Writing a review on a saddle in terms of ranking or recommendations is fraught with risk. When you consider that it is being done from a stand point of use for long distance mountain bike events, then is is even riskier. So my ‘review’ of the Fi’zi:k Antares VS saddle needs to be taken as my personal experience, and it will be related to previous experience as much as possible.
From 2005 until late 2010 I had used some kind of Selle Italia SLR as my mountain bike saddle of choice. There were different models in there, with the Trans Am, XP, and the regular SLR. These saddles did the job. They were a solid perch to pedal from, were light, narrow enough to be out of the way when required… but not always super comfortable at the end of a long ride, a long race, or even a long season.
In 2011, the MarathonMTB.com Team was sponsored by Selle SMP saddles, ‘those really curvy ones with a cutout’. We all chose different models, an I ended up on the unpadded Forma. Running this on a Scott Spark, once I found the right position I was happy and comfortable. But now running a hardtail again, with a Scott Scale 29 Premium, the unpadded seat wasn’t going to work.
Having tried the SMP on my road bike too, I’ve realised that for a bike with a non-suspended rear (such as a hardtail, road bike or ‘cross bike) I prefer a flat profile, which makes subtle position shifts a lot easier. However the relief channel on the SMP was a big bonus.
Mounted and ready to race at the Kona Odyssey this past February
So when I saw the new Fi’zi:k VS range, I knew I wanted to try one of the Antares VS models. It was flat, not overly long or too wide, measuring 274 x 142mm – and it had a relief channel. Fitting the saddle was very straight forward. I run my seats parallel, and there is plenty of clearance between the shell and rails to set it up on just about any seat post. The rails are made from the K:ium material that Fi’zi:k uses on many of their high end saddles. No carbon option yet for the VS range, but that wasn’t a concern.
After quite a number of hours on the saddle, both on and off road, and both in racing and training – I haven’t even thought about it. I think that is a very strong point for a saddle. There has been no need to stop, pull out the multi-tool and adjust the angle a little, or the fore-aft positioning. The depth of the padding isn’t so much that I sink in and get uncomfortable, yet it isn’t rock hard. I do believe I may have found my next saddle. But I think that will be confirmed over the coming six weeks, with the ABSA Cape Epic and the second round of the UCI Marathon Series coming up, both being raced with my Subaru-MarathonMTB.com Team mate Will Hayter. So check back then for more insights into the saddle.