I found the Fizik Tempo Argo R3 to be marvellously comfortable over long distances. The relatively wide width, short nose and huge, diamond-shaped cut-out worked a treat for me, whether I was pedalling in an upright endurance position or adopting a more aggressive stance on the drops. This special edition won’t enhance your performance, but the paint splatters should bring a smile to your face.
Reasons to buy
+
A thoughtfully conceived, contemporary saddle
+
Firm, progressive padding
+
Flexible wings may reduce chafing
+
Special edition paint finish is fun
Reasons to avoid
-
Hardly heavy, but not the lightest in class
-
Slightly more expensive than comparable saddles
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This special edition saddle is part of Fizik’s Les Classiques collection, the brand’s homage to the Spring Classics that also includes a pair of paint effect mud-splattered Tempo Overcurve R4 shoes and rolls of flecked Tempo Bondcush bar tape.
Curiously, Fizik has chosen to celebrate these harsh early races with one of its endurance models rather than a full-on race saddle. However, in the highly unlikely event that I was to ride a savage Monument, such as Paris-Roubaix, I’d want to lavish as much comfort on my derrière as humanly possible. So, it’s not an unwelcome surprise.
Construction
The Tempo Argo R3 has a carbon-reinforced nylon shell and hollow Kium alloy rails. Note the flexible rubber 'wings'
(Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)
Fizik’s Tempo Argo R3 Les Classiques saddle is near-identical to a regular Tempo Argo R3, the only difference being the paint effect, which I rather like. Perhaps I’m being overly sappy, but I believe a dash of theatre enhances this perch by introducing a touch of much-needed fun.
Talking of touch, the Tempo Argo has more padding than its similar-looking stablemate, the Vento Argo. It’s easy to confuse the two, but the Vento is Fizik’s short-nosed, race-inspired saddle that features less padding, narrower width options – 140mm and 150mm vs the Tempo’s 150mm and 160mm – and a slightly narrower, more tapered nose with a subtle drop. Essentially, the Vento has been developed for riders wanting to assume a lower, more stretched-out aero stance on the bike, whereas the Tempo encourages a slightly more upright endurance position. However, both are performance saddles suitable for long, fast rides.
The Tempo Argo is available in three different versions: the premium carbon-railed R1, the Kium hollow-railed R3, which is the focus of this review, and the less expensive but hardly entry-level alloy-railed R5. They weigh a claimed 195g, 229g and 241g respectively, for a 150mm width.
The diamond-shaped relief channel dominates the appearance of this saddle
(Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)
This is a very contemporary-looking saddle that’s blessed with a somewhat brutal aesthetic that’s neither delicate nor pretty. Three features dominate: the relatively short 260mm length, the flexible, rubberised ‘wings’ and the wide diamond-shaped relief channel that Fizik says was developed using detailed pressure analysis and insights from medical experts. The conspicuously blunt nose tip is fairly chunky at approx. 38mm, which should provide more comfort, control and security when ‘on the rivet’.
At first glance, the Tempo Argo looks almost flat, but there is a subtle rise from the mid-section back.
(Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)
To the casual eye, the Tempo Argo is predominately flat, but it actually exhibits a very subtle rise – about 10° – starting from the mid-section to the back. I’d guess this is to accommodate additional padding for the sit bones, and to arrest any backward slip when putting the power down.
Fizik says it’s used its proprietary Type 2 foam here, which is slightly softer and more progressive than the material used on its racing saddles. The thickness varies slightly, with more around the mid-section to support and secure the ischial sit bones.
It may be plusher than the Vento Argo, but the padding is still quite firm.
The foam is secured directly to a carbon-reinforced nylon shell that, in the case of the R3, rests on hollow 7 x 7mm Kium rails. Kium is a propriety alloy from Fizik that it says is lighter than titanium but shares similar dampening properties.
The Ride
This is a relatively wide saddle, perfect for long endurance rides where a more upright stance is the norm
(Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)
I’m a big fan of the Tempo Argo because, put crudely, it has saved my arse in the past. A while ago, I attended a bike launch near Girona, where the host brand led the press on a six-hour ride into the local hills to showcase its new endurance bike. It was an epic day on an unfamiliar bike, made all the more remarkable because nobody complained of any discomfort. I was so impressed with the ride that the name of the saddle has stuck with me ever since – Fizik Tempo Argo R3.
The Tempo Argo’s comparatively wide stance – I’ve been testing the narrower 150mm version – is perfect for the kind of fast endurance rides that find me sitting up a little taller for the sake of long-term comfort. However, when descending or tucking out of the wind, the short front and vast cutout allow me to adopt an aggressive position without suffering.
A wide fit can, of course, lead to chafing, but fortunately, I haven’t found this to be the case with the Tempo Argo. This could be because the saddle really isn’t that wide, or perhaps Fizik’s Wingflex feature deserves some credit. The carbon-reinforced nylon shell has little rubber inserts at the tips that cushion the rider’s thighs on every pedal stroke, but not to the extent they rob watts. Truthfully, while it was easy to flex the shell wings with my hands, I couldn’t discern any movement during my rides. Not that it matters since I remained comfortable, but your mileage may differ.
As previously mentioned, the padding feels quite dense and unyielding but that’s the way I like it on an endurance saddle. There is noticeably more cushion to support the sit bones, which together with the subtle rearward tilt, help to lightly lock the riding position in place.
With its short, blunt nose this is a very contemporary-looking saddle. More brutal than pretty.
(Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)
Unsurprisingly, there’s little scope to move around on a saddle as short as this, but when you do want to shift position, the faux leather cover won’t hold you back. Perhaps it’s just me, but I dislike the grippy, rubberised material that covers some contemporary saddles. Every time I want to move my weight back or forth, I seem to be forever snagging the seat of my riding shorts. I found the Tempo Argo smooth enough to get a glide on yet just about grippy enough not to be full-on slippery. Of course, this is a personal preference that’s entirely subjective, so you may prefer to be more securely held in place.
I tried this saddle on a variety of bikes, including a stiff, aluminium-framed Standert Kreissäge RS, a moderately stiff Ribble Allroad SL R endurance bike and a compliant Wilier Jena gravel bike. I’d be lying if I told you I could tell the difference between Kium rails and standard alloy rails. Carbon rails? Perhaps, but frankly the frame, wheel choice and, most notably, tyre choice influence ride quality so much more than the makeup of your saddle rails. Kium does, however, bring a moderate weight saving, which will be important to many.
Value and conclusions
(Image credit: Future/Simon Fellows)
Let’s start with a huge caveat. The best saddle for you is the one that fits, so even though I loved my time with the Fizik Tempo Argo R3, you may find it a complete pain in the proverbial. That’s the nature of saddles.
Short saddles with big cutouts are very popular right now, and I’m a devotee because they’re a great match for me and my riding. However, they’re not without their faults, the most significant being a lack of control – it’s harder to steer the bike through the hips – and they’re a very restrictive platform if you like to move around on the saddle.
That said, if you’ve got your heart set on a short-nosed saddle, the Tempo Argo R3, which retails for £149.99/$159.99 should make your shortlist. The obvious competitor is Specialized’s Power, which is shorter at 240mm and available in more width options: 143mm, 155mm and 168mm. The titanium-railed Power Arc Expert is slightly cheaper than the Fizik at £115/$159.99.
The Prologo Dimension 143 with Tirox (steel-alloy) rails is another comparable short-nosed saddle that is also slightly cheaper at £139/$139. I recommend experimenting with some samples before purchasing the one that fits you best.
Specs
Length: 260 mm
Width: 150 mm or 160mm
Weight: 229g/235g claimed. My 150mm saddle weighed 240g.
Height at 75mm width: 43 mm
Length from nose to 75mm width: 103 mm
Rail: 7x7 mm
Shell: carbon-reinforced nylon with flexible rubberised wings
Padding: Proprietary Type 2 foam
Shape: Flat
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Tech Editor, Andy Carr came to cycling journalism after ten years in the cycle trade, writing blogs and content whilst designing award winning bikes, for his own custom bike brand.
A life long cycling fan and rider, he left the City life in 2015, moving away to the Alps, where he worked as a ride guide, running pro-camps, and eventually started designing and building custom bikes.
Over a decade, that escape grew into a business, and Andy’s bike designs became well known in the industry.
He has always used his platform to champion higher standards in fit, design, and fabrication and his own products won awards and five star reviews in most of the major magazines.
Having run a bike shop, workshop, and award winning paint shop, producing custom bikes in metal and composite for customers all over the world, Andy has real life experience of the processes and work that go into producing great bikes and components; from desk work like FEA and CFD to physically testing products in wind tunnels, opening moulds for composite work, and getting products out of his head and into stores - alongside some of the insider processes few get to see.
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