I purchased this saddle as part of a new bike build. I was hesitant at first but jumped in. Completely different than the Brooks saddles that I've had on my bikes for the past 25+ years. After a few rides I was converted to this saddle. I still have the Brooks on my other bike; however, I really have come to enjoy this saddle on both daily and long-distance rides. And great on hot days. However, after 24 months of use, the nose broke. Weird, since I don't "sit on the rivet" very often. Looking under the saddle reveals the need for a bit of engineering work to reinforce the nose. All-in-all, an excellent saddle with the qualification that it may not be right for everyone's anatomy.
I bought this in the throes of winter training for an upcoming Gran Fondo and my trusty Fizik Antares R1, was just feeling a little too stiff anymore. While it may be ok on the road, it is several years old and decided it was time for an update. I generally wait a version or two before jumping into a new product. Knowing Fizik, I thought it would be worth the risk. There is a little break in time required but not much. Makes my 4+ hour endurance trainer sessions more tolerable. Initially, it is a bit tacky feeling and you cannot slide on it like a traditional saddle - a little frustrating. After a couple months of use, it is burnishing a bit, so smoother and more ability to shift weight as needed.
Cannot wait to get out on the road with this.
I broke two of these saddles on two consecutive early season rides in precisely the same way. Both times the saddles were on my gravel bike, and temperatures were just above freezing. Both times the plastic shell cracked about 1.5" behind the nose of the saddle while riding uphill on a relatively smooth dirt road. Both saddles were less than a season old. There is clearly a problem with these saddles.
Cracked at the nose after 1 year of riding.
I�ve owned about 4 Antares saddles over the years. I�ve had them on my different bikes because of how well they work for me. This one is even better. I�ll have to order a second one for my other bike.
Super comfortable. So much so I got one for my other bike too
Different zones of pressure work well and definitely tech that I can see becoming the normal for high end saddles in a few years.
