What saddle???

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Part time cyclist

Über Member
Location
Kent
My new giant TCR comes with a fizik arione but I don't think I have ever come across a more uncomfortable saddle and after about an hour it feels like my bits are on fire I think I need to change it out... What do you guys recommend.
Thanks in anticipation
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Get your sit bones measured and go from there. Everyone is different, and unfortunately there's no one size fits all, and is trial and error. The charge spoon is a popular budget choice and easy to sell on again if no good. @toeknee has one for sale in the classifieds

I assume you have checked the angle of the saddle, are wearing good padded shorts and are used to riding for those lengths of times (I.e. You don't just need to toughen your bits up)
 

mattobrien

Guru
Location
Sunny Suffolk
How many miles have you ridden on the Arione? I generally take around 300 miles give or take for a saddle and my backside to become friends.

The arione needs to be dead level so a spirit level is a requirement when fitting, or a very eye.

I find it to be most comfortable when pushing on / more weight through my legs than actually sitting, although the I have ridden a few 100's without issue. I have an Arione R3 on the wet weather bike and an R1 on the summer bike. The R1 seems comfort, but that my be down to the bike as much as the saddle.

Love my Arione, but everyone is different.
 

dave pp

Active Member
Bought myself a brooks team pro chrome 3 years ago for my summer bike. Dead comfortable and looks nice with the big copper rivets, should last me many years, not cheap though.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
Some people aren't keen on the look of a brooks on a carbon roadbike. They are certainly a marmite thing, I wouldn't have one myself even on the more retro styled steel genesis
 

vickster

Legendary Member
I never said he shouldn't look at them :smile:

From what I understand, if he wants a saddle that is comfortable from the get go, a brooks isn't it :smile:
 

bpsmith

Veteran
I got the Arione specifically for my Summer bike. The standard figment was too wide for my sit bones. The Arione isn't very forgiving, that's obvious from first view/touch, but if it's the right width for your sit bones then the thickness is academic. It's the shape that matters more than padding level.
 
OP
OP
Part time cyclist

Part time cyclist

Über Member
Location
Kent
How many miles have you ridden on the Arione? I generally take around 300 miles give or take for a saddle and my backside to become friends.

The arione needs to be dead level so a spirit level is a requirement when fitting, or a very eye.

I find it to be most comfortable when pushing on / more weight through my legs than actually sitting, although the I have ridden a few 100's without issue. I have an Arione R3 on the wet weather bike and an R1 on the summer bike. The R1 seems comfort, but that my be down to the bike as much as the saddle.

Love my Arione, but everyone is different.

Hi I have ridden 292.00 miles on the Arione, i have tried front up, front down, flat, moved the sadddle forward, saddle back. but alas it still kills my bits. todays ride was a 34 miler in 2 hrs so didnt hang around.
 
OP
OP
Part time cyclist

Part time cyclist

Über Member
Location
Kent
Get your sit bones measured and go from there. Everyone is different, and unfortunately there's no one size fits all, and is trial and error. The charge spoon is a popular budget choice and easy to sell on again if no good. @toeknee has one for sale in the classifieds

I assume you have checked the angle of the saddle, are wearing good padded shorts and are used to riding for those lengths of times (I.e. You don't just need to toughen your bits up)

I am curently wearing DHB Vaeon Roubaix tights so fairly good padding, and generally ride for 2 to 3 hours at the wekend, didnt have any problems with my specialised bike only been a problem since i changed to my new giant tcr and new arione saddle
 

MikeW-71

Veteran
Location
Carlisle
The Arione is meant for people with good flexibility. Fizik have a guide on their site to help you choose which of their saddles suits you. My Defy Advanced came with a Fizik Aliante, which I find very good indeed, it is recommended for those with less flexibility in the spine (like me, luckily!). Many Pros race with the Aliante saddle, Peter Sagan is one IIRC.

Charge Spoon is similar and cheap, but I found it less comfy than the Aliante as the distance goes up.

Saddles can be a minefield.
 

Soltydog

Legendary Member
Location
near Hornsea
From what I understand, if he wants a saddle that is comfortable from the get go, a brooks isn't it :smile:

My 2 Brooks & 1 Spa copy saddles have all been comfortable from day 1 for me, but I wouldn't dream of putting one on my carbon bike :thumbsup:

All saddles are like marmite, some people will swear by a certain saddle, whilst others will hate them. i.e. Loads of people love the charge spoon, but I could not get on with it at all.
 
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