by FreaK on Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:33 am
here's a slightly differing perspective.
I've been riding a traditional Arione for a long while, i was happy to pick it up after a pleasant experience on a demo Colnago. But as i put more and more miles in i thought i wanted something a little flatter and a little more firm. Well if Fizik got it so close with Arione for me i figured the Antares was their version of what i wanted, that little adjustment that would get it dialed. So we got a set of the demo saddles at the shop, the bright orange ones, and i tried the Antares, for the first 20-30 minutes i was loving it, very supportive, and i felt stronger, but gradually i started to lose a bit of feeling, and maybe half an hour later it turned into legit numbness. So i rode the saddle for IIRC about a week or so after for the commute to work, verdict for the commute= not bad, for long rides=no go. So i stuck it out until i built up my new bike (which i'll post to the introduce yourself gallery once i've a decent couple shots of it) and found a used SLR around the shop. This for me seemed to split the difference for me, some shell flex, but not too much, some padding and a flatter overal shape. I'm still riding it.
So i go to the interbike demo and talk to the guys at the Highway 2 tent about my experiences, including the above mentioned hard edges of the Antares. So first i tried the Kurve version of the Arione - far to narrow and rounded in the front it dug into my member and wasn't really conducive to an aero tuck. The Antares Kurve, i think that's the Chameleon, not too sure, in any case, i found i had the same issue as the original Antares, but exacerbated by the differences in compliance so the materials that make up the saddle. I came back after my demo ride, sore and very dissapointed because i wanted to like it, and my logic supported the idea that this would be the solution for me.
Surprise of the whole story is that i found one made by Velo that is going to go on my bike once i can find it in stock somewhere. Carbon rails relatively flat, with some contour. Pity i can't remember the model name, but for those of you looking at the Raleigh bikes for next year, it'll be coming on the Militis.
it's actually possible to come to the conclusion even before realising it makes no sense at all
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tymon_tm