its just like the road version but more comfy!”. To be frank, thats what I’m hoping for
I ride a std Arione road version (well, the cool world champ edition) on my road bike and an Arione Tri1 on my road bike (switched with a Specialized Toupe).
The Tri1 and Arione road are identical except the tri version has more padding on the nose. The Tri2 has a flat profile (the rear of the others slopes up and many find this bad when aero, causing to slide forward slightly). That is the major difference.
If you are not going to be that aero or riding on the nose, I’d just get a std road version Arione as most people find it even more comfy (going with the masses since saddle comfort is an extremely unique thing).
since you’ve ridden both, would you say that the Tri1’s extra nose padding would be a problem on a road bike? maybe get in the way or throw balance off? Part of the reason I like the idea of the Arione in the first place is the open availability of more places to ride on the saddle (given my avatar has effectively only one). it seems having more padding on the nose would just be an overall win-win, but not if it somehow changes how I’d sit on it in the more upright road config. I’ve found a place that has both standard Arione and Tri1 for the same price, its just a matter of getting the right one, since they don’t do returns.
Again, it just depends upon what you like. I prefer saddles with very little padding (Toupe, SLR, etc.) I have noticed a trend that more experienced riders tend to go with a more minimal seat, where as newer riders tend to be on more “cushy” saddles. Not sure why, but I fell squarely into this camp as well as I graduated along the seats I’ve used over the years.
The problem with the nose padding is that if you slide back on the saddle (for seating spinning up a hill for example or bombing down), then the extra padding does get in the way with pedaling. The Arione is not too bad, but the HUGE noses of the old Azoto for ex were awful to me. But, if riding aero and mostly on the nose, then no big deal. You really need to assess how you ride. Again, most riders seem to favor the std road version.
Just took off the Arione (Std) and put a Specialized Toupe on to match my road bike. The arione is a very nice saddle and I never found it uncomfortable but the toupe just seems to disappear when ridding. YMMV
I had Arione Tri on my old bike and now riding on Arione tri 2 carbon braided saddle. my road bike came with specialized Toupe saddle and I think toupe is very comfortable.
