Saddle length

[Michael Brown]

Have been experimenting with a few saddles recently and was noting how saddle length is often mentioned, especially in regards to the fizik line. While trying to swap saddles and keep the position close, I did a few different measurements.

What I noticed is that while the Arione is listed as being about 25 mm longer than the Antares, I noticed that the distance from the widest part of the saddle to the tip of the nose is a difference of only 4mm between the two saddles. The Arione makes up the rest of the difference by having a longer "tail".

Who rides on the tail? Do any of you ever slide back past the widest part of the saddle on a road bike? Shouldn't the "effective" length of a saddle really be from the widest point to the nose?

Thoughts?

 

[US Patent Exploding Cyclist]

Changing where you are seated on the saddle over long distances can help you stay comfortable, and can help you incorporate different muscles to lessen fatigue. I haven't ridden on the Arione, just the Antares, but I think that may be a reason. Or this could be purely for the aesthetic.