fi'zi:k Arione Donna -- any experience?

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I'm generally pretty happy with my Specialized Jett 143, but have had some issues with soft tissue pinching and chafing on my new bike...new bike has me positioned quite a bit more aggressively than old bike (I was too upright for the sort of riding I like and my own comfort on my previous bike), especially in the drops (which were not comfy on old bike, since I couldn't stretch-out appropriately...now I can, but that means bearing less weight on my sit bones and a bit more up-front).

I'm starting to consider changing saddles if this continues to be an issue. I expect I will want to ride in the drops more now that I have the right bike geometry to do so.

This saddle looks to have similar footprint to the Jett...I wonder if the Jett cut-out is causing some of my issues (in addition to too many layers during this cold weather--wind blocker tights over my chamois shorts is almost certainly part of my problem).

Has anyone tried this saddle?

[Becky]

I haven't tried it, but I'm intrigued!

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I like the way it looks too.

Although I had a bad experience with the Vitesse that came on my bike

Do the saddles that come on bikes ever work for anyone? Although the Prologo Scratch saddle that came on my SuperSix works GREAT for my hubby. He loves it. He says it's the best saddle that he's ever had. The saddle that came on my Synapse was definitely not good...very squishy.

[Becky]

My DH is the same way. The Selle San Marco Ponza torture devices that came on a lot of Fuji bikes a couple of years ago are his absolute favorite, and he hoards them whenever he finds someone switching one out. We must have 5 of these things sitting around

[nscrbug]

I wish they would show a top view of the saddle so that we could get an idea of the shape. Seeing it from a side view like they show, really doesn't tell me much. And yes, I agree regarding stock saddles! That thing (Prologo Kappa Dea) that came on my Synapse was simply BAD. I'm sure they just throw on the cheapest, crappiest saddles they can think of, knowing that 99% of us will remove it immediately and replace it with something else.

Linda

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I wish they would show a top view of the saddle so that we could get an idea of the shape. Seeing it from a side view like they show, really doesn't tell me much.

Click on the arrow on the photo...it shows the top view. That's what has me intrigued.

[zoom-zoom]

My DH is the same way. The Selle San Marco Ponza torture devices that came on a lot of Fuji bikes a couple of years ago are his absolute favorite, and he hoards them whenever he finds someone switching one out. We must have 5 of these things sitting around

Ha, I already told my hubby that he really needs to watch eBay and snatch up more of the same saddle that came on my bike. Odds are most people who buy the SuperSix will swap the stock saddle out with whatever they prefer (like I did). He could probably amass quite a back stock.

[Velocivixen]

Do the saddles that come on bikes ever work for anyone? Although the Prologo Scratch saddle that came on my SuperSix works GREAT for my hubby. He loves it. He says it's the best saddle that he's ever had. The saddle that came on my Synapse was definitely not good...very squishy.

Yes, I love my original saddle on my 5 month old Trek FX 7.3 -the well hated Bontrager seat!

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Yes, I love my original saddle on my 5 month old Trek FX 7.3 -the well hated Bontrager seat!

Funny. And that is one of the saddles on my short list if I have no luck getting my current saddle or the new one to work for me. I'll try anything once.

[Marquise]

I was stalking the Arione Donna for a while before it seemed like anyone was actually selling it, and this thread got me onto it again. I was surprised to find it at a local shop's bike expo last weekend at 20% off, and they have a 30-day return policy.

Wasn't crazy about the flowery look in pictures (even though I wear blue flowered Sidi shoes) but like it better seeing it in person. It's more subtle than I expected and it's sleek and light but still wide enough for me. I've been pretty happy with the Fizik Vesta but was hoping the Donna's flatness would give me a better feel that I'm really sitting on my sit bones. The Vesta swoops up in back and lately leaves me feeling a little too tilted. Although they seem about equally cushioned (not too much) and have similar channels, after 18 miles yesterday and 25 today, my initial impression is the Donna feels harder/stiffer. Not sure I've found saddle nirvana yet but think I like it better than the Vesta.

[goride]

Yes, I love my original saddle on my 5 month old Trek FX 7.3 -the well hated Bontrager seat!

I have had good luck with the Bontrager stock saddles on my Trek bikes (Pilot 2.1 WSD road bike and a WSD 7.5FX hybrid). Last summer I got a Cannondale Synapse Carbon and spent the entire summer trying to "break in" the stock saddle (ProLogo Kappa Dea), which looked really good on the bike, but I think was not the right size, and possibly not the right shape for me. Went to my LBS and they suggested the Bontrager InForm R. They measured my sit-bones for it, and I measured a 140, but it just didn't feel right. They put on the 150 and it was night and day difference. I'm thinking it might because my hips are not in very good alignment at all, so I sit very unevenly, even on a chair, putting more of my weight on one side than the other. Hence the "R" instead of the "RL" version of the saddle. I have only been able to get out with the new saddle once, and only 14 miles, but I found that it felt like my sit-bones were both supported, and that I wasn't constantly trying to boost myself farther back on the saddle, and most importantly - no pinching or irritation of the girlie bits, which was my chief complaint with the original saddle. I need to do more riding before I make a final judgment, but I am hopeful.

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Update of sorts:
I never did get my hands on this saddle...I think our LBS guy probably forgot to order me one (he is literally the busiest person I know between the shop and his JDRF Ride team coaching duties--he is both a local and national level coach. He also rides more miles/week year-round than anyone I know).

But I'm starting to believe that my issues with my Jett are probably more "hair management" than anything. When I had issues back in March it was right after using a depilatory to remove everything. I think regrowth was acting a bit like sandpaper. Once things grew back more my issues gradually started diminishing.

Recently I did a trim job and think I probably got too short. Again I started having issues...then after a week or two of regrowth things were more comfortable, again.

I need to do some longer stretches in the drops to see if I'm more comfortable in that position, too. Lately I've been doing more group rides with more time on the hoods and less time in the drops.

[mauisher]

I've been watching this thread and would also like to know if anyone has tried this saddle. It looks interesting. Thanks.

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Today I should finally be able to do a ride without the bulky wind-blocker tights over my shorts, so I'll be able to eliminate that factor. If I am still having up-front issues while in the drops I will be contacting our LBS buddy to see about getting a test saddle or just ordering one outright.

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So...I'm still having issues and my LBS is ordering me this saddle. Doesn't sound like Fizik has test models, yet. I'll definitely report back with my experience after I've had a few weeks to test it out. My biggest concern is that it will be too hard. But from the feel of the men's version it seems similar to my Jett in firmness...I think. I've not been able to squish them side-by-side.