Fizik Aliante R1 Saddle

Fizik Aliante R1 Saddle Info

One thing we would never try to do is talk folks into taking a saddle that was not comfortable for them. Of all the touch points on the bicycle, it is the most important and the most individual. But for riders looking to have a comfort saddle for long rides, the Fizik Aliante R1 Saddle would be top of our list as a recommendation.

Whether you’ve never tried Fizik before, or have several Aliantes already in your stable, you’ll want to take a close glance at the R1 since the Italian company has updated it with a new classy finish, and a sleeker profile. They have learned that the conventional assumption that wider sit bones need wider saddles is simply not the case. Every rider has different needs, which is why there are several options within the Fizik line-up. The Aliante has been around since Fizik brought it out in 1999 and this newer version makes use of the same shape; your bum will still get the benefit of that distinctive wave design of the saddle surface. No less a rider than Peter Sagan declared this his favorite saddle since the curve of the seat provides support when the rider is sitting back in a climbing position, while the hammock-like shape gives the undercarriage room to breathe. With just the right amount of padding, you won’t have to worry about sore nads, and for the crux of the comfort, Fizik still uses the Twin Flex system, which allows sections of the hull to flex. The Aliante update results also in a sleeker shape fore and aft, which will make it easy for you to shift your position forward or rearward, depending on what the terrain demands.

These sorts of variations in design are largely driven by Fizik’s devotion to their Spine Concept, which simply means that they recognize every rider has a different degree of flexibility. We all have the same need to be comfortable, but there will always be a different ways of getting there. The Aliante has been developed for the Bull, or less flexible rider. But no one could convince us that a guy like Sagan is not flexible. Fizik just wants to give you some guidelines to work with, but most importantly wants you to find the perfect fitting saddle for you. Since comfort is paramount, the Aliante shell is constructed from a carbon composite that is co-injected with nylon to give it the light springiness we all love in Fiziks. Black Microtex material covers that saddle, with the rear central section possesses a matte finish and scuff guards at the wing points to help keep your saddle looking flash even when someone is less than careful when leaning it up against the brick garage wall. The new cover is thermo-welded over a new high-density yet super light padding that's developed by Fizik.

To keep the saddle as light as possible, Fizik gives the Aliante R1 their distinctive 7x9mm carbon braided rails. If there was once a time that you were afraid to trust such an important component as the saddle rails to a carbon construction, know that you no longer need to worry since Fizik carbon rails have withstood cols and cobbles with never a hitch. You needn’t be concerned about your seatpost being compatible with the Fizik, since anything vertical clamping will work with a 7x9 rail. By now the industry has gone to a standard of 7x9 carbon rails, to insure compliance. And nearly every manufacturer of seatposts produces an adapter for carbon rails if their clamps don’t work perfectly with the size. So that means that pretty much whatever you ride, you can get it to work with the Fizik braided carbon rails.

Weighing in at 185 grams, the Fizik Aliante R1 Saddle is surprisingly light for the amount of cushion and support it provides. Hand made in Italy, the Fizik Aliante R1 has your backside.