Does anyone know the difference between the standard Aliante and the new Aliante Gamma from Fizik? I test rode an Aliante last season, and couldn't find it on their site, only the new Gamma (or the Carbon, which looks expensive!)

Does anyone know the difference between the standard Aliante and the new Aliante Gamma from Fizik? I test rode an Aliante last season, and couldn't find it on their site, only the new Gamma (or the Carbon, which looks expensive!)

Aliante Gamma *probably* replaced Aliante Sport (which I have myself) and is now the bottom of the range in Aliante saddles. It may be a little more heavy than Carbon but apart from that it is much the same Aliante. If you look as www.Fizik.com web site you will see Gamma has slightly different dimensions to Aliante Carbon, very minor. If you like Aliante shape then any one of them will fit you well. There is no real difference in ride quality (except in your mind, perhaps). I am happy with my Aliante Sport Ti btw. A bit tricky to set-up, in my case 2-degrees nose-up works well (literally, 2 degrees, I use angle measuring device).

I would choose Aliante Gamma/Sport with Ti rails over Aliante carbon because price/performance is better. Carbon saddle is for those who must have the best regardless of how little they actually gain from it. Just look at the saddle Robbie McEwen, Tom Boonen and Lance Armstrong used - relatively old-tech. Did not stop them from winning.

Fizik saddles are good, IMO, I have Gobi Ti, Arione Ti and Aliante Ti Sport. I my butt-case Aliante is the most comfortable but it is short and only has one sweet spot. Then comes Arione Ti and then Gobi Ti but for me they are all good, overall. Arione offers more positions and longer in the rear end which I like so I ride that at the moment.

The Aliante Sport lacked the perforated cover and used magnesium rails instead of titanium. From my limited understanding, the sport version of the saddle was a stock part on many bikes, but not one that many people bought as a permanent saddle. I had a sport for a while, but swapped it for an Arione.

The Gamma has a slightly stiffer shell material that is some sort of a graphite/glass type weave. The regular Aliante (in both Ti and carbon rail models) has a carbon shell that ...is noticeably softer than the gamma..i.e. more "give" in the shell material.
Some hard core racers find the carbon shell Aliante too soft for their liking....I prefer the softer shell esp. for long rides; but the Gamma was cheaper...the Gamma is heavier @ 270g. with Ti rails and the std. is under 250g. I believe.
There was some mention of the carbon shell breaking down after time; but my Gamma has stayed the same for 20K miles.
I think I paid $80...which seemed worth it compared to $140 or so for a deal on the carbon shell model.

Okay, thanks! I picked up three of these for $120, so I will mount at least one and see if I like it. I was incorrect earlier: I had ridden the Gobi on a Cannondale Rush carbon, not the Aliante, but they share a very similiar shape. I have had an Arione and didn't particularly care for it, and my current SLR is pretty good, not perfect.

Okay, thanks! I picked up three of these for $120, so I will mount at least one and see if I like it. I was incorrect earlier: I had ridden the Gobi on a Cannondale Rush carbon, not the Aliante, but they share a very similiar shape. I have had an Arione and didn't particularly care for it, and my current SLR is pretty good, not perfect.

Where were you able to find three Gammas for $120? That sounds killer!