Fizik One2One: With saddle pressure measurement to customised saddles from the 3D printer

Fizik does not use static data to customise saddles. Instead, people have to take action themselves if they want a customised printed saddle - it is actually only the padding that is custom printed. The basis for this is a saddle pressure measurement during the ride

A few weeks ago, we visited Fizik in Vicenza (Italy) to experience the process of creating a customised saddle for ourselves.

The path to a customised saddle

The picture gallery above shows the steps to a customised saddle. In a nutshell, the process looks like this:

1. Recording data in the one-to-one app
2. Pressure measurement on your own saddle in three handlebar positions (hoods, drops, top)
3. The app analyses which saddle shape is the right one
4. Fitting the right saddle to the bike
5. Renewed pressure measurement in three handlebar positions
6. Order saddle

Patience is then required. As soon as the saddle has arrived, either at the dealer or at an address of your choice, either the pressure can be measured again or the saddle can be fitted directly. Then the ride can begin.

Important! It is essential that the bike is either well adjusted or that the pressure measurement is carried out as part of a bike fitting. Because if the riding position on the bike is not right, a saddle will not improve the situation.

Why customised saddles?

"A saddle design for 'the masses' can provide an approximate solution to very specific problems. But a customised approach, tailored to the individual, directly addresses the individual comfort and performance needs of each rider," writes Fizik.

• The saddle is the most important point of contact between man and bike.
• The fit of the saddle can play a crucial role in the overall riding experience, comfort and performance.
• In the worst case, people can give up cycling due to saddle pressure.
• A good fit depends on many factors: the person, the geometry of the bike, the intended use, the shape of the saddle, the position and more.
• Every cyclist is unique. Riding experience, sensitivity, injury history, body shape, riding goals and more all influence how we sit on the saddle.

Status Quo

Traditional saddles consist of foam padding with a certain density over the entire seat surface. Different sizes fit different ischial widths, and different shapes are suitable for specific riding postures (more upright vs. more athletic or aggressive), riding disciplines (gravel, MTB, endurance, TT, etc.) or offer specific functional benefits (channels, cut-outs, etc.). Saddles are also available with inserts made from different materials, which are designed to provide functional comfort in specific areas.

3D printing

In recent years, more and more 3D-printed saddles have come onto the market, such as the Adaptive 3D line from Fizik. 3D printing technology makes it possible to develop new saddles much faster, as the restrictions or limitations of traditional production methods and materials no longer apply. Another advantage is that saddles can be designed and manufactured with multiple functional zones that are progressively and seamlessly connected in the same padding.

But that wasn't enough for Fizik. 3D printing technology makes it possible to customise each pad. So the idea was, why not print the pads entirely according to the requirements of each individual cyclist? Several years of development work went into the One-to-One project, culminating in the finished process from saddle pressure measurement to the customised saddle.

Cooperation with gebioMised

Fizik has teamed up with gebioMized as a development partner for the concept of customised 3D-printed saddles. This cooperation is by no means new, as the two companies have already worked together on numerous professional sports projects, in particular as saddle and bike fitting partners for various cycling teams. This shared history has created a solid foundation of trust and professionalism.

Back in 2002, gebioMized was involved in the patent development for the individualisation of saddles based on pressure measurement. And now Fizik is bringing this approach to the market with Project One-to-One.

If you haven't heard of gebioMized yet, here's a brief explanation: the company is the one that developed saddle pressure measurement in cycling. Thanks to pressure measurement, bike fitters can understand what happens at the contact points - saddle, pedals and handlebars - between rider and bike.

Software

The software behind the pressure measurement was developed by gebioMized in Münster and is now successfully used by over 800 bike fitting laboratories worldwide. This allows gebioMized to draw on tens of thousands of data sets for new developments: "Our database of saddle pressure data is probably the largest in the world. This knowledge has helped the One-to-One project enormously," says Daniel Schade, CEO of gebioMized.

For the partnership with Fizik as part of One-to-One, gebioMized has been involved in the development of a new app in addition to developing special saddle printing hardware. The app is now available for retailers and bike fitters. You can find out exactly where you can find One-to-One retailers on the Fizik website.

One-to-one

Giovanni Fogal, Brand Manager at Fizik, enthuses: "With One-to-One, we are now achieving what every saddle manufacturer has always wanted: We offer customised support for every cyclist."

My Aliante One-to-One

On the second day at Fizik, the time had come and we received our one-to-one saddles. The first thing we did was to subject them to a "pressure test" and put pressure on every part of the saddle. A professional colleague's saddle showed even more noticeable differences than mine. The pressure test reveals different zones and some individual points are significantly softer than the rest. But that is irrelevant. Much more important is: How does it feel to sit on the new saddle?

I sit very well on the new saddle, the new shape is unfamiliar but comfortable. The pressure measurement on the second day clearly shows that where there were pressure peaks the day before, there are now none. What is unusual for me is that the saddle is less "slippery" than others - but comparable with other 3D-printed saddles. Over time, I realised that it also depends on the trousers.

How much does a Fizik One-to-One saddle cost?

A customised saddle from Fizik costs between 459 and 499 euros. This is comparable to the saddles from Posedla in the Czech Republic, where a seat print serves as the basis for a customised saddle.