The fizik Arione is the saddle that made fizik's name, launched in 2002 and still in the range because nothing else quite does its job. At around 300mm it is long, flat and narrow, designed to offer a range of sitting positions rather than a single one.

It was developed for Gilberto Simoni, who wanted somewhere to move to on steep climbs, and that is still the argument for it. Flexible riders who rotate the pelvis and shift fore and aft through a ride get more from a long flat platform than from a short one that pins them in place. Versus adds a pressure relief channel down the centre. Riders who find the Arione too narrow usually end up on the Antares.

Key features

• Long flat profile, roughly 300mm
• Versus pressure relief channel
• Suits flexible riders who move around on the saddle
• Narrow platform

A saddle with genuine devotees, and the opposite philosophy to the short-nose trend. If you have never got on with modern stubby saddles, this is the one to try.