On June 12th at 17pm, that is today, As this article is published, the embargo covering Fizik's new Aliante Adaptive saddle expires.Imagine the surprise in discovering that the only rider in the world to have used it is Dylan Van Baarle of the Visma-Lease a Bike, winner of a Roubaix, who left the hospital just yesterday. His crash at the Dauphiné will cost him his Tour de France spot. It's understandable that he's reluctant to talk about it.
But that certainly won't stop us. So before we tell you about this new Fizik saddle and to get some feedback from the Dutch team, We started with their materials manager: Jenko Drost.
« Dylan – he told us – is really very satisfied with the saddle. He previously used the normal Glider for a long time, then switched to the Adaptive version for testing.He really likes the improved comfort, while still maintaining support. He received it in early May at the altitude training camp, so he's been using it for a good month. The feedback he gave us is of a very good grip. And he also found himself very comfortable with maintaining a fairly fixed position. Dylan is a very stable rider on the bike, so this feature suits him well.Its position can be defined as perfect, consequently it does not need to move too much."
More precise position
Jenco Drost's launch is perfect for framing one of the main features of the new Aliante Adaptive, a saddle that is part of Fizik's offering of 3D printed saddles. Offered in two models of different sizes, its characteristic is a wavy profile that lowers in the central part and then rises, becoming increasingly tapered towards the tip of the saddle itself. It is intuitive and Perhaps the main feature of the Adaptive is the fact that the cyclist will have a wider support for the hip bones and will be able to distribute the weight better., but it remains practically stationary on the saddle. If it were to move, its shape would be uncomfortable for differently shaped anatomical parts.
"Unlike Antares e Argon – explains Nicolò Ildos, Sport Marketing Consultant at Fizik – the Adaptive Glider binds you more. Plus, it's wider, so it's more comfortable. To give you an idea, the old Aliante that came before the Argo was for bigger riders, the specialists, who didn't need to move around too much on the saddle, and in some ways the new one mirrors this characteristic. Let's say that it is a saddle for those who have the right position on the bike and not for those who struggle to be comfortable.. If you move, in fact, it becomes uncomfortable. The other special feature is the padding, which allows you to be more precise."
Differentiated padding
The evolution of digital 3D printing has allowed the Venetian company to develop a new saddle without the constraints or limitations imposed by traditional manufacturing methods and materialsThe padding is made by Carbon® using Digital Light SynthesisTM technology. To put it simply, this is an additive manufacturing process that uses digital projection of ultraviolet light and oxygen-permeable optics. The material used is a resin-based liquid to produce components with the necessary mechanical properties and desired surface finish. To give an example, it is possible to intervene on the absorption and flexion capacity of the individual portions of the saddle, characterizing them separately for specific mechanical properties.
Each of these areas is designed for a distinct cushioning and mechanical response, yet progressively and seamlessly combined in the same paddingThe result is a 60% reduction in peak pressure, which is concentrated in a single point, thanks to improved weight distribution. This results in greater comfort across the entire surface.
The custom saddle
At this point, however, curiosity explodes: things being as they are How long will it take to get a custom saddle, perhaps for top athletes? The argument holds up and we learn that this is exactly what was being done with Van Baarle.
«When he arrived at Visma – Ildos says – Dylan was coming off the Ineos experience where he had a saddle that was out of stockSo when the idea of working individually came up in the first training camp last year, we focused on him and the few who were having some problems, leaving aside for the moment those who were doing well. We started working on pressure points, optimizing the three-dimensional printing parameters for each athleteWe gave him the new saddle in January, but he didn't immediately feel comfortable with it because the tire was too grippy. At that point, instead of waiting for the new saddle, he went back to the one he'd taken from Ineos. Until in May we gave him the definitive one, which he also used at Dauphiné before falling.».
Specifications and prices
The R1 is born from the combination of a nylon shell, reinforced with carbon, and a frame, also in 7×9 carbon with high rigidity. The track also allows for weight savings. The R3, on the other hand, maintains the combination of nylon and carbon for the hull, It has the hollow rail in Kium.
Both models are born from a customization of the sections and thicknesses of the padding. For this reason, it would make no sense, when moving on the saddle, to rest the sit bones in the most forward part of the saddle: this would lead to obvious discomfort problems.
They both have two different width sizes: 145 and 155The length is 275 mm for both.
The 145mm R1 is 141mm long from nose to 75mm width, with a height of 45mm. This measurement drops to 137mm for the 155mm R1. The first weighs 196 grams, the second rises to 201.
The R3 size 145 is 139 mm long from nose to 75 mm wide, where the height is 46 mm, and weighs 235 grams. The R2 size 150 measures 137 mm from nose to 75 mm wide, where the height is 46 mm. The weight will instead be 240 grams.
As for prices, the R1 costs 299 euros, while the R3 drops to 259 euros.
