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

[blue_angel]

I ride the Arione, not the Arione Donna, and I'm really happy with it. I've ridden a Vitesse for 5 years before that, and I only just realized that the Vitesse was too wide for me and that's a large part of why I experienced so much discomfort. Anyway, it's hard to recommend saddles as they're so person-specific, but I've been really happy with the Arione.

[bluebug32]

I just picked up the Fizi:k Aliente yesterday and took it for a 30 mile spin today. It took a little settling in, but I like it so far. It tips my pelvis forward, which takes all of the pressure off my hips when climbing and it feels like I'm in a more powerful position. Hopefully it feels as good on this weekend's long ride.

[zoom-zoom]

I ride the Arione, not the Arione Donna, and I'm really happy with it. I've ridden a Vitesse for 5 years before that, and I only just realized that the Vitesse was too wide for me and that's a large part of why I experienced so much discomfort. Anyway, it's hard to recommend saddles as they're so person-specific, but I've been really happy with the Arione.

Yeah, the Vitesse is a hair wider than the women's Arione models--and looks a bit more pear-shaped. It's definitely more domed and feels smooshier than the men's Arione--I'll be interested to see what the Arione Donna feels like. I'm guessing it will be similar in firmness to my Jett, or maybe the Ruby. That's what I hope. I think I'd be much happier with my Jett if Specialized made a version with a dent or channel, rather than a narrower, sharper cut-out. At least this is my suspicion.

Oops, I was thinking the Vesta, not the Vitesse. What does the Vitesse look like? Does Fizik still make that?

[zoom-zoom]

Ahhh...just Googled...the Vitesse looks like the Vesta without the channel.

[nscrbug]

Yeah, the Vitesse is a hair wider than the women's Arione models--and looks a bit more pear-shaped. It's definitely more domed and feels smooshier than the men's Arione--I'll be interested to see what the Arione Donna feels like. I'm guessing it will be similar in firmness to my Jett, or maybe the Ruby. That's what I hope. I think I'd be much happier with my Jett if Specialized made a version with a dent or channel, rather than a narrower, sharper cut-out. At least this is my suspicion.

Oops, I was thinking the Vesta, not the Vitesse. What does the Vitesse look like? Does Fizik still make that?

Yes!!! Although, I'm wishing that perhaps the cut-out on my Ruby were a tad bit wider, with a less sharper edge. I'm not sure if the Affinity that I put on last weekend, is going to work long-term for me. My girly parts were feeling a tad bit smooshed during the 54-mile test ride I took on it last Monday. Not sure if that is just part of the adjusting period of a new saddle or not...or maybe I just wasn't positioning myself on the right part of the saddle to not feel that pressure. I had thought about the Arione Donna, after all the chatter here on it...but then I noticed that it's only 147mm wide and I'm pretty sure that would be too narrow for me. So now I'm back to thinking about the SI Turbomatic, which has a nice wide cut-out. Ughhh...I hate playing these saddle "games".

Linda

[zoom-zoom]

I had thought about the Arione Donna, after all the chatter here on it...but then I noticed that it's only 147mm wide and I'm pretty sure that would be too narrow for me. So now I'm back to thinking about the SI Turbomatic, which has a nice wide cut-out. Ughhh...I hate playing these saddle "games".

Linda

Yeah, I *think* the Arione Donna should work for me, since it's only 4mm wider than my Jett. I've thought the Turbomatic looks nice, but that would definitely be too wide for me.

[beancounterbeth]

Did a short 20 mile ride on the Arione Donna last night. I am hopeful this will eventually work for me but right now I am having a little trouble with squishing in the soft tissue area. Mid ride we nosed the saddle down slightly then that was too much and I was sliding forward so we brought it back up slightly. Just wondering now if it will be a matter of dialing it in just right to where I don't slide forward but I don't have the numbing and squishing going on.

Going to do a longer ride Saturday and hopefully I will get a better idea of if this saddle will work.

[blue_angel]

Perhaps your stem is too long? Or the saddle needs to come forward on the rails? I find that when my torso is too stretched out, I shift onto my soft tissue as opposed to centering on my sit bones. For me that makes a much bigger difference than which actual saddle I'm riding!

[Mako]

My Arione Donna arrived in the post today

It looks better than I was expecting, nicer than my Vitesse which wasn't much of a looker.

Hopefully I'll be able to test it out over the weekend and report back!