Fikik has launched a new service called One-to-One that custom 3D prints one of its adaptive saddle models to fit you perfectly. It is available on a range of seat bases with carbon or Kium alloy rails.
Many riders find it difficult to get comfortable in even the best bike saddles. While bike fit can solve many sources of cycling discomfort and injury and design you a new saddle, until now you’ve been limited to what’s off the shelf. You’ll be sitting in the saddle for hours on end, so getting it right can be vital.
The new One-to-One service aims to solve this problem by providing a saddle that is custom 3D printed to match your anatomy, bike setup, riding position and riding style, be it road, gravel, mountain bikes or time trial.
The One-to-One uses one of Fizik’s existing adaptive 3D printed saddle models as a starting point and then creates an upper that fits your individual needs.
It works like this:
One-to-One first pressure maps your own saddle while riding the Wahoo Kickr Rollr (Image credit: Fizik)
First, a Fizik dealer equipped with the One-to-One system completes a quick questionnaire and pressure map of your current saddle in the full range of riding positions while cycling on the Wahoo Kickr Rollr. This allows them to choose the most compatible non-adaptive saddle shape for you and your riding style.
They mount this saddle to your bike and then use pressure mapping to see how you interact with the saddle at 64 touch points in a range of positions, allowing them to identify your pelvic tilt as well as asymmetries, instability and pressure points.
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Fizik uses a saddle pressure mapping system developed by gebioMized, which it says is the system most used by professional bike fitters. He worked with the company to research and test his system and says it took three years to develop.
The pad collects pressure data at 64 points on the saddle surface (Image credit: Fizik)
The One-to-One service then automates the data analysis and designs a 3D printed structure of the upper surface of the saddle to best suit your needs. Choose between carbon or Kium skis, Fizik will make your unique saddle and ship it to you.
Later, you can go back to the dealer and see how the new pressure distribution compares to your original saddle.
The data can identify asymmetries in your sitting position (Image credit: Fizik)
3D printing has the advantage over traditional manufacturing techniques that it can be used to produce one-off pieces, while the production of a standard padded saddle requires the use of mass production techniques with a high volume of standardized parts.
It has already found its way into chamois pads and helmets, as well as a number of other components and even complete bike frames.
Seat options and prices
One-to-One is available to fit the Fizik Adaptive saddle range (Image credit: Fizik)
The adaptive Fizik saddles available in the service are the Vento Argo, Terra Argo, Vento Antares, Tempo Aliante, Transiro Aeris LD and Transiro Aeris SD, with all triathlon saddles except the Transiro available in two widths. Fizik offers the service for its R3 Adaptive saddles with Kium rails or the higher spec R1 saddles on carbon rails.
The service is available at an additional cost over and above the standard price of the selected adaptive seat model. This means that the starting price for the One-to-One R3 Adaptive saddle on Kium rails is £459 / $499 / €459, with the carbon R1 saddles priced at £499 / $599 / €499.
