I love this saddle. It almost melts away underneath me, and I feel great after, for example, 2 hours on a trainer. I understand that perceptions about saddles can easily vary by person. This is my take/story. I also have the R3. The R5 feels the same to me. I believe the only difference between the two is the rail material and about 6 grams in weight. I've only used this saddle on a trainer, so I can't say whether it is great on the road. But, I believe it is fair to say that it's more challenging to be comfy on the trainer, so, I expect it will feel at least as good on the road as it does on the trainer. I'll share some details that work for me: A) I love the center channel that carries all the way through the nose; fully comfortable everywhere on the saddle. B) the saddle is on the harder-side with maybe a touch of give. A benefit of this is that the padding holds its position and doesn't sag inward, which can partly dampen the benefit of the center channel. I'm not sure why a harder feel works better for me. C) It is close to perfectly flat; there is a very, very slight kickup in the back. It still feels flat when I sit back in the saddle. I am a road-racer and don't engage time-trials. However, I can see how this would be great for TTs. I played with sitting near the nose for over an hour, and it worked well. The width -- about 50mm I believe -- up front has to be the key in it feeling good. D) I love the short nose. It offers a type of "freedom" in feel I don't experience with longer-nose saddles. I don't see myself ever again riding anything other than a short nose saddle. E) The rail length is pretty good, offering lots of flexibility in fore/aft. F) Saddle material cleans off easily after a lengthy, sweaty ride. I don't have much insight into the "link" to which one can attach a bottle(s)-holder behind the saddle. It is removable if that helps to know. It seems sufficiently strong and sturdy. I have seen some online comments somewhere about the fit and finish being less than flawless. Only upon close inspection can I see to what people might be referring -- where the saddle slots into the base near the front. In my opinion, this will have absolutely zero impact on its performance and feel, and I'd bet no impact on its durability. I played around with dialing it in -- it wasn't a huge effort. It can feel good "out of the box" with initial setup. But, I have been able to improve the feel by playing with the tilt/angle for which personal preference can matter. All in all, awesome saddle at a great price-point (at least for the R5) that offers great value. That's my take and I'm sticking with it :-)
Versatile, so durable, so comfortable and light enough. I put 40k miles on my mine. Eventually the cover wore and the white coloring turned beige. Put it on the shelf and replaced it with an Arione R3. Much like another poster here, the fiberglass shell cracked after 2 years. Put the classic back on while waiting for a fresh one. I'm staying with the classic. Maybe not the sexiest, lightest, but close enough. And, it will last. What a concept.
The Fizik Terra Powerstrap X4 Gravel Shoe is a solid choice for gravel riders looking for comfort, style, and functionality on mixed terrain. The standout feature of this shoe is its Powerstrap design, which uses a unique hook-and-loop system to secure the foot snugly without pressure points. This makes it easy to adjust on the fly and keeps your foot in place even on rough trails.
The X4 outsole offers the right balance between stiffness and flex, making it comfortable for both riding and the occasional hike-a-bike. While it's not as rigid as a dedicated road shoe, it performs well on gravel, offering good power transfer and decent grip when walking. The shoe also has a stylish, streamlined look and durable materials that handle mud and dirt well.
One downside is that the shoe may not be ideal for riders with wide feet, as the fit is fairly narrow. Overall, the Fizik Terra Powerstrap X4 is a well-designed, comfortable gravel shoe that's both functional and great-looking, ideal for cyclists who prioritize versatility and style in their gravel gear.
I'm very happy with this saddle. One of my first rides after installing it was a century ride. No more pain up front! I still have a little soreness at the sit bones but only on those long rides. The difference between many previous saddles and this one is huge. One feature that helps in my general comfort level is the grippy surface. No more gripping to stay in place - something I didn't realize I'd been doing. It's a great saddle and makes a big difference overall.
