Fizik Arione & Terry Butterfly

[Waverly]

I am looking into purchasing a new saddle.......a pink one :p and I have found these two. I have heard about both, and I have also read pretty decent reviews on them as well. I was wondering if any of you had any input! Anything would help.

Thanks,

Jessica

[Blueberry]

I think there's more extensive information on both under the saddle thread on down the page....There are lots (including me) who love the butterfly - and there are lots who hate it. I wouldn't pick a saddle just on color - make sure it feels right for *your* anatomy...

[Nanci]

Running Mommy has an Arione- you could ask her! Oh yeah, she's busy right now...

I think it's a men's saddle.

Nanci

[Waverly]

I realize saddles are very specific....which is why I wanted yall's input. I may be able to have my LBS order me one to try? I just thought I would get some more info first. It has to be pink though. I have been dying for pink wheels and I have a friend that can powder coat them pink for me so I am just going all out. I figure it shouldn't be too difficult to find a pink saddle. I have previously tried a Terry but not extensively...as in just on the trainer a bit. Anyway thanks for the reply!

J

[velogirl]

My Fizik rep sent me the pink Arione when it first came out. I have a ti cyclocross bike and since cross is a colorful sport, I thought I'd put it on that bike. But, since it's now road season, I threw it on my road bike and did about 50 hours on it in the course of a few weeks.

I was hot & cold. I did a handful of long road rides (4-5 hours) and really liked it -- lots of support in the right places and some good flex (it's the wings). I also did some indoor training rides where I could barely sit on the saddle. I realized it was because you don't "move" or change your saddle position very much on the trainer, so my soft tissue got numb.

I'm a cut-out girl. I've been riding the same saddle on all my bikes for a few years -- the Selle Italia SLR with the cut-out. It's very narrow and firm but is just perfect for me. Unfortunately, you can't buy it in the US so I have to scoop them up on eBay when I can.

The Arione and the Butterfly are completely different styles of saddle. The Arione is a more aggressive race-style saddle. It's much narrower and firmer than the Butterfly.

Do you like your current saddle? If so, I would choose the saddle that's most similar to what you ride now.

[Cari]

I'm a cut-out girl. I've been riding the same saddle on all my bikes for a few years -- the Selle Italia SLR with the cut-out. It's very narrow and firm but is just perfect for me. Unfortunately, you can't buy it in the US so I have to scoop them up on eBay when I can.

Velogirl, which SLR do you use? I checked a catalog that has Selle Italia and found 8 different SLR models, two of which had cut-outs: The SLR XC Gel Flow and the SLR XP Gel Flow.



The Arione and the Butterfly are completely different styles of saddle. The Arione is a more aggressive race-style saddle. It's much narrower and firmer than the Butterfly.

Do you like your current saddle? If so, I would choose the saddle that's most similar to what you ride now.

Waverly: Velogirl makes a good point. Aside from the color they share, those two saddles are polar opposites.

Cutouts seem to be something you either love or hate. I have a Selle Italia Lady Gel Flow (which looks a lot like Terry's pink Donna's Butterfly) that I used just once and put away. The cutout got on my nerves and since the saddle is short (as women's saddles tend to be) I felt like I couldn't move much while riding. I've done better on a Fizik Aliante and am about to try an Arione. But I did experience some numbness on an Aliante towards the end of a 3.5-hour ride. So definitely do your best to try before you buy.

A few days ago I e-mailed Veloputt to ask her how she was doing with her Arione, since she had mentioned somethink about it in an older thread. If she says it's ok, I'll post the relevant portion of her reply so you can read it.

Good luck with your search!

~ Cari

[pkq]

I tried the Arione and liked it but ultimately needed the cutout. So a friend fell heir to the Arione.

I have been riding the Damselfly for my 3rd season and love it.

[Waverly]

My seat now is a Bontrager with a small cut out. It's the CRZ Race model I believe. I like it but I am not in love with it or anything. The Terry is probably the closest to it but I do like what I am reading so far about the Fizik. It is important that I can use it on long rides. I don't race mainly do local rides which range in mileage. I am going to try doing a century this year as well.

Jessica

[velogirl]

Velogirl, which SLR do you use? I checked a catalog that has Selle Italia and found 8 different SLR models, two of which had cut-outs: The SLR XC Gel Flow and the SLR XP Gel Flow.

SLR Trans Am. If you look at the original SLR, it's the exact same profile but with a cut-out (and almost no padding). Both the XC and XP are wider in back and have more cush.

It's not sold retail in the US, however it came stock on a number of bikes about three years ago (including Giant, Cannondale, and Orbea), so you can pick them up occassionally from LBS who took them off the bikes or on eBay. Last year it was sold retail in Europe (but still not in the US).

[Cari]

I don't know Veloputt personally, but she was very kind to reply to an e-mail I sent her asking if she had a good experience with her Fizik Arione. I also asked if she had problems with the saddle being too narrow, or with its wings rubbing her things. With Veloputt's permission, I'm posting her reply.

~ Cari



HI Cari,

Don't mind your email at all! Enjoy exchanging info & tips!

I'm 5'4" and avg weight--not skinny, not fat, but generous hips and thighs w/
the hourglass figure, so if anything, a tad wider sitbones, and *sigh* plenty of
upper thigh.

The Arione is great for allowing LOTS of variation in position, and the tops of
the thighs can nestle against the wing, but you don't really notice it--if
anything, I felt the little extra support at times was nice. Never any
discomfort from it. I found a pretty good deal on it via an internet search,
though it was the most expensive saddle I had ever bought, but it was worth it!

I rode my bike to work a lot last summer, 17 mile each way, and was miserable on
a Terry cut-out, and as soon as I switched to the Arione I was very happy. It
feels as a saddle should--firm, but not uncomfortable. And it's better w/ many
of the newer chamois, too.

But I have a friend that loves her Selle Italia, but for the engineer in me, the
Arione is a really smart design!

Good luck!

Susan

[bcipam]

I ride the Terry Butterfly and love it. But it works for me can't say it works for everyone.

I have many guy friends who ride the Avione. I like it as well but have you considered the Vitresse - the female version? The Avione is basically a man's saddle.

[betagirl]

I have a butterfly and like it. It's the 2nd saddle I've had, the first being a Terry Liberator gel. That one was more comfortable, but too big. Plus it clashed with my bike (it was yellow). :D

[Deanna]

Another vote for the Butterfly. Terry also gives you 30 days to try the saddle--if it doesn't work you can return it for exchange or refund. They also have "Simply Pink" section on their site for your pink product needs.

[Cari]

Hey Waverly,

In case you decide to go with the Pink Arione... there's a brand new one (with the matching handlebar tape) on eBay. The starting bid is $124.99 and no one has bid on it yet. It's item number 7233451167.

On the other hand... I didn't know Terry let customers try saddles for 30 days. That's pretty cool!

~ Cari

[Waverly]

Thanks for the info Cari. I think I am actually leaning towards the Fizik. And they are expensive!

Jessica

[madisongrrl]

I can't tell you which saddle would be better...but I personally like Fizik saddles. I have an Aliante on my Cervelo Soloist Team and it works well for me. It was pricy though....200 big ones. That particular saddle has an 80% retention rate from our local high-end bike shop.


Here are a few articles from Tom Demerly that I thought were interesting:

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/bikes/saddle.shtml

http://www.bikesportmichigan.com/features/saddlecomfort.shtml

[susan.wells]

I rode a Terry Butterfly for the last three seasons. I liked it reasonably well (I did over 4000 miles last year) but I wanted something different. Also I had to purchase one each season since the center appears to breakdown by the end of the season for me. I purchased the Arione this season and so far it is butt numbing on the trainer but feels really good on the road. I like the extra firmness, narrowness, & length of this saddle plus the lack of cutout did not bother me. But everyone is different when it comes to saddles.

Susan

[winddance]

I started with a Terry saddle with a cutout, and I hated it. I have to say that it was a case of the princess and the pea...I felt every little flaw in the saddle, even through a chamois. I'm fairly small, so I don't really need a huge chunk of saddle, and the Terry was just too much for me. I got rid of it as soon as I could.

I remembered the Arione from when I was test riding...one very brave shop owner let me ride her Serotta (*sigh*) and it stuck out so much to me that I actually wrote down its name. I'm still a newer rider, and the Arione has really allowed me to experiment with my riding position. I know we're all different, but so far I've been very happy with the Arione.

[Blueberry]

I've had a heck of a time getting by butt back into biking shape this year - more so than normal. Sore sit bones and squished girly bits. I've been riding 2 bikes with 2 well tested saddles. The Terry Liberator Ti Race (was a men's saddle I think) and the Butterfly. The Butterfly has been really bad about squashing the girly bits for some odd reason. I think that's the slowest to "toughen up". The liberator ti race seems to give them a bit more room to breathe. Looking at it, it looks like it would be really uncomfortable, as it's basically vertical around the cut on the sides, but that's worked better for me so far this year than the butterfly.

I think I have to have a cut out, I'm just not sure I'm on the butterfly love list right now. I'll prolly be better in a few weeks, though:)