Vitesse HP or SSM Aspide Glamour?

[Misandal]

Hello ladies! First time post but I need some help here. I'm about to get off my bike if I don't find a comfortable saddle. I'm currently riding a Fizik Aliante but it's mashing my girly parts and I get a lot of chafe up front where the saddle takes a nose-up. I've had trouble before using a saddle with cut-outs (that just seemed to supply extra pressure points!) so I'd like to avoid those. Can anyone offer feedback on either the latest version of the Vitesse HP or the Aspide Glamour?

Just FYI, I've got a petite build and anything too wide causes inner-thigh chafe. I log lots of miles on the road during the season, with a typical weekend ride being 40-60 miles. Some century mountain rides keep me in the saddle for 6-7 hours though.

Thanks!
Missy

[Trekie]

I'd love to give my review of the Vitesse HP but apparently mine is still being created across the big pond.
Should probably be another week before I receive it.

I too am rather petite so I hope it will alleviate my frontal chafing.
Stay tuned.

[Misandal]

Thanks, Trekie! I'll wait to hear how you like it.

[Pedal Wench]

I'm loving the Aspide. Just got my second one for another bike. Need to keep it a bit more 'nosed-down' then usual, but it's been great. Did a 420-mile tour a few weeks ago and it was great.

[Misandal]

Wow, a bike tour as in back-to-back riding days? Right now, with my current saddle, I can't do that. Well, I could but it would really hurt. :eek:

Thanks for your input. I'm thinking the little "trough" that appears to be down the middle of the Aspide would be a welcome relief.

[ehirsch83]

hey!
I used to ride the Aliante and had the same problems that you are having. I now have the vitesse hp and I am loving it. I give it 2 thumbs up!

[Misandal]

Emily, thanks for the info on your success with the Vitesse and your shared problems with the Aliante. It's so great to hear I'm not the only one having these types of issues. I love the guys at my LBS, but when it comes to "saddle talk," they just can't relate! :confused:

[Ocultica]

The Vitesse is awesome!

[SchwarkCycle]

I'm loving the Aspide. Just got my second one for another bike. Need to keep it a bit more 'nosed-down' then usual, but it's been great. Did a 420-mile tour a few weeks ago and it was great.

I love my Aspide as well... got it late last year and have been very happy.

[VeloVT]

Hi Missy,
have you considered the Fizik Arione? Might be worth looking at, if you are looking at narrowish saddles without cutouts. I like it so much that I have one on each bike. I can finally do long rides without saddle discomfort.

I mention it because it doesn't have the front-to-back "scoop" that the Aliante has -- it's quite flat from tip to tail, which = comfortable, for me at least. (The Aliante, while I think it is a pretty saddle, has never appealed to me because the contour has always looked to me like it would put pressure in uncomfortable places).

I also do find myself scooting back on descents and riding on the nose to sprint and climb -- the extra "rideable" length really is useful (when the Arione was introduced there was a lot of hype about it being, at the time anyway, the longest saddle on the market). I also really like the very gradual transition from nose to back. I find with many saddles I "run into" the back when I transition from riding further forward (as I might when trying to accelerate in a seated postion) to riding in a more relaxed position, but this doesn't happen with the Arione -- very easy, seamless transitions from one position to another. Of course, I have seen many women on this board comment that they have more chafing issues with "pear-shaped" saddles than with "t-shaped saddles" -- the Arione would probably fall more in the former category (though it's narrow enough that it doesn't cause chafing for me), so that might be a drawback for some.

It's very interesting how different everyone's saddle preferences are. Hope you find something you like!

[Misandal]

Thank you all so much for your feedback. My LBS has gotten a Vitesse for me to look at, and they right now have my bike and are putting the saddle on it for me to try.

Judging strictly by its looks, it's hard to see that it will be the answer to my prayers, but looks don't count, right? I'll put at least 40 miles on it tomorrow or Sunday to see how it agrees with me and I will report back.

Liza, I did sample the Arione before I bought the Aliante. Because I was coming from the Damselfly, which is very narrow, the Arione was wider through the inner thighs than I was used to and I was much too aware of its presence there. I was afraid that would result in chafing. However, since I've come to realize that the Aliante is probably too narrow, I have been eyeballing the Arione again. If the Vitesse doesn't turn out to be the solution, I will give that a try.