What saddle for road bike

[scottcorvette]

I pick up my new bike later on today but have a saddle problem. I currently use a selle italia flite gel flow which I like. The LBS told me late yesterday that this is not compatible with my new seat post. I don't want to change the seatpost.
The other saddle I have is a specialized alias 143 which I don't feel comfortable on. He will lend me a Fizik Aliante for the weekend to try, I prefer the look of the Arione wingflex, anyone have one of these?
I know saddles are a personal thing but I'm looking for something similar to the flite in shape, must have round seat rails.
Any views?

[Marcellus]

I've got an Arione Wingflex on all of my road bikes and swear by them..but as you say each to their own.

See if you LBS will be able to lend you a range of saddles until you find one you really get on with.

[Nick_F]

I use a Fizik Arione Tri, which is a long version of the wingflex design, and it's great. It's also £80...

Not quite sure I undersatnd how you can have a saddle that's not compatible with a given seatpost though? I thought all saddles used the same rail size and position?

[scottcorvette]

So did I, turns out that the latest flite models have seat rails which are flat on two sides, the new seatpost clamps from the side rather than the top so the saddle doesnt fit.
trying a range of different saddles would be a nice option but I don't know how realistic that would be, he doesnt have a full demo range. He's actually lending me his own saddle which I think is good of him.

[Nick_F]

Fairy nuff.

The only advice I'd give re the Arione saddles is to avoid any with vinyl-covered silver 'wings'. My first one had these - it was black in the middle - and after a bit the vinyl wore through and started to peel off.

The replacement has coloured leather on the 'wings' and is much better - but I don't know if they're all like that now or if some designs still have vinyl.

HTH

[Saddle bum]

Your saddle is more important than the seat post. If it is comfortable and does its job why change it for the wrong reasons?

[mk1fan]

As above - swap the seatpost.