Fizik ARIONE

Price Paid:  $100.00 at Can't remember

Favorite Ride:
Anywhere without cars

Bike Setup:
Aegis Victory, Campy Chorus & Record, AC Hurricane wheels, Arione Saddle, Campy pedals

Summary:
I am on my second Arione. The saddle fits by butt. It's comfortable. What more can be said?? If you are on a ride and never think about your saddle, then it is a good saddle.
That said, there is a question of durability. I am on my second Arione. On the first one, now on the second, the leather is pulling away from the shell along the side where my right thigh rubs. The leater wears away, then pulls away from the shell. This saddle is about two years old. Maybe it's the 5000+ miles, maybe it's my thighs, maybe ???

Time to search for one on EBAY....

Strengths:
comfortable

Weaknesses:
Durability & expensive.

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia Flite, Sella Italia Turbomatic III & IV

Price Paid:  $60.00 at Used

Favorite Ride:
Western Wisconsin

Bike Setup:
Ridley Damocles w. Campagnolo Record, Easton SLX 90 wheels.

Summary:
I'm very pleased with the Arione saddle. I have used it on rides up to 65 miles with no numbness to "the boys," and I consider it the most comfortable saddle I've tried. I also have a Specialized Toupe saddle in the narrower, 130mm version on another bike. The Toupe also does not produce any numbness (it has a cut out) and is comparably priced; however, I find the Arione better for longer rides.

As to numbness: I agree with some other observations that it's very important with the Arione to have the saddle's fore-aft angle somewhat TILTED DOWN (toward the front of the bike). I have to admit that when I set it up like this, it was very obvious that the tilt was different from how I set up other saddles. Yet I've never felt like I'm carrying more weight on my arms and wrists.

So, if you have this saddle and you are experiencing numbness, experiment with the tilt a bit before replacing it.

Strengths:
Comfort above all; stylish.

Weaknesses:
Yes the lettering on the nose wears off, but so what.

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Toupe 130mm

Price Paid:  $145.00 at River City Bikes

Favorite Ride:
Multi-week tours

Bike Setup:
Orbea Orca with Campy Record 10 set up for racing, Trek 1200 set up for touring, Specialized Sirrus set up for commuting, Jamis Durango set up for MTB.

Summary:
I started with this saddle using it for commuting... I was trying to break it in for preparation for a coast to coast tour. After no avail, I did the whole with it, all 3500 miles, and I didn't really like.. but it wasn't horrible. I began road racing/tt this year and I have used it for that as well... still feel the same way: numbness.

Strengths:
Design's great, color looks nice. Fairly comfortable after a long break in time.

Weaknesses:
Very very (4000 mile) break in period
Wing flex is a joke
Causes numbness (no relief down center of saddle)

Similar Products Used:
Specialized Toupe
Bontrager something or another
WTB something or another

Price Paid:  $75.00 at Scottsdale Airpark B

Bike Setup:
2009 LOOK 566, Easton EA90 Aero Wheels, SRAM Rival, FSA carbon bars/post, Keo Sprint pedals

Summary:
I've been through several saddles in a quest to find one that a) doesn't cause numbness, b) is light, and c) looks cool. Numbness was obviously the big issue here. It's uncomfortable, can be a distraction on rides, and has the potential to cause real damage.

After a Selle San Marco (stock on the bike) and two Selle Italias, and no success finding a saddle that kept my nether-region from falling asleep, I tried out a Fizik Arione.

This saddle is AWESOME. It's comfortable, it looks great (I have the white/gloss white version), and it's light, especially for having an additional 4cm of length compared to most other saddles. I've been riding it for a couple of weeks now with no numbness or soreness, even after long rides. The additional length allows for a greater variety of riding positions, making the search for a comfortable position a lot easier.

I have no complaints whatsoever.

Strengths:
Comfort
Weight
Looks
Greater variety of riding positions

Weaknesses:
"Arione" lettering on the nose rubs off easily

Similar Products Used:
Selle San Marco Ponza, Selle Italia SLK, Selle Italia C2

Price Paid:  $119.00 at Bike shop

Bike Setup:
Rode bike and no special setup

Summary:
Bought the Fizik Arione saddle on shop recommendation as I had been unable to find a saddle that would not cause terrible hurt after 50-60 miles. Took some break-in time of 2-3,000 miles and is a very comfortable saddle the more I ride it. Have put over 30,000 miles on saddle and is ready to be replaced (I sweat profusely) but feels too good to get rid of yet.

Strengths:
Durability. Let me explain. I sweat a lot and after about a year (8,000 miles) the covering of the saddle was showing some shredding and I thought it was done for. Well, I've ridden it another 20-24,000 miles since then and the covering shows it, but the basic core of the saddle is intact and still provides great comfort.

Weaknesses:
If you sweat a lot, the outer covering may start to shred. A friend of mine has same saddle and has ridden lots of miles and his cover still looks great. But he's not a sweater.

Similar Products Used:
I rode the Terry Fly one of the Forte saddles and a couple of others and never could get one that would be comfortable after 50 or so miles. I did have a Brooks all leather saddle (felt like a pice of iron!) that had great comfort after break in, but it finally wore out.