Fizik Ares Saddle Pro Review - By Twain Mein

• Specifically designed for to meet UCI regulations for time trials
• Cost: $199 MSRP
• Natural Leather Seat Cover
• Made in Italy
• ICS bag compatible
• Cool black and white color scheme. However, the white is subject to grease and fingerprints.
• Weight: Claimed 155 grams. Actual: 159.

This is a review of the Fizik Ares saddle, which is expressly designed for time trials. Fizik has been making some fantastic products and the Ares is the newest in the line. Fizik’s most well known offerings include:

The Arione — extremely popular and uniquely longer than most saddles (unfortunately, this saddle causes numbness for me)

The Aliante is perhaps the most comfortable saddle ever made; I can’t recommend it highly enough for folks who commute. And it will make any “superstiff” bike a lot more tolerable.

The Antares, while not as comfortable as the Aliante, is an excellent triathlon saddle and provides a firmer ride than the Aliante that doesn’t rob any power.

So I was really excited to test the Ares, thinking it could be the ultimate triathlon saddle.

- A RECORD-EIGHT TDF TEAMS WILL TAKE THE START LINE ON FI’ZI:K SADDLES-

Pozzoleone, Italy – For the first time in Tour de France history, fi’zi:k saddles is dominating the peloton as the premiere saddle supplier and sponsor to participating Pro Tour and Pro Continental teams. Of the twenty select 2009 Tour de France teams, 8 will be riding fi’zi:k saddles.

Amplified support of professional teams comes not only the heels of increased global original equipment specification, but more so from increased demand from road teams for the premiere brand. As an example, one of the non-official-fi’zi:k-sponsored TdF Pro Tour teams, has twenty team members using their brand.

Many of the 2009 Tour de France teams will using the new ultra light Antares road saddle as well as the recently introduced Ares time trail saddle. Among those cyclists using the new Antares and the new Ares is defending Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre who, after testing the final Ares version earlier this summer said, “It’s now perfect. I definitely noticed the difference between the first and final versions.” Dave Zabriskie, US National Time Trial Champion, joins Sastre in choosing both the Antares and Ares; and most of the entire Columbia-High Road will be riding the Ares time trial saddle when they line up in Montpelier on July 7th in attempt to maintain their title as the world’s number one time trial team following their 2009 Giro d’Italia TTT victory.

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Suzette of Fi’zi:k gives us a quick look at the limited edition team replica saddles that will be hitting the market soon (May ‘09).

Pozzoleone, Italy – Fi’zi:k’s 2009 Limited Edition Team Replica saddle and tape kits are scheduled to arrive in bike shops in early May. The annual collection, in its seventh year, features the new Antares road saddle in select pro team-issue colors, as well as an exclusively designed kit-only SPLIT:TAPE. The special handlebar tape, produced specifically for the 2009 Team Replica kits, will not be sold separately in the aftermarket.

The annual release of fi’zi:k Team Replica Limited Edition saddles honors fi’zi:k’s pro sponsored road teams. Color availability varies by continent and by country and is based on each pro team’s country of origin as well as respective distributor stipulations. The saddles are pre-ordered, traveling from fi’zi:k’s production facility in Pozzoleone, Italy to distributors worldwide where they are immediately shipped to independent bike dealers. Consumers desiring a specific saddle and tape color are encouraged to visit a fi’zi:k dealer to reserve a kit.

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Part 3: Accessorize - Fizik Antares saddle and KCNC quick releases
The next two were easy upgrades that actually saved a lot of weight.

Fizik Antares Saddle

• Cost: $199 MSRP
• Comfortable yet very light weight
• Natural Leather Seat Cover
• Made in Italy
• ICS bag compatible
• Weight: Claimed 175 grams. Actual: 177.

The Antares is the newest saddle from Fizik. It is positioned between the ultra-comfortable Aliante and the ultra-popular Airione. I love the Aliante but the Airione never quite fit me. The Antares’ real competitor is a minimalist saddle like the Selle Italia Flite which weighs an astounding 135 grams. However, I find the Flite extremely uncomfortable. The Antares weighs a little more but I found it to be surprisingly comfortable–even on 50 mile rides. Plus, at 177 grams, it saves 38 grams over the Aliante. You can read my in-depth review here.

Brisbane, Australia — Ahead of their forthcoming debut in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living cycling team have finalised equipment sponsors for season 2009.

In announcing a comprehensive list of sponsors, team director, Chris White said, “We are privileged to be able to announce such a fabulous list of product partners for 2009. We are looking forward to working closely with our partners and assisting them with their respective research and development programs. We have chosen our team equipment carefully to ensure the team has the most advanced and dependable cycling equipment in the world at its disposal – this will give us a big advantage in events throughout 2009”.

Team Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living will ride Parlee frames for 2009. The team will work closely with Bob Parlee and his team who will continue their industry-leading R&D program to ensure Parlee cycles remain ahead of the pack in carbon fibre bicycle technology. The team will ride the Z4 for road races and training, and the TT for time trial events throughout 2009, with the frames’ renowned combination of strength, light weight and handling making them ideally suited to the demands of professional racing. “We think the Z4 is something special, its light weight means it’s ideal for climbing, descending and sprinting. The TT is an excellent time trial bike, its low drag design will give our riders a distinct advantage in the individual and team time trials we’re targeting during the season”, Chris White said.

Continuing the carbon theme, Team Fly V Australia p/b Successful Living will spend 2009 rolling on Edge Composite carbon fibre wheels. The team will ride Tubular 1 38mm hoops for road events, Tubular 1 68mm hoops for time trials, and Clincher 38mm hoops for training, giving team riders the perfect wheel for any situation and any event. Speaking about the partnership, Edge Composites founder Jason Schiers said, “Our carbon fibre technology is world leading and our proprietary moulding process creates a spoke interface that permits higher spoke tensions to be run. This enhances the durability of the wheel as a whole by limiting spoke fatigue and increasing durability, giving riders a significant advantage when they use our wheels.”

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Fizik Antares Saddle Pro Review - By Twain Mein

• Cost: $199 MSRP
• Comfortable yet very light weight
• Natural Leather Seat Cover
• Made in Italy
• ICS bag compatible
• Weight: Claimed 175 grams. Actual: 177.

This is a review of the Fizik’s latest saddle, the Antares. It’s supposed to be the “third dimension” between Fizik’s excellent Arione and Aliante. I’m not sure what the third dimension really means but what I discovered that it’s really a comfortable alternative to minimalist saddles like the Selle Italia SLR.

I decided to compare the Antares not only to it’s brethren but also to the Selle Italia SLR. Here’s how they measured up:

Comparing the saddles
My first experience with Fizik saddles was the Arione. It’s a great looking saddle that is much longer (25mm more than the Antares and SLR) than most saddles. I suppose this is to give you more freedom to move for/aft for spinning or pushing big gear. But despite it being the narrowest of the four–and with it’s built in “wing flex”, I’ve found that this saddle hits in the wrong places and is actually a bit of a disappointment; I tend to “get numb” when riding this saddle, especially when on the trainer.

Pozzoleone, Italy – Team Liquigas’ Ivan Basso will make his return to pro racing on October 26th at the Japan Cup on fi’zi:k’s new Antares road saddle. The new light-weight, low profile saddle introduced at the fall Eurobike and Interbike shows with a scheduled November aftermarket release, has been on his Cannondale Supersix since mid-August.

“I’m very happy to finally be riding fi’zi:k,” Basso said. “I know that both some of my rivals and comrades developed lasting relationships with fi’zi:k because they like to work closely with the athletes for development and feedback. I’ve visited their Pozzoleone headquarters several times and their European Marketing Manager, Gabriele Benedetti, has taken the time to work with both me and our mechanics. I tested a few saddles but I can say, honestly, that the Antares is the best saddle I’ve ridden in my entire career.”

Both Basso and Garmin-Chipotle’s Dave Zabriskie received the first two pre-production models in mid-August. Prior to joining the Garmin-Chipotle team last year, Zabriskie also had never ridden fi’zi:k saddles. Added US Marketing Manager, Suzette Ayotte, “It’s not always easy to put a pro cyclist on a saddle they’ve never ridden and get the desired results, but both cyclists have been on the Antares ever since. We don’t hope to unseat the Arione and Aliante, but the Antares is the solution for those somewhere in between.”

While the Antares is most easily described as a cross between fi’zi:k’s popular but contrasting Aliante and Arione models, the third dimension – the third A in their high performance road line-up – goes a few steps further to reduce weight while adding comfort. Measuring 274 meters in length, the Antares is 16 cm shorter than the Arione, flat across the top like the Arione and 142 cm at its widest point like the Aliante.

In comparison tests with other ultra light high-performance saddles, the CX padded Antares has 300% more nose padding and up to 15% more surface area. Introduced on the Arione CX early in 2008 the foam formulation adds no bulk but yields a super low-profile with added comfort. As Basso explained, “The padding and flat surface provides support to eliminate pressure on the prostate area and the wide nose provides support when I’m climbing in the saddle.”

Fi’zi:k’s new Antares will be available in two versions and is scheduled to land at IBD’s in November. The mostly black with white, carbon braided rail version has a targeted weight of 145 grams and will retail for $230. The black with white Antares with k:ium rails has a targeted 175 grams weight and a retail price of $200.

Fizik Aliante Carbon Twin Flex - By Twain Mein

• Cost: $250 MSRP
• Soft Gel-Like center supported by Carbon Frame
• Replaceable Scuff Guards
• Natural Leather Seat Cover
• Made in Italy
• ICS bag compatible
• Weight: Claimed 199 grams. Actual: 215.

Finding the perfect saddle isn’t easy. In the olden days, a hard saddle was said to be preferred because you don’t bounce in the seat. But at 40+ years, it’s nice to have a little cush for your tush! I’ve had the famous Selle Italia Turbo, a bunch of Avocets, Selle Flite (135 grams of masochism), and the highly acclaimed Fizik Airone (I find it too wide in the wrong places and numbness-inducing). My favorite of late has been the Selle Gel, but it’s a bit portly at 285 grams, and it’s no longer made.

I was in the market for a new saddle for my new rig, a Cervelo R3. I’d always been intrigued by the Aliante because, gad, it seemed to have soft padding but was reasonably light. Finally decided to get one—and I’m totally pleased.

The Aliante features a narrow though padded nose with a wide and high back. This essentially allows 2 positions on the seat. Sitting forward you can spin, Lance Armstrong style. Pushed back against the seat, you can use your quads to power up hills. In the middle you can cruise away happily. But the padding isn’t too excessive; you won’t bounce in the saddle losing efficiency.

It does take a while to dial-in the seat height, though. Because of the stepped up rear, the saddle is significantly higher in the back. It’s a good idea to set the seat height biased toward the (lower) front. Otherwise you can get knee pain from pushing from too low. Once dialed, however, it’s awesome.

Best saddle I’ve ridden.

Value:

Overall: