Submitted by
Albert Osorio
a Cross Country Rider
from Switzerland
Date Reviewed: June 18, 2004
Strengths: Well, most people love it from Europe to the US. Easy to move around on with narrow design. Probably is best meant for short to medium races?
Weaknesses: I am 190 Ibs. and 6 ft. 3 in. For long rides or climbs longer than 20 mins, my underside started to get numb. I even think my performance was effected due to lack of circulation.
Bottom Line:
I can't notice that this saddle is well liked so I will be nice. But for med to long rides I think there are a lot if stuff that beats the Selle Italia Flite. Ok, I am a big guy. Two thumbs up for Terry Fly Gel saddle. It's a keeper and worth extra 30 to 50 grams. FOr the serious racer a great second saddle for long trail rides or bike vacations? Or maybe you got a tough behind and wouldn't go anywhere without you Flite like a lot of folks.
Similar Products Used: Specialized Comp Bocy Geometry (OK stuff). Terry Fly Gel (Great stuff!).
Bike Setup: XT/XTR Vbrakes/German Frame "Red Bull"/ Ritchey stem and bars/Conti Explorer tires
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Submitted by
John
a Racer
from Melbourne, Australia
Date Reviewed: May 21, 2004
Strengths: light, looks, comfort
Weaknesses: durability, comfort, price
Bottom Line:
This review is for the Selle Italia Flite TT (165g version)
This saddle is very expensive, i got it cheap, i wouldn't buy it at full price. It's super light for the size and shape and it looks very sleek. It is surprisingly comfortable for what it is (Ti rails, carbon shell covered in suede only), if your out too long you start reallising that it is fairly hard though. My biggest gripe is that i am only 65kg, ride/race xc only and i've already bent one of the rails fairly decently after only approximately 80 hours, not happy. If there isn't some kind of warrenty thing for this one and I have to buy a new one I think I'll get an SLR trans-am or gel flow. Only 20g heavier but a lot more comfort and about the same price.
Similar Products Used: selle italia nitrox, koski fastback
Bike Setup: yeti arc, arc seatpost, crossmax
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Submitted by
Nuno Ferreira
a Cross Country Rider
from Portugal
Date Reviewed: February 12, 2004
Strengths: Very resistant, good looking, high quality saddle and, of course, lightweight!
Weaknesses: Ride for more than 3 hours and you will find out. I garantee it if you have a hardtail, if you ride an fs then MAYBE you feel otherwise. As a result, I now only use it for racing.
ALSO... DO NOT INSTALL IT ON THOMSON SEATPOST! There isn't enough clearance between the rails and the seat body causing it to be damaged.
Similar Products Used: Specialiazed Body Geometry PRO, Specialized Telluride, Selle Italia SLR;
Bike Setup: Visit me and my bikes at: http://mega.ist.utl.pt/~gnfv/ under "INTERESSES"!
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Submitted by
Jim
a Cross Country Rider
from Vermont, USA
Date Reviewed: November 5, 2003
Strengths: Durable, more comfortable than the SLR, totally rad colors
Weaknesses: The kevlar starts to come off in the back, but what can you say, it is two years old. None other than that
Bottom Line:
Great seat! It lasts forever and is super comfey and light. I love it. It is light and cleans off pretty easily. (there is a lot of mud in VT, as you could imagine.) A little pricy, but it is Italian made. Buy it if you've got the $. Plus, it comes in lime green! How cool is that?
Bike Setup: Gary Fisher Big Sur, Avid ball bearing Disc
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Submitted by
Byron
a Racer
from Wilmington, NC USA
Date Reviewed: August 26, 2002
Strengths: Light, comfortable
Bottom Line:
Noob roadie, started with Giant OCR1 with a Giant saddle that gave me numb balls after 10 miles. Exchanged bike for TCR2 b/c decided to go with true racing bike. Spec'd with Selle Italia Flite, which was an improvement but still got numb after about 20 miles. Replaced with Selle Italia Flite Kevlar Titanium two weeks ago. Up to 30 miles, and no numbness at all. Woot woot!!! Small, very light saddle keeps out of the way when standing, and helps lower center of gravity. Strangely, this is the hardest, least padded saddle I've used, yet it is more comfortable and less numbing. I attribute that to the saddle's shape, which definitely fits me better than the others. Bought a second one for when this one gets worn out. May even buy a third...
Submitted by
1500MPG
a Cross Country Rider
from Michigan
Date Reviewed: July 31, 2002
Strengths: weight, looks, features, price, comfort, side kevlar, colors.
Weaknesses: a little hard if not wearing the right riding short.
Bottom Line:
I hated the hardness of this saddle with my regular riding shorts until I got my Voler shorts. The voler shorts have a little more padding which turned this hard seat into a comfortable ride. I'm happpy with my purchase. My hands go numb way before my arse.
Strengths: Looks good, easy on the butt, doesn't scrub my legs, the casing doesn't rip or scratch, Titanium rails, lightweight, long nose, good colors to choose from...
Weaknesses: Hurts in the crotch after long XC rides.
Bottom Line:
I am known for my talent to wreck every thing. I had a selle italia tri matic, and I scratched it, bent it and ripped it... I bought the flight not long ago, and from the minute I got it I could see it's a chair that will last forever. It is super lightweight, and is very comfortable even for XC, although, it might hurt the crotches of little people. For road bikes, it's the perfect chair! I wont trade it for anything...
Strengths: Weight, comfort, the narrowness of the saddle in the front
Weaknesses: Stitching in the front of the saddle.... might start wearing away and the peforated section on the back of the saddle fills up with mud all the time
Bottom Line:
The Fizik saddle mad my boys sore in a few minutes, it might be the setup... but that was too fast. I rode on this saddle for almost five hours straight and the boys were fine, jus the legs were jello. The narrowness of the front section of the saddle allows me to stand up and toss the bike around with the saddle between my legs. I would recommend this saddle to any with that numbing feeling, u know what i mean, just catch it on sale on one of the internet bike store.
Strengths: light, strong, works well for whats its for
Weaknesses: can get uncomfy, but i dont mind at all
Bottom Line:
give it a shot,its so light, and fits well. it may be uncomfy but i think 90% of all saddles are worse than this. at 1/2 the weight of my dh saddle it certainly doesnt feel like 1/2 the comfort though, i love this seat
Bike Setup: i have one on my xc race bike, stock trials, and road bike
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Submitted by
Jerome
a Weekend Warrior
from Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Date Reviewed: January 29, 2001
Strengths: Well, again, if you ever read my former Flite review, you know that I'm (as some pretend) a "Fashion rider", so good looks are as important for me as anything else. Then, you have a slim shape that's good for pedaling. And then, you have the titanium rails and overall construction quality that made Selle Italia's reputation all over the planet...
Weaknesses: As all Flites, but(t) maybe worse with the new ones : gets firmer and firmer as the rails give in.
Bottom Line:
Not as "plush" as my former Flites (or is it me who's getting bigger ?) but still the most beautiful and one of the most efficient saddles to put on any bike. The kevlar (hey, DuPont, I didn't put that ® mark aside the world Kevlar, nah-nah-nah-nah-nah, hey !) corners are very useful, 'cause it's always (or almost always) there that you are gonna tear your favorite 100 $ saddle...
This saddle is very uncomfortable and noisy. Mine seemed to flex every time I put stress on it, resulting in a dinging noise. I'm no fatty, so it's not me. Maybe this and the Thompson seatpost just aren't a very good combination, but I swapped the Flite out for a different model and things are fine now.
Bike Setup: Independent Fabrication frame, Thompson post
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Submitted by
Rattled
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston Texas
Date Reviewed: July 28, 2000
Strengths: Selle Italia Quality, Great Looks, Lightweight.
Weaknesses: Expensive, Not quite as comfortable as the Original Flite.
Bottom Line:
I bought this saddle to replace the cheapo SDG saddle that came stock on my Moab 1 ... I have been a longtime fanatic of the original Ti Flite and wanted something with a little more flair to replace the SDG.
This saddle is beautiful to look at, but not quite as comfy as the original Flite, mostly because of the seams. I am not sure if I have fully "broken in" my rear-end on this saddle though- it may get better with time. Also, bear in mind that any leather saddle requires a minimum amount of common sense maintanence to keep it in nice condition, espescially when you shell out $80+ for it ...
Bottom line: not as comfortable as the original flite, but more flashy due to the tri-color color scheme and more durable due to the kevlar panels.
Similar Products Used: Selle Italia Ti Flite, SDG Belair, Fizik Pave
Bike Setup: 2 wheels, etc etc.
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Submitted by
jesse landis
a Racer
from deephaven MN
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2000
Strengths: stiff, light, good colors
Weaknesses: none yet
Bottom Line:
This is my best saddle yet but not every saddle is right for you try many out before buying one. this saddle is hard but if it contacts the right places it won't matter.
Bike Setup: xtr,cortina xc frame,raceface,rockshox sid,bebop
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Submitted by
Lasse Räsänen
a Cross Country Rider
from Finland
Date Reviewed: May 12, 2000
Strengths: Light Good looks Fits me perfectly Kevlar to protect the edges
Weaknesses: Price
Bottom Line:
I love it! Remember that if a saddle this hard doesn't fit your rear end then it will be brutally painful. However IMHO nothing beats a hard saddle that fits! If the shape's exactly right then a saddle could almost be made out of wood without it causing problems. When a saddle is the right shape for you then it supports you from the right (hard) places and doesn't put any pressure anywhere else. With a soft saddle you always have some pressure on the wrong bits of your body causing numbness and discomfort.
This is a good quality product and I wouldn't change the shape even though I have to pay for it in the form of some pant/short wear because of the seams in the older version.
TEST a saddle before buying it to see wether it fits your behind!
Similar Products Used: Scott stock saddle& other soft saddles
Bike Setup: XC hardtail
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Submitted by
Adim Farrell
a Racer
from Mill Valley, CA
Date Reviewed: April 28, 2000
Strengths: Wear and tear, comfort...Flite owns the comfort category.
Weaknesses: Price
Bottom Line:
I ride a lot, commuting to work from Mill Valley to downtown SF three times a week and usually put in six hours on weekends. I would say that this is a great product overall but would caution against spending $100 on a saddle, unless you plan on spending serious time on it--you'll love the forgiveness of Ti rails. Having said that, I've gotten a lot of bang out of my buck and would stick with the brand, maybe trying next years model.
