New saddle “will cause a stir” in bicycle industry
24/08/2017
Unlike conventional saddles, which have remained largely unchanged since the 1960s, Ergon’s new product, the ST Core Ultra, has two shells rather than one.
In a regular saddle, the single shell carries out two functions; it bears the load of the cyclist, as well as serving as the seat shell. This often results in a stiff shell, which affects the comfort of the rider.
Ergon aimed to solve this problem with its ‘TwinShell’ technology. In this system, the lower shell performs the load-bearing function, while the upper shell is flexible and offers padding.
Sandwiched between the two shells is a core of BASF’s Infinergy material, a foam made from expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (E-TPU). It has already been used with great success in safety and running shoes, most notably in the midsole of the Boost range of running shoes from Adidas.
As well as increased comfort due to better pressure distribution across the sit bones, the construction of the new saddle is said to allow more natural pedalling movement in all directions.
“The idea of a design principle using TwinShell technology and an ergonomic core has been around for a while, but we were never able to find a suitable material on the market to implement this project,” explained Franc Arnold, founder and chief executive of Ergon. “Now, Infinergy from BASF has exceeded our expectations. I am absolutely certain that Ergon will cause a stir in the bicycle industry with its ST Core Ultra.”
The ST Core Ultra saddle will go on display for the first time at the forthcoming Eurobike exhibition in Friedrichshafen, Germany (August 30-September 2). It will be available in Europe and the US from February 2018.
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