helmut

So I was at the LBS the other day and they had just started a Fizik saddle test program where you can try out an Arione, Antares or Aliante for free. I hate the saddle that came on my Allez so I picked up the Antares to see if it lives up to the hype of "the wider Arione".

It's a good looking saddle on the bike; you can barely pick it out from an Arione in profile. Although they gave me a test saddle that's a good approximation of Liquigas green (my bike is white and red), the real saddles come in a number of nice colors that would go well on my bike. The saddle is very flat on top, in contrast to my Specialized that had a noticeable crown and a lot of contour front-to-back. The Antares is flat as a board, very long nose, then flares out to about 142mm. It's incredibly light at 175g.



When riding, the carbon shell flexes in a controlled manner and it absorbed about the same amount of vibration and bumps that my very padded Specialized did. The first ride alternated between forget-it's-there comfort and periods of slight discomfort and numbness. However at the end of the ride, I was comfortable. In contrast, the Specialized started out comfy then got more and more uncomfortable in a linear fashion until I was just sore by the time I got back. I took a longer ride on Saturday and after 17 miles, I hadn't experienced any discomfort. It supported my sitbones very well, and the length of the saddle made it easy to shift from the hoods to the drops and maintain comfort. Because it's so flat, you really only feel your sitbones hit the saddle and I never got any pressure in the perineum.

By the time I finished the second ride, I wanted to own the Antares. However, I was shocked to learn that the LBS is charging $220! Now I'm in the position of being the guy who tries on the clothes at the store and buys online because I can get the exact saddle in the color scheme of my choice (instead of the one color option at the shop) for $129 from Performance. Now, I understand the lower online business overhead, but a $90 premium is really tough to swallow. I know that the shop is willing to negotiate prices, but I doubt they'll do anywhere close to $90 off. I have a good relationship with the guys there and don't want to look like a dick either.

Should I just return the saddle, say it wasn't for me, then disappear into the night and buy it online? Would that make me a ****** for trying to save $90?

Quel

Well, the one at Performance is $220 normally, just on sale to get rid of old stock I guess. Depends on what you think the worth of the test is. Sounds like you wouldn't have honed in on this model if they hadn't lent it to you for free to test. CompetetiveCyclist will send you 10 saddles to demo, and charges about $90 for it, if that's any gauge.

simonaway427

They let you test ride it for 2 days and 20 miles. How much is that worth to you??

merlinextraligh

I'd ask them if they can get you one in your preferred color, and what they could take off the price. If they can get your color, and knock anything off, I'd buy from them.

FKMTB07

They let you test ride it for as long as you want, but the OP decided after 2 days and 20 miles that he liked it.

The shop I work as does the Fizik test saddle program too, and we encourage you to take the saddle for a week or so, and at least get a couple of long ride on it.

We do the same with WTB's test saddle program.

tuxbailey

You mean, you didn't know how much they sell the saddle for before you took the saddles out?

roadiejorge 

+1

I'd go this route as well. My policy is if I try it on at an LBS and like it I suck up the higher price but try and negotiate a better deal. I like doing this to support the convenience a shop might be providing, but after that I get the replacements from whom ever has the best deal.

ADSR

Don't they come in several different models? Perhaps you would be just as happy with a saddle that didn't have all the bells and whistles but retained the same shape for a lower price.

Edit: my mistake, I was thinking of the Arione.

kleinboogie

$90 on just about anything is more than enough to send me online. I got the carbon braided model on ebay for $170 and it weighed in at 150g. Agreed, it's flat as a board. Your experience is similar to mine. It's either very comfy or makes me know it's there ready to cause pain. I do like the "hammock" feel to it and it absorbs all the road vibration and is really cushy on bigger bumps.

DScott

It's been my experience that some saddles don't show their true character until you've been on them for 3+ hours on a single ride. The Antares was one of those.

I've also got a very nice Prologo Scratch in my garage that took about 500 miles to prove itself as an ass killer.

helmut

I had a rough idea from browsing online, but didn't ask at the store. My bad I suppose.

fauxto nick

I work at an LBS and while it would be in poor taste to try at the store and buy online, if the shop doesn't have your preferred color, you shouldn't feel bad about going somewhere else to the color you want. I would say you should try and negotiate with the shop and have them order one in the color you would like.

DScott

Wait. What?


Excellent. The transformation is complete!



Where?

Back OT: I'm OK with trying-on-and-buying-elsewhere if it's not a regular habit. The bike shops around get much of my money eventually, just not on EVERY item I buy.

It's important to me that they stay around.

Fleabiscuit

I'd tell the local shop about the Performance price difference and see if they will at least meet you in the middle or give you a discount. I was the loud guy making a big deal about people trying at LBS's and buying elsewhere but that's a pretty big spread and there is nothing wrong with trying to get a decent price.

If your local shop gives you great service, offers to install the seat and help you with your fit (seat position, etc.), it might be worth paying more. I'm not sure it's worth $90 but the service is worth something. That's up to you to decide.

I bought a Fizik Aerone (SP?) at my local shop and they only charged me $70. It's a good saddle and was new but mine is the older model without the clip on the back. I like it but would like to try the Antares next. I think a flatter saddle like the Antares would be better for me. The Aerone is comfortable for up to 50 miles for me, but on 50+ mile rides, I get some discomfort during long stretches of high exertion, late in the ride.

milkbaby

I think it would be jerky to use their free saddle test program and then buy the saddle online. Most stores near me give a 10 to 20% club discount, so if your LBS is similar, that could be $23 to $46 off, not too bad. The ability to try it out and not wasting your money on an asshatchet is worth a lot more than a few bucks.

OP, you have 3 bikes... You got enough money to afford 3 bikes as well as considering buying a new saddle? If you are so money conscious, do you really even need a new saddle versus saving the entire cost of a new saddle to begin with?

DXchulo

At least they have a real test program. I've been wanting to try a wider saddle and I would like to compare the Antares to the Aliante. I e-mailed a shop and their idea of a test was that I would purchase the saddle, and if I didn't like it I would return it and get my money back. WTF?

mzeffex 

They're in it to make money, you're in it to not spend as much. Get over it and save the money.

cccorlew

I had a similar thing happen with a Specialized Toupe. I'd never of bought it untried, but teh LBS tossed it on my bike and said "Ride it a while." as in days. I got a bit of a break, but I realize I'm paying for service and it's worth it. I know if I hadn't have liked it he would have taken it back without a frown.

I'd tell the LBS your story, and ask them what they can do, but don't expect Performance pricing.

rangerdavid

its business. sales, service, and repeat customer business are all considerations here.

Cleave

Hello helmut,

IMHO, a lot of good advice above. One thing to note is that the 2010 version of the Antares has Wing Flex technology like the Arione. Performance and Nashbar are selling 2009 models. Not sure if your demo model had the Wing Flex technology. The orange demo Antares at my LBS does not have it.

helmut

Don't think it had wing-flex. Didn't see the little cuts on the cover or on the shell underneath.

helmut

Uh, I have one new bike I bought from the store in question (the Allez) that was $950 and two bikes I bought from Craigslist. The first is a 1988 Panasonic for about $125, the other is a Cannondale F300 MTB for about $375. Not exactly pooping money. Do I need a new saddle? Does anyone even NEED a road bike? Are you new around here?