bruce19

Like many of us I continue to search for the right saddle. After a session of saddle mapping and some trial and error I've discovered that I need a narrower saddle than I thought. I also found that I am good with a saddle which when viewed from the rear has a rounded profile. So, I've been going to saddle websites and very few show a pic from the rear. Today I went to the Fi'zik site and saw their saddles labeled for "Bull", "Snake" and "Chameleon." What does that mean? No rear profile pics of course. Dazed and confused.

bianchi10

Go to the fizik website and look at their saddles. It explains exactly what they are talking about. The "Bull" or "snake" is the name for the shape of person it was designed for. It could be called "red" or "apples" for all we care, it's just a title. The shape and design of each is what's important.

bruce19

Thanks that was helpful. I wish I could find a rear pic of them though.

bianchi10

As in, a photo of the saddle from behind?

10 Wheels

Get one of these. narrow they is.

bruce19

Yes

bruce19

This is the view I need. This particular saddle is too flat for me though.


Just found this: https://www.excelsports.com/main.asp?...jor=1&minor=18

RogueRadio

I still don't understand why people are so hyped about Fi'zik. Saw many articles that say "this is the only saddle you should ride". Yet, I can't ride non-cutout saddles. 20 minutes and my crotch is asleep. I switched to a Selle SMP Lite 209 and couldn't be happier

Fiery

You're looking at Antares because the Aliante is too flat? Antares is the flattest, widest road saddle Fizik makes. If you want narrow and round, look at Fizik Volta.

Jaeger99

What's so hard to understand? They work well for an awful lot of people, but not for you. That's neither surprising nor complex. No element of bike fit is more purely subjective and highly variable than saddle comfort, IMO.

I don't ride a Fi'zik saddle at present, but when I was shopping for my existing bike I rode just about everything on the market. I never got off a bike with an OE Fi'zik saddle and thought "well, that god-awful ass hatchet will never work." I definitely DID think that about a few others. I certainly can understand their broad appeal.

Hammondc

THe new VSX saddles have a cutout. I LOVE mine.

bruce19

No. I am looking for pics showing the view from behind. I don't know what model or even what maker. I need it to be rounded and narrower than what I've been riding, which is a 143. I've tried several 130-133 and that seems decent for me. I'm currently testing a Selle Flite which isn't too bad. I can ride anything for 30-40 mi. It's beyond that when it becomes an issue.

canam73

They do have their VS or Versus line of saddles which is meant to accomplish the same thing.

bianchi10

Have you tried the specialized Romin EVO in a 130/143? Not saying this is THE saddle for anyone who has trouble, but I have yet to recommend this saddle and not have that person be fixed of all saddle pain issues. I have gone through 10+ saddles and the Romin EVO has been a God send.

bruce19

Just went on the website and can't find a Romin Evo narrower than a 143. I did use a Specialized Avatar but then lost 15 lbs and the saddle woes began. Also used a Selle Flite Max that no longer works for me. I've been testing a Selle Flite (130) and it is the most promising but not really quite right.

bianchi10

Looks like specialized is out of stock on their site. Google search shows plenty of other places to get them from though..

Specialized Romin Evo Expert Saddle 2013

rpenmanparker 

It seems OP is referring to a saddle shaped such that sections across the width of the saddle from front to back are shaped like a hump with the closed end pointing up. Not just in front, but even back though middle of the saddle and toward the back. I don't understand the appeal of that as it would seem to put all the rider's weight right on the perineum, with no platform out to the sides to support the pelvic bones. But as said above, it is all very personal and subjective. I do seem to remember that Fizik specializes in this type of design.

Bob Ross

For the same reason that other people are so hyped about __________________ (insert name of favorite saddle; in your case, apparently that would be the Selle SMP Lite 209).

Because everyone's ass is different, and what feels good on yours might not feel good on mine. And vice-versa.

Fiery

In that case, look at old Selle Italia Flites (new Flites seem to be quite flat), Selle San Marco Concor (notice that these are two different companies; there is no saddle maker named just "Selle"), Fizik Volta and Prologo Scratch/Scratch Pro. All these are 135mm or narrower in width and are rounded side-to-side along the full length of the saddle.

Latif

I wanted a rounder profile and found it with the Prologo scratch pro, available in 130 and 143 which I got. Prologo makes three levels of profile with the Scratch pro the roundset. it's also narrow at the inner thighs and doesn't rub me there at all. I used it this summer to ride the Oregon coast, 80-100m/day and was very happy with it. No chamois butter used either.

basqueonacaad

Time on a saddle can usually heal all woes.....this advice lends itself particularly well to the topic of saddle discomfort.

10mg

I recently spent tons of time, and money on searching for a saddle that I like. Here are some things I learned.

I used to use a Forte pro SL saddle from performance bike, it was ok. I wanted to upgrade, so I started with the San Marco Concor Light. I hated the thing from day 1. From the research I did saddles are all about trial and error, or so they say. Thus I ended up going to a LBS, and they primarily carried specialized saddles. The difference in these saddles is they come in a variety of different widths. Thus they recommend measuring your sit bones. Most people are around 100-110 mm sit bone distance, however I measured closer to 130mm. Thus they recommend a saddle that is 155mm wide. I tried the Phenom, and the Romin expert gel. Out of the two the Phenom was much better for me.

Then I happened to fall upon a Fizik Arione Tri 2. I loved this saddle compared to the specialized, and I was shocked because the Arione is super narrow. However after riding it for a while, my perineum became numb and hurt very bad. Now here is where it got interesting. By accident I ordered a Fizik Aliante Versus X, which has a extra large and deep cut out. OMG this saddle is exactly what I needed. Because of my extra wide sit bones, I need something with a cut out.

Thus I would suggest measuring your sit bones. If you have narrow ones, get the Fizik Arione Versus or the versus X. If you have wider sit bones, look at the Aliante versus or versus x.

bruce19

This sounds good to me. The only problem I'm having with the Flite is the rubbing at the inner thighs. I will check it out.

GeneO 

That is because "selle" is an old French word for saddle. So many companies may have selle in the name.

StanSeven

I wondered about that. Thanks for the information.