FIZIK ALIANTE R1 VERSUS EVO £159.99

› Channelled saddle for endurance riders

FIZIK’S RANGE USED TO BE one of the simplest; you could choose from three saddles based on three levels of flexibility, and that was it. Over the last few years, the company has introduced two widths for every model, and now the Versus, featuring a pressure relieving channel, has two versions.

Firstly, there is the full hole ‘Open’ model, which features a stiffer hull for those concerned with power and speed, racers to you and me, who are also looking for a bit of pressure relief. Secondly, the Evo, as tested here, is a plushly padded saddle with a more flexible hull, designed to be the best companion for endurance riders.

Our test model is the wider 148mm large version that weighs 188.7g, which is very light for such a richly upholstered saddle. We’re fans of the Aliante in all of its guises, and the Evo is no exception.

On the bike you can feel that bit of extra give and extra width. The Aliante hasn’t suddenly transformed into a big and bouncy seat, but it’s significantly more compliant than a standard saddle. So, if you’re in the market for a swoopy-shaped saddle, and want some additional comfort provided by the channel, this could be an ideal choice. Where it outshines most others is when you’re up on the nose, where the extra padding and give mean you can spend more time there putting down the power. So, now that there are three options – the standard Aliante, the stiffened and open holed or the flexible, channelled Evo – which would we choose? To be honest, the original Aliante is still our favourite, combining the classic comfortable shape with low weight. As we’ve never had any real issues with pressure it’s still our go-to saddle.