Last week I found the love of my life (well second only to my lady). I bought the last 2004 Felt S22 in the state in my size. Couldn’t pass up the deal ($500 off retail) Took her out for a test ride over the weekend and I’m impressed with all aspects of the ride with the exception of the saddle. I’m ready to chuck the Stella Tri-matic seat into the first dumpster I ride by and continue on my seatpost the rest of the ride. What a painful ride! Who in their right mind puts a hard plastic logo on the rivit of a tri saddle? I had a mean case of chub rub after only 50 miles.
I’m looking at the San Marco Aspide Gel Tri saddle as a replacement. Added padding and gel on the nose appeals to my nuts right now.
Anyone have any experience on this saddle or another one for that matter who can help me decide? Performance Bike is selling the San Marco on their web page for $110 and I’m itchin to add it to my cart. (No pun intended)
Everyone is different. I had one of the San Marco tri saddles and put on ebay after a short time, I hated it. My training partner loves his. I am using an Arione Tri and like it. Its long and I can slide back and forth between climbing ad the flats. Its also padded well in the nose.
It all comes down to what is most comfortable for you. I have the SSM Gel-Tri on my tri-bike and love the plushly padded nose. However, if you ever get our of the aerobars and sit up for any miles, the rear of the saddle is literally a pain in the ass. I have SSM Era’s on all my road bikes, but couldn’t imagine riding them “on the rivet” for any distance since they are fairly hard in the nose. At the end of the day, I think you may have to experiment and figure out what works for you and that may cost you some $$.
For me, the jury’s still out on the Arione Tri. I just got one recently, and have only done a handful of trainer rides on it, but (pun intended), it has not been an OHMYGODTHISISTHEMOSTCOMFORTABLESADDLEEVER sorta things, by a long shot. It’s not bad, at all - it’s just not great either. For me, so far.
Based on the hype and reviews, I guess I expected more (perhaps too much).
Granted, it is
A: WAY better than the Terry “junksaver” Fly trainer saddle it replaces, and
B: still too early for a final judgement - I’m sure it needs to break in some more.
but, if I’m not psyched more about it in a few weeks, you’ll see it up on the Classifieds (All3Sports has a no returns policy on this saddle - and I stupidly assumed I’d love it and never consider returning it), and perhaps I’ll try a T1 or something else instead.
Strangely enuff, my stock road saddle, the much-maligned Fizik Pave’ (which I most humorously saw described as “like riding a broomstick”) works quite well for me, I’ve done centuries on it no problemo, and even in the aero position I’m pretty comfy (relatively speaking). Either it broke in to me, or I do it - but it works.
Best, most comfortable saddle I’ve ever ridden is the WTB SST-K, it’s still going strong (even tho it’s slightly bent) on my mtb. Aaaaaaahhhhhhh.
I just ordered a saddle and went with the Selle T1 over the Arione… Seems the Arione is very popular along with the T1. I have never ridden either but had to do the purchase online because LBS don’t carry either.
Be the first on your block to drop all that excess… Dump the saddle and seat post (don’t just dump the saddle). Your bike weight will drop by a pound and you will be in the hill climb’n - I’m faster than you, position. (look for this position to make it’s showing at IMAZ - where the black leather saddle will brand you with it’s logo if you sit down… ya, welcome to AZ)
I’m not tough enough to try this… so I use the Aspide with a cover.
I had intended to put the Arione on my tri bike, but because the XLab wing doesn’t work with it, I moved it to my road bike.
I then put an SLR T1 on my tri bike (previously had the regular SLR and wanted the padded nose), but I have to say that after riding the tri bike on my computrainer during the week and the road bike outside on the weekends, I prefer the Arione.
And that is why I just bought (minutes ago) an Arion Tri for my Tri bike - screw the damn bottle holders. Comfort is more important.
I hate the Stella (sic) Tri-matic, too. I’ve gotten best results from a Koobi Tri. I’ve tried 5-6 saddles, including the Arione (which I DO like on my road bike), but nothing has done better for me than the Koobi. Well, except for riding a beam bike…my Titan Flex is the bomb. But, I found the Koobi before the Titan Flex, so it worked better for me on a regular frame. If it makes any difference, I’ve always like the Flite-shaped saddles, but, no matter which gel or cutout, or gel-around-cutout in the Flites, none seemed to do the trick for me in a steep-positioned bike.
actually, yes i tried it. i was having prostate problems last year and i couldn’t ride the bike. i was desperate as imlp was looming. so i was up for anything - other than another visit to the proctologist or more drugs that didn’t work (can you say vioxx). unfortunately, neither did this “saddle.” i couldn’t get into the aero position and even on the drops didn’t feel stable. so i returned it.
OK, so consensus says ride what feels best. Thinking of giving it a go with the San Marco but now I’m torn between the Aspide and the Azoto. Most places won’t allow a return on a seat so I’m kind screwed if I get one that doesn’t fit well.
Anyone have experience riding BOTH the San MArco Azoto and the Aspide. It looks like the Aspide would be much less confortable out of the aero position than the Azoto due to the cut out at the bck of the Aspide. But I also wonder how annoying the stitching would be on the Azoto where the Lorica meets the gel/neoprene. I suppose it could be overcome with a cover, but that just adds more weight. The Aspide is 100 grams lighter, but my balls comfort takes priority ovr weight in my book.
