In early February I received a Fi’zi:k Antares VS saddle to review from the Australian importers. Somewhat foolhardily, I fitted it to me bike about a week before racing a major Marathon MTB race – the Kona Odyssey. Soon after, I shared my first views on the saddle. Since that time, I spent countless hours on the saddle in racing and training. I used it on two different bikes. On a hard tail, and on a dual suspension bike.
The Antares VS is flat, not overly long or wide, measuring 274 x 142mm – and it has a relief channel. Fi’zi:k has a rather interesting animal based fit system. They call it the Spine Concept, and it’s based upon how flexible you are, around your hips. You could be a ‘Snake’ and be very flexible and adaptable. The ‘Chameleon’ saddles work for those flex instinctively to get comfortable on a saddle. A ‘Bull’ sits in the one position, finding comfort in the pocket of the saddle… the Antares VS is a Chameleon saddle. It’s good to know I’m adaptable I guess. It would be worth visiting the site to review the options, for the animal within you.
When I first got on the Antares VS, I was really happy with it. in time though, there was one element of the shape that got to me. The back end of the saddle does flare out from a longer nose quite dramatically. When I’m tired, I shift forward due to a lack of strength in postural muscles. With a saddle that flares so much, it’s easy to do this too. I realised that when I tried to sit back and pedal hard, the seat would push into working hamstrings a little. Without the Wing-Flex feature that other Fi’zi:k saddles use, this was more evident.
This wasn’t a huge problem, as in general I found the saddle comfortable. It worked for a lot of sitting and pedalling, and I rarely got caught up on it, or found it to get in the way. The channel provided adequate relief, without feeling like I was sitting on two rails.
Then at one race, the Flight Centre Epic, it became too much. Whether it was the conditions (dry), the race (fast) or my form (struggling) I came out pretty uncomfortable – right where contact is on the edges of the seat. I didn’t really want to get back on it. With the Crocodile Trophy soon after, I had to think about what I could sit on and pedal comfortably, in dry conditions, going fast, while under the pump.
For the Crocodile Trophy, the Subaru-MarathonMTB.com Team rode Fi’zi:k Antares and Arione models.
So I looked at my road bike and saw a well used Fi’zi:k Arione CX. The Antares VS was very close to working for me, but it did hinder positioning a little, and ended up being uncomfortable. So I switched back to the same saddle which is on my road bike. And here I am a few weeks after that race with no saddle sores, no recurring numbness, and happy with my choice. it turns out I’m a Snake! In time, I may try the Tundra model – but right now I am comfortable with the Arione, and set to keep pedalling.