New saddle day. While the Fizik Antares R1 is an excellent and light weight saddle, it's been bothering me that it doesn't have a perineal relief channel in the middle. I sit on my butt all day for work and my prostate tells me that it really doesn't like it when I sit too much on an office chair, so I figure it probably doesn't like it when I sit for hours on my bike seat either. (Too much information I'm sure, but I'm sure I'm not the only one on these forums with a prostate!)
While there is an Fizik Antares "open" that has a relief channel, it's heavier than the non-open model and I'm not sold on the idea of having a hole in my saddle. After watching a review from
a bike fitter that I like, I opted to go with the
SQ Lab 612 Ergowave Carbon. I opted not to get the
"active" version of the saddle (I.e., the version that has rubber shock absorbers on the rear rail mount) as reviews from some endurance riders didn't experience any benefit from the added active design.
Having just received the saddle, first thing I noticed is that it's crazy-light for a padded saddle at just 148 grams for the 140mm width. It also features a perineal relief area without a hole and the transition to the relief area isn't as extreme as it is on some saddles. I've found that my undercarriage doesn't like "split" saddles as I can feel the split and it's very uncomfortable.
First Ride Update: I did an indoor metric century (66 miles) on Zwift using the SQ Labs 612 and so-far-so-good. It definitely feels different than the Antares due to the slight incline in the saddle behind one's sit bones, but I had no problems transitioning to the new saddle and the relief channel in the middle was noticeable in that I obviously felt no pressure there and no discomfort.
SQLab 612 Ergowave Carbon - 148g