One of the few Brits in residence at PressCamp this year was Nick Larsen – best known for being the man behind Charge Bikes. (Nick was also the marketing brain behind the Pashley TV campaign from years ago). Well, Charge Bikes is still doing well, but Nick has also launched Fabric Components as a technology-led component company with very top shelf aspirations. In seeking out the latest technology for Charge’s titanium bikes, Nick forged an alliance with Airbus and took some of its research into combining carbon and titanium and developed it for saddle manufacture.
The result was a saddle with 3D printed titanium rails and a carbon shell that was ultrasonically combined with the tiny pins on the saddle rails. A hugely trick saddle, but unfortunately hugely expensive too (think £700 or so…) However, Nick and his engineers discovered that the same shape was as strong, and lighter and cheaper, in carbon, so a full carbon saddle was developed, coming in at way under the hallowed 200g mark and a ‘mere’ £199.
Fabric will also be doing saddles in three different curves to match whether you’re a flat-back racer, a regular mountain biker, or a ride-to-work vicar.
And showing a fair amount of out-of-the-box thinking, Fabric went to a shoe factory, rather than one of the (mere) three saddle factories to make its comfort saddle. The result is the Cell, which takes saddle design in an interesting direction, using air instead of gel to support the rider.
For more on Fabric. Have a look over here:
http://fabric.cc/shop/saddles/
Comments (5)
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I had assumed from the pictures that the Cell was solid, like the DMR Squid.
How long is that likely to last before it punctures/wears out down the side? My Nike Air Max trainers used to have a very short finite life before they went all squishy.
Dr Martin does saddles!
Air Wear shoes with cleats next.
I’d love a pair of Air Wear soled bike shoes. My Docs work great on my commuter flatties
So what were Charge saddles are now Fabric saddles have I got that right! And are they now available under the new name?
The line looks very interesting as my specialist says I have to use a split type saddle if I want to ride after my Brachy operation! But are they just prototypes or are they available yet?