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

**beancounterbeth** · 07-19-2011, 05:07 AM

My LBS just put the Donna on my bike yesterday for me to test. I'll ride it for the first time at the Wednesday night ride and post back what I think. I'm really hoping this saddle works for me. Tired of the saddle merry-go-round.

**zoom-zoom** · 07-19-2011, 06:31 AM

Originally Posted by beancounterbeth

My LBS just put the Donna on my bike yesterday for me to test. I'll ride it for the first time at the Wednesday night ride and post back what I think. I'm really hoping this saddle works for me. Tired of the saddle merry-go-round.

Yup. I really loved my Jett on my previous bike, but I was a good deal more upright on that bike. The cut-out that used to be a good thing is now an annoyance. I think the edges are just too abrupt, so the wide, gradual-edged channel looks like it could be a winner.

**Mako** · 07-19-2011, 06:41 AM

I just ordered an Arione Donna to replace my Vitesse. The Vitesse has been ok for the last couple of months but gets a bit uncomfortable after anything over 30 miles

Fingers crossed for the saddle - really not keen on the flowers, hope it looks better in person

**zoom-zoom** · 07-19-2011, 06:59 AM

Cool, looks like there will be at least 3 of us in this "test group."

**blue_angel** · 07-19-2011, 04:23 PM

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** · 07-19-2011, 07:10 PM

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** · 07-19-2011, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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** · 07-19-2011, 08:41 PM

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

**nscrbug** · 07-20-2011, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by zoom-zoom

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** · 07-20-2011, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by nscrbug

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** · 07-21-2011, 04:51 AM

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** · 07-21-2011, 05:18 AM

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** · 07-21-2011, 11:58 AM

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!

**beancounterbeth** · 07-24-2011, 02:09 PM

I rode 42 miles on it today and had a lot of numbing and pain. It was quite uncomfortable. Not sure if the saddle just needs to be adjusted but I'm starting to think I'll just go back to my old Specialized saddle. It didn't cause me as much discomfort as the last three test saddles I've tried but I do suffer from a lot of saddle sores, which is why I started the new saddle journey. Not sure what to do at this point.

**Mako** · 07-29-2011, 12:48 AM

Only just managed to test out my saddle.

Popped out on a short 20 mile ride last night. I had to stop half way up the street and raise my seat slightly, I assume this was just because the Arionne Donna is a little flatter than the vitesse.

First impressions is that it is far more comfortable around the nose as it it less bulky and has a small channel down the middle. It is also noticably lighter than my vitesse

It was really quite comfortable, if a little firm, but it's probably too soon to sing its praises. I'll try for a longer ride on Saturday and see how it goes.

Despite being worried about the flowers, I have to say it looks really smart on my bike. I know aesthetics aren't the most important things when it comes down to a saddle but this seat actually looks like it belongs on my bike rather than an ugly blemish

I think my vitesse was an old model which I only brought as it was the only one my LBS had, and I was desperate to try it out my new bike when I picked it up. I didn't want to brave the mens Fizik Pave that came with it

Fingers crossed for future rides. How is everyone else getting on?

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