grafsk8er

i've done multiple 30-40+ mile rides on the seat and i still can't find a comfortable position. i've heard they take a while to get used to, but how long? my butt is hurtin me like it did when i first started riding.

photonick

I had this problem, you'll find it sooner or later, I've had mine since February and I just now found my comfy spot. I notice mine broke in alot and got alot more flexy and comfortable, give the thing a chance.

grafsk8er

did you end up constantly moving it forward and back, up and down till you found it? or did u just stick it one spot and suck it up for a while?

rousseau

I've found with the Arione (maybe it's true of all saddles, I don't know) that you have to get your height right first, and then carefully tweak your fore-aft position every couple of days until the hurtin' stops. Of course, if you have to move it very far forward or backward then it follows that you might have to adjust the height a bit, too.

Another thing: I'm still a novice in these matters, but I'm beginning to get the feeling that for 99.9% of the cyclists out there the saddle should be perfectly horizontal, and it's only a tiny minority with serious problems in the nether region who really need to tilt the front down. In other words, if you really can't get it comfy without tilting the front down then maybe the saddle isn't for you.

Does this sound apt?

photonick

Well it was weird, originally i had cheap shorts and a cheap Bonty seat, they felt OK together. I upgraded to Capoforma bib shorts and they actually really almost felt worse, like they didn't mesh with the seat. Finally I upgraded to to the Arione and it felt great with the Capo shorts, but I just constantly was moving around on it changing spots.
No one spot seemed to feel comfortable for very long, I think a lot of it was mental though. The Arione has no definitive spot your supposed to sit at like a lot of other seats, so I think a lot of people let it get to them and can't figure out where to sit because it's not shown to them if that makes any sense.
In the end I've found most of the time I see as far back as I can before the wings of the seat start to push my legs apart, when I'm climbing I sit farther back on it.

melkman

i sit pretty far back in mine. it seems like there is more flex near the back. once you get used to it they are super comfy.

grafsk8er

yea, i did notice that too about the sitting back thing. so i did move the seat forward today after my ride. i'll see how it goes tomorrow with it, see if it made any difference.

Stickney

Measure the width of your sit bones. I have no doubts the Arionne is a great saddle, but it is a narrow saddle, and if you have wide sit bones (not necessarily a big bottom or overweight), it will be hard to find that saddle comfortable.

I tried the Arionne and just couldn't find a comfortable position. I eventually measured my sit bones and realized that I needed a wider saddle. I now have a Selle Italia Max Flite and from the moment I sat on it I could tell it was comfy. Not that a Max Flite will work for you -- but try measuring your sit bones, you may find that the result will point you in a different direction.

umd

I'm comfortable on mine in any position; I'll slide around on depending on what I am doing at the moment.

StanSeven

It took maybe six weeks of daily riding for it to get comfortable. Prior to getting it, which came as part of a new bike), I always used Sella Italia. I could replace a siddle or swtich bikes with no problem. So give it more time.

Another thing I found is I creep up to the nose of the saddle with miles. That's because it's longer than what I'm used to so I find myself going forward. As soon as I notice that, I move back and it instantly feels comfortable.

grafsk8er

alright, i'll just keep loggin in those miles, and eventually it'll feel comfortable (hopefully).

Hammertoe

+1 to it being a narrow saddle....

At 132 mm wide it is one of the narrower saddles out there...

It certainly will NOT fit everyone...



I have 3 and love 'em....

But I have a narrow @ss...

CAAD5AL

I didn't really find that it "broke in" as much as they say, but definitely more than any other saddle I've had it seems to respond to small changes in the fore/aft and tilt with a completely different feel. Even now with a couple thousand miles on it I have to admit there are some days I love it and some days I don't, depending on the type of riding I'm doing. For hills, I've never been on anything so good!

johnny99

Narrow saddles like the Arione are designed for people who have a low, flat back riding position. If you have high handlebar and like to ride upright with locked elbows, then something shorter and wider (like Brooks) will probably be more comfortable for you.

bruin11

I love mine and I don't necessarily ride with a low flat back. It was love at first ride with my arione.

bucketheadmn

I gave my Arione 1000 miles and no matter what I did it was not comfortable - numbness, always having to move, etc.. Picked up an Aliante and it is a perfect fit. Just because others have great luck with the saddle and it works for them does not mean it is going to work for you no matter how long you try to give it.

surgeonstone

Ditch the plastic, get a brooks, you will never regret it

roadiejorge 

I got one last week and the few rides I've been on since then (I've been sick most of the week) I haven't had any issues with it, I move around in the saddle and all the positions I've been in haven't caused me any discomfort. I got it after trying a Toupe which did not work for me and was painful actually, which goes to show that there's no universal fitting saddle.

mkauffman

If you go into the for sale forum, there is a "Saddle Swap" thread. Its made for people in the same boat as you. I'm in the process of trading there as we speak.

jwill911

I used to have trouble with saddle comfort until I got my Arione, now I don't even thing about it. I like the length which allows me to slide back or forward depending on if I am climbing or riding in the drops. Liked it so much I got one for my other bike. Just fits me, no break-in required.

jw

grafsk8er

i finally found a comfortable position, but i had to really move the seat far forward, and now it hits my thighs when i sprint. maybe a shorter stem is in order?

Hendley

I think this is more relevant than sit bone width... I have wide sit bones but immediately felt comfortable on the Arione. I'm completely sold on the extra-long length, which lets you scoot back and forth depending on how your riding at any particular time.