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

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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.

[LivetoRide]

Whoops. Sorry for not replying sooner! I had seen that you had posted a reply but when I came to this thread then it never showed up for me, so I was unable to see what you had posted.

I do like the channel, personally. This saddle has been working for me thus far (I got it over the winter; and I, like many, unfortunately don't ride as much during the winter). The Vesta has a bit of cushioning but it's still definitely a road saddle. Hope you're having better luck in finding something that works.

It does look like it would be too wide and domed for me...but how do you like the channel?

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(I got it over the winter; and I, like many, unfortunately don't ride as much during the winter).

Ha, I can sympathize. I got my bike in early Dec...which means I'd put something like 600 miles on it on the trainer before I had the chance to ride outdoors even once. Wow, did that ride ever feel crazy!

[hulagirl]

I tried it. It's not for me. I need a real opening and that channel just didn't cut it for me. Too hard.

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Did you find the overall cushioning to be too hard, or just around the nose? I'll be interested to see how it feels for me. If worse comes to worst we'll keep messing with my current saddle. Tonite DH moved it just a hair more forward on the post and that helped. He also moved it down a hair. He's not sure how it happened, but my saddle was about 3/8" higher than the measurement he had for me in the past with my prior bike. He's now thinking that maybe he never actually adjusted my seat height when it was new and that's what our shop had on my chart from my fitting for my previous bike. With that bike we had lowered the seat a tad from the original fitting height.

So it may be that my current seat is fine. If that's the case i'll find a home for the Donna here or on eBay. Or even just keep it around. It's never bad to have a spare saddle on-hand.

[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.

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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.

The Vesta looks all sort of uncomfortable to me...I'm also a flat saddle kind of gal.

If I end up loving it I will start begging Fizik to make it in that metallic blue. My Sidi shoes are that color, as is my Fizik bar tape. That would be sweet!

[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.

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I'm still intrigued by this saddle, but haven't yet gotten my butt on one. I have a Vesta test saddle on my new cyclocross bike. Have only done one short ride with that, but initial impression is that it's too squishy, too wide, and too pear-shaped. Is there anyone who has tried both who can compare the two? I did like the relief channel on the Vesta, which makes me really want to try the Arione Donna. I'm also looking at the Bontrager Affinity RL or RLX.

[nscrbug]

I'm still intrigued by this saddle, but haven't yet gotten my butt on one. I have a Vesta test saddle on my new cyclocross bike. Have only done one short ride with that, but initial impression is that it's too squishy, too wide, and too pear-shaped. Is there anyone who has tried both who can compare the two? I did like the relief channel on the Vesta, which makes me really want to try the Arione Donna. I'm also looking at the Bontrager Affinity RL or RLX.

I just put on (as in today) an Affinity RXL 154mm WSD on my Synapse. Haven't test rode it yet, but will do that tomorrow morning. My 155 Ruby has been causing some minor issues lately, so I've been wanting to try a saddle without a cut-out to see if that does the trick for me. I'll let you know what I think after my ride.

Linda

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Excellent! The only thing I keep reading about the Affinity that gives me pause is that it's for more upright riding styles--which isn't at all how I ride. Not sure how this makes a difference with that saddle.

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So I decided to break down and order the Arione Donna. I had thought about going with the Bontrager Affinity, first, but it seems like only about 50% of people who try Bontragers like them. The Fizik Arione is really popular. I test rode a Vespa for a bit, but it was really too domed and smooshy. I did like the relief channel, which the Arione Donna also has.

I'll review it once I have it and have put a few good rides on it.