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Fi'zi:k Nisene: Nisene comfy
By Tony Hawke
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The Nisene is part of Italian saddle maker Fi'zi:k's 'Comfort Performance' range, aimed at those of us who clock up less than 3,000km a year, which is probably where the majority of recreational cyclists fall. These saddles have been designed specifically for people who don't have the muscle elasticity that one develops from serious training, and the Nisene is the range's mountain bike-specific model.
The Nisene is based around a set of titanium rails (a version with manganese steel rails is also available), mated to a carbon-einforced shell through a three point elastomer system whose purpose in life is to help absorb trail shock. The whole thing is topped with a Microtex cover. What's interesting is what's in between these layers. Around the rear, there is urethane foam and through the middle of the nose is Fi'zi:k's Royalgel (urethane gel produced by Bayer specifically for padding) which is there, according to Fi'zi:k, to reduce numbness and saddle soreness.
Features which make the Nisene more appropriate for those not quite so fanatical about riding includes a more pliant shell (acheived by lowering the carbon reinforcement in the shell to four percent) that is claimed to conform more closely to the shape of the rider's butt. Padding throughout the saddle is a very plush 24mm of either urethane foam or foam topped with urethane gel. Finally, the rails have around 74mm of adjustability as opposed to the usual 50mm or so.
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Also included are plastic scuff guards on the corners and a plastic guard on the bottom of the nose to allow the saddle to sit comfortably on your shoulder on the inevitable hike-a-bikes. Of course, Fi'zi:k offers these in 12 different colours so that you can customise your saddle to match your bike or just replace the scuff guards when you've worn them out from stacking too much.
On our review saddle, the gel insert rose slightly above the level of the rest of the very flat cover. Whether this effect was intended or just an side effect of the manufacturing process, I don't know, but the photos on the Fi'zi:k website don't seem to have the same rise.
So, how was it? I had the Nisene on my bike for around six weeks and although I never found it particularly uncomfortable, in that time I never managed to find a position for it that felt 'just right'. No matter what I wore, be it knicks, baggies or both, I never found a combination that I could happily stay in for a couple of hours. I was always moving around trying to get rid of a bit of pressure here or there. The main culprit was most likely the gel insert, it really felt like there was just a little too much of it, leading to the rise as noted above.
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Durability wasn't an issue, the scuff guards on the corners doing their job quite well - as opposed to the guards on some saddles that don't do much at all. The cover managed to stay clean and damage free for the entirety of the test which did include a couple of fairly nice stacks which had the bike tumbling down sections of sandstone.
The fact that I never felt comfortable on this saddle really isn't a reason not to buy it, as I'm not really the intended audience. Saddles are an extremely personal thing; I can't say that what didn't work for me won't work for you. If you happen to like the look of it, go down to your local bike shop and take one for a ride. If it feels right, buy it and you'll be the owner of a nicely constructed saddle made from quality materials
Weight: 285g (claimed)
Recommended retail price: US$109.00 (as tested)
Pro: Unique looks, large range of colours of both the cover and the scuff
guards, lots of padding, first class construction
Con: Unique looks, never quite felt perfectly comfortable
More information: Fi'zi:k's
website
Cyclingnews Rating: 
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