Fizik Aliante

Price Paid:  $75.00 at Ebay

Bike Setup:
Klein Q-Pro Carbon, Dura Ace, Bontrager Race X Lites

Summary:
I purchased the Delta model and I really like this saddle. It was comfortable right from the start with no real break-in period. It's a bit wider and has just enough flex to be comfortable without excessive padding. Set up is a little tedious. It took quite a few tweaks to get it right. I found that I had to lower the saddle height a few mm to get it just right.

Strengths:
Comfort. Reasonable price.

Weaknesses:
A bit hard to get it set up.

Similar Products Used:
San Marco, Vetta

Price Paid:  $200.00 at Excel Sports

Favorite Ride:
Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic

Bike Setup:
Trek 5200

Summary:
This is the best saddle I have ever purchased (just tried another and went straight back to this). I've been comfortable riding centuries and double centuries (one day). I'll never try another saddle. I'll stick with this. I had the ti rails and I've just purchased a replacement with the kium rails. Keep in mind that a saddle the works for one person, may not work for another. It's all about fit, and this is a perfect fit for me.

Strengths:
Most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden on. Won't be trying any others ever again. Anything that will get me through a double century without pain, deserves a raiting of 5

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
Selle SMP Glider

Price Paid:  $220.00 at Racer Sportif

Favorite Ride:
Campbellville, Ontario.

Bike Setup:
2005 Colnago Master with Campy Record, Ambrosio Nemesis rims, Conti Sprinter tubulars, Cinelli RAM bar/stem, Time RSX.

Summary:
Overall, in the grander scheme of all things cycling, its okay. I've riden on a quite number of different saddles, use to race, and now ride recreationally, though aggressively, and for long periods. I switched the Flyte that came with my bike as I found that saddle to be more of an instrument of torture than something that is supposed to make our rides pleasureable. At several Toronto bike shops last year there was a lot of hype about the Aliante. You'd hear how it was "the best saddle out there", "the most comfortable", yadda, yadda, yadda. The fact was, at $300, I was not inlcined to take the plunge until the price came down, and so it did, and so I bought one to get rid of my Flyte. I got the one withthe Ti rails and the carbon/kevlar shell. While it is more comfortable than the Flyte, its still no saving grace. I find I still have to stand up out of the saddle after about 45min-1 hour to re-align. I'll live with it for a while, or maybe forever, as the reality of saddles suggests, is that fit is very subjective. It is no doubt a truism to say that no two crotches are the same. And another one seems to ring true (particulalry in cycling), "don't believe the hype".

Strengths:
Very light weight, well thought out (design and engineering)looks great. Fairly comfortable.

Weaknesses:
Overly expensive compared to other similar products from companies who have been making saddles for a hell of a lot longer. Skin coverign saddle is too thin. If the Aliante has a week link, that is it.

Similar Products Used:
San Marco Concor, Regal, Rolls
Selle Italia Flyte

Price Paid:  $0.00 at Bicycle Garage Indy

Bike Setup:
Serotta Legend

Summary:
This is one good saddle once you get it dialed in. Level the back part of the saddle which means the nose is pointed slightly upward and get the fore/aft adjustment correct and it is a very comfortable saddle. Keep adjusting until you get it. You will be rewarded for your effort.

Strengths:
Very comfortable. Inexpensive Sport model is just as comfortable as the more expensive models.
Sweet spot so that you don't have to move around a lot to be comfortable.

Weaknesses:
If you like to change positions a lot there is only one sweet spot.

Similar Products Used:
Serfas Terrazo Select, Schwinn Paramount

Price Paid:  $244.00 at lbs

Favorite Ride:
hills, hills and more hills

Bike Setup:
2007 Orbea Orca, Sram Force compact, Rolf Vigor RS wheelset

Summary:
Wow! I demo'd several saddles including the Fizik Arione and the Aliante titanium, but the Alinate carbon version is absolutely awsome! The rough roads that used to vibrate through my rump were smoothed right out. This saddle smoothed out the entire bike.

Strengths:
Very comfy.

Weaknesses:
Kinda pricey but hey - your bumm is worth it!

Similar Products Used:
Selle Italia max flite, Specialized toupe