Radical new design offers relief to saddle-sore cyclists
bletherskite
Posts: 28
Hi all,
apologies if this has already been posted elsewhere (or belongs in another thread). Had a look but can't see it so...
Found this article in this morning's (Glasgow) Herald newspaper - another take on making a better saddle.
It is a reality that any cyclist who has received abuse from an irate driver might appreciate: riding a bike is a pain in the backside.
In a bid to change this, a Scottish designer has invented a new seat that he claims will bring relief to hordes of saddle-sore cyclists.
At first glance Jon Catling's new creation looks a bit like the head of a garden rake, but he explains that its unusual structure imitates the comfort of reclining in a chair.
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Mr Catling, who is launching the saddle through his new Edinburgh start-up company Manta Design Ltd, said: "It supports the body load over almost the same area as an office chair, puts no pressure on the medically sensitive bits, is much better ventilated than other saddles and the rider retains complete control of the bike. It feels different to begin with, but after a while it's positively unpleasant to go back to a conventional saddle."
He added: "Our saddle looks different because it's designed for the bike-mounted human physique, not just for the bike. Most other comfort designs are essentially modified conventional saddles, which compromises them from the start.
"The acid test is how badly it hurts after a big hit' landing so we've designed our saddle for both on and off-road bikers. After hundreds of hours of testing we're confident it ticks all the boxes."
He dreamed up the design in 2001 in a bid to address the pain which many bicycle seats cause to riders' behinds. It is also designed to tackle the more serious risk of permanent damage to the sexual organs of cyclists through prolonged saddle pressure.
The saddle will be manufactured by Scottish plastics specialist Protomould in Fife with a view to marketing it in the UK later this year.
The website is here: http://www.mantamedia.org/index.php?opt ... e&Itemid=1
(Original article at http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/transpo ... clists.php)
Looks interesting but I'm not entirely convinced yet...
apologies if this has already been posted elsewhere (or belongs in another thread). Had a look but can't see it so...
Found this article in this morning's (Glasgow) Herald newspaper - another take on making a better saddle.
It is a reality that any cyclist who has received abuse from an irate driver might appreciate: riding a bike is a pain in the backside.
In a bid to change this, a Scottish designer has invented a new seat that he claims will bring relief to hordes of saddle-sore cyclists.
At first glance Jon Catling's new creation looks a bit like the head of a garden rake, but he explains that its unusual structure imitates the comfort of reclining in a chair.
advertisement
Mr Catling, who is launching the saddle through his new Edinburgh start-up company Manta Design Ltd, said: "It supports the body load over almost the same area as an office chair, puts no pressure on the medically sensitive bits, is much better ventilated than other saddles and the rider retains complete control of the bike. It feels different to begin with, but after a while it's positively unpleasant to go back to a conventional saddle."
He added: "Our saddle looks different because it's designed for the bike-mounted human physique, not just for the bike. Most other comfort designs are essentially modified conventional saddles, which compromises them from the start.
"The acid test is how badly it hurts after a big hit' landing so we've designed our saddle for both on and off-road bikers. After hundreds of hours of testing we're confident it ticks all the boxes."
He dreamed up the design in 2001 in a bid to address the pain which many bicycle seats cause to riders' behinds. It is also designed to tackle the more serious risk of permanent damage to the sexual organs of cyclists through prolonged saddle pressure.
The saddle will be manufactured by Scottish plastics specialist Protomould in Fife with a view to marketing it in the UK later this year.
The website is here: http://www.mantamedia.org/index.php?opt ... e&Itemid=1
(Original article at http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/transpo ... clists.php)
Looks interesting but I'm not entirely convinced yet...
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Edit: looks useless, originally said might be good for t.t's but weight? hmmmwinter beast: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff016.jpg
Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg0 -
:?
Umm, yes! I was trying to be positive about it but "not convinced" is as about as much as I can muster...
I'm sure he's done all the right sums for it but it looks as if you would fall straight off the bike.0 -
All the 'flappy' parts offer no support so i dunno, proof of the pudding.................winter beast: http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff016.jpg
Summer beast; http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr34 ... uff015.jpg0 -
Can't say I'd ever want one off-road (how do you hang off the back?) but wouldn't mind trying one on a road bike, hopefully they'll have a short-term rental option if it ever actually goes into proper production and gets decent bike mag reviews.0
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looks the opposite of comfortable to me.
still i suppose it will help in races - SCR or otherwise if everyone is laughing at you :?0 -
I would have thought that there is the potential for each of the "spines" to rub/chafe/abrade your legs, particularly if they flex at different rates. All of the animations show someone with an upright riding position on a straight-bar bike - totally different to the usual roadie position. Personally I'm sticking with my Selle Italia SLR :?
What do I ride? Now that's an Enigma!0 -
Looks awful, you'd get the p155 took out of you by anyone who sees you!0
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It's taken 8 years to come up with that! It might be OK fo leisure cyclists bimbling along, but its too heavy and complicated for serious use - looks like a solution for an unknown problem.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Similar to the Hobson Easy Seat http://cgi.ebay.com/Hobson-Easy-Seat-II-2-Bike-Bicycle-Dual-Saddle_W0QQitemZ320339521387QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCycling_Parts_Accessories?hash=item320339521387&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A570%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A0%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50
I have one and could not get used to it.0 -
I'm going to wait for the cutout - gel version.
Looks kind of dangerous.
Dennis Noward0 -
You will never see one in a RR twice, the UCI would ban them on sight!0
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Why does cycling seem to attract these design student nutters who don't seem to have a clue about bikes yet think they can revolutionise the sport with a solution to a problem that in reality doesn't exist?
I can't see what problem is this offering a solution to that isn't already available in the way of say, comfortable cycling shorts or a regular saddle that's better suited to your body shape?0 -
'This week I 'ave been mostly been climbing like Basso - Shirley Basso.'0
