Love it!!!! - got a lot more to say about it but if you need a new saddle and don't want to read my dribble click here and hit buy now
Removed my prologo choice from my colnago to test the antares and right out the gate I knew I would be keeping this saddle. I have 7 bikes and have different saddles on each one. Aliante, Arione(new and old style), Gobi, Selle Italia Flite, Brooks, Selle san Marco Concor, Now Antares - this is a keeper.
Lighter than Aliante at 175 grams(Kium- I tested this)145 grams(Carbon), not that it really matters but if weight is your biggest concern in a saddle this is possibly one of the most comfortable saddles that comes in under 200 grams, Fizik say it has more padding and more flat sitting area I guess this is true.
Wider in the rear and lower profile in the nose than either Aliante and Arione - this is the most extreme saddle from fizik and it works. The shell is carbon and has a hammock like effect when you hit it in the sweet spot - when I shifted right to the back it felt rather hard and firm when in the drops shifted forward the hammock effect was great.
Carbon vs. Kium(another word for Titanium like alloy/steel) I say Carbon without doubt unless you plan on using it off road or you are 200+ lbs - My experience with a Aliante carbon saddle I have on a Orbea I own and Kium Rail one I have on my deRosa I think the extra bucks for the carbon rail is well worthwhile. Feels like road vibrations are reduced. This is perhaps more a bigger comfort boost than a carbon seat post or handlebar.
Pros
- No seams in places that matter, antares has no seams around the nose and down the center like aliante and arione - this is better for the life of your $250 bibs and more comfortable also make it seem like you can make slight shifts easier. It has seams at the rear but these don't have the same drawbacks.
- Weight and comfort - Yes Yes- she is hot and has a great personality.
- Clip system for saddle bag or light - this is neat cause it saves your fancy carbon post from getting scuffed up fro
m bag straps.
Cons
- Might be a little hard if you ride less than 6 hours a week
- Nose is sharp and caught my shorts a few times, Arione and SLR do this as well (Aliante and Flite do not) you can work around it when you get used to it but it really pisses me off when I am suffering and have to get back up and sit back down.
- Nothing else bad to say.
Clive de Sousa
clive@glorycycles.com
Posts
2 comments:
Does it hurt or hinder a man in the sweet spot like a lot of saddles do?
Great review, Clive.
I think the Aliante is pretty much the most comfy saddle ever. However, after spending some time on the Antares, I'm tending to like it more. The Aliante is almost too soft. The Antares doesn't have as much bounce yet is still remarkably comfortable.
I used it on my Scott Plasma for a 1/2 ironman and was extremely impressed.
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