Last year I was riding the fi’zi:k Arione saddle during the race season. I found it to be fairly heavy and not as comfortable, so this year I was hesitant when I was given the fi’zi:k Antares R1 Braided saddle to race on. Half way through the season and some 3,200 miles later, I have been very happy with the saddle and my pessimistic expectations have been proven wrong.
Weight
I am fortunate to have the carbon rails and carbon shell which brings this saddle down to about 150 g so the weight is not a factor to worry about. In fact it is one of the lightest saddles on the market today so clearly fi’zi:k have been listening to their customers and responding.
Shape and Comfort
Unlike the Arione, the Antares has a much more defined shape and in no way could be considered lazy. I find I had to spend more time to find the ideal saddle position on my bike fit to ensure I was in the comfort zone on this saddle. The padding is not that thick on the saddle and is very firm. For each their own, but in a crit heavy racing season, this is exactly what I like to have. On 100 mile plus training rides is the only time I wish the saddle was more forgiving. But this was usually accompanied with a lot of sitting up position riding. In longer road races, I did not experience the same discomfort due to the composite shell and wing flex technology.
Summary
The fi’zi:k Antares R1 Braided is a fantastic saddle. If you are selecting a saddle for performance and weight, then this saddle is for you. It is very versatile and ideal for all road racing distances and fast criterium racing.
Retail: $300.00
More information on the Antares R1 Braided saddle can be found on the fi’zi:k web site.
Review by Luke Ollett, SoCalCycling.com Team
