Not having a bike shop nearby, but knowing that I prefer the Selle Italia Flite saddle shape, what do you guys recommend I look for in a new saddle for the upcoming year? I have been riding the Selle Italia Flite Gel, but, in the never-ending search for something more comfortable, I wondered about the shape of their Fluid saddle, or some others. The Flite shape, being a bit wider in the middle, but not real wide in the rear, allows me to move back on a climb if I need to, and too many of the other saddles are too wide in back to do that. Those that aren’t too wide in the rear seem to often be too narrow in the middle. Suggestions?
I’ve been riding the same Selle Italia on my road bike but just picked up a new Fizik Arione at the Toronto Bike Show. Just finished an hour spin on the trainer. Can’t say that I noticed a whole lot of difference but that really won’t be known until my first long run outside.
Tom D did a very nice write up on this saddle on his site but I think he could be hyping it a bit. But we’ll find out once the nicer weather arrives.
I’ll second the Arione tip. I have one on my road bike and my tri bike and I really think it’s a great saddle. First and foremost because I can shift my weight back very easily while climbing and secondly because on my tri bike I can get on the longer nose if I need to when I’m hammering on a long flat. There are about 3 really sweet spots on the saddle and combined with the Thompson post on the road bike it makes up for the zero set back because of the slightly longer rails. I also like the narrow nose on the saddle which seems to cut down dramatically on wasted thigh friction (Wasted Thigh Friction hey, that sounds like a title to a porno movie, not that I would know mind you). Seriously though, once you get outside on the thing you’ll see what I mean. On a trainer the fixed position just doesn’t do it the justice that a long outdoor ride with a changing geography does.