Fizik Volta R1

The Volta R1 is Fizik's take on what it calls 'the classic saddle shape', and is designed to let you move around and sit in any position. With all the anatomical saddles out there with dips, curves and cut-outs, is the Volta more than just a retro gimmick? Well, as someone who suffers with lower back pain – something the Volta is meant to combat – it didn't really have much effect, but I don't tend to move around in the saddle much. If you do, it might suit you well...

Fizik saddles have always tended to be at the forefront of design and innovation, like the Arione when it came out over a decade ago, with its increased overall length compared with more standard saddles to allow riders more movement. The Volta R1 continues in that vein, having a completely flat upper to allow plenty of rider movement.

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The idea is that you can sit wherever you like on the saddle without the hindrance of the usual raised tail section or dropped nose, and by moving about, you'll avoid lower back pain from sitting in one constant position. A lot of riders also like to slide back when climbing, so it can also work here.

Fizik breaks its components down into ranges depending on your flexibility, and if you can touch your toes then basically you're what it labels a 'snake' – and the Volta R1 is for you.

On my Kinesis Aithein I have a saddle to bar drop of 125mm on the tops, or 250mm if I'm in the drops – and it's when you are in a position like this that the Volta makes sense. The deep sides of the new U-shaped design mean there is plenty of saddle hull to push against when you really want to get the power down.

Fizik says this new shape – an upside down U when you look from the front or rear – means the saddle doesn't move or flex at all when you are riding, keeping you in a static position. I found there is some flex in the carbon thermoplastic composite hull, which aids comfort, although it's very little.

The lack of a dropped nose doesn't seem to make a difference when you're tucked into the drops, which wasn't what I was expecting. I was waiting for the front end to be unforgiving and uncomfortable when the effort increased.

The overall shape of the Volta wasn't quite right for me, though. As I said earlier, I suffer with lower back pain, especially when climbing for long periods of time, but I found it hard to take advantage of the variety of riding positions possible on the Volta; I find I kind of have my position on the bike and stick with it.

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One consequence of not moving about on the Volta was that I tended to get hot spots around the perineum area, which wasn't that pleasant. I liked the Volta for rides up to about two hours, but then I started to get uncomfortable.

If it suits you, though – or you can train yourself to move around more – it's a well-made saddle and a good weight. Considering its carbon fibre construction, 191g is pretty much what you'd expect for a saddle of this size, making it a lightweight addition to your bike.

The carbon fibre rails are box section for added strength, with a height of 9mm but width kept to 7mm, so it'll fit into the standard cradle of a seatpost (most saddles use 7mm diameter round tube rails).

The rails themselves are a one-piece construction which is then Torx bolted to the main hull. In theory this means they should be replaceable if damaged.

When it comes to value, the cost is high but on par with carbon fibre competitors, and if the shape works for you then it could be justifiable for your lightweight racing steed.

The glued finish of the upper could be a little neater, but that is really my only criticism.

Overall, the Fizik has a great shape width-wise for racers using that crouched aero position, but it just comes down to whether or not the flat top section is for you. If it all works then it's a top notch pro-level saddle with a price tag to match.

Verdict

A well-made, lightweight saddle for those who like to move around a lot