BaadDawg

I just got a used Arione on Ebay for $75. It says it was used once and the photo looks like the saddle is clean, but until it is in my hands you never know. I have no idea how much the previous owner weighs.

My question is this. I know that the Arione's are supposed to break in (the shell actually breaks along the slits I think). Does this mean that buying a used one is looking for trouble?

blandin

Depends on how long the saddle was used. I have 3 Ariones with from 300 to less than a hundred miles on them and I don't think they've "broken" in, or at least not fully at this point, and I am a heavy rider. Most likely you'll be in good shape. By the way, there is a seller on ebay that sells new Ariones for $90. That's where I got mine.

BaadDawg

I know you can get them new for $90. This was sort of an impulse buy, but I have wanted to try the Arione for quite a while. Hope the $15 saved will not lead to problems.

Mr.Endo, Esq.

Relax, it's probably fine. To be sure, check the slots on the cradle underneath- if the lower ends have cracks emanating from them it means (according to Fizik) it's broken in -to fit the other guys butt. I've never seen one with cracks, so I doubt the Fizik system works. The comfort level is more about how the saddle shape fits the ass.

roadbuzz

I have one and put quite a few miles on it... never noticed anything I'd consider "breaking in", and definitely no cracks. FWIW, it was too wide in the nose and flat for me. I always felt the edges of the saddle. I'm just an Aliante kind of guy.

ManBearPig

Doesn't seem logical that one guy's anatomy would break in the seat in a perceptibly different way than another's.

BaadDawg

I just hope this is the end of my perfect saddle quest. Have a Selle Italia transam gelflow that got used about a month. Went with a Koobi Au Enduro that I switched over to a Koobi Silver because it had softer seams along the split rails and I got a good price for the Enduro on Ebay (almost what I paid for it).

I like the cutout because it takes care of numb nuts, but they seem to be harder around the cutout section.

Arione seems to be almost universally liked although I know it's totally personal. I am ok on my current saddle up to about 3 hours then it gets dicey.

Others say tilt angle it very import with the Arione. I usually use a level to get the angle dead flat. Is that the best way to start with an Arione?

Serpico

good luck with the Arione, I like mine

might try a Brooks b17narrow on my surly