The fizik Vento Argo R3 Adaptive is the short-nose saddle in fizik's race line, with 3D-printed padding at the mid tier specification. It suits riders who want a fixed, supported position rather than the freedom to move around.

The Argo platform is 265mm long against roughly 300mm for the Arione, with a blunt nose, wide wings and a large cutout. That short shape locks the pelvis in one place and spreads weight over a defined area, which is what riders in aggressive positions usually want. Vento is the sleeker and firmer of the 2 Argo variants, where Tempo is the padded one. Adaptive replaces the foam with a zoned 3D-printed lattice that does not compress over time.

Key features

• Short-nose Argo platform, 265mm long
• Vento variant for aggressive race positions
• Adaptive 3D-printed zoned lattice padding
• R3 specification with Kium hollow rails and a carbon-reinforced nylon shell
• 140mm width
• Large central cutout

Short saddles either work for you straight away or they do not. The cutout is large, so riders with narrow sit bones should check the 140mm sits under the bone rather than at the edge of the opening.