Fizik will now tailor a 3D-printed saddle bespoke to your backside

Italian brand’s One-to-One service is available from $499 / €459

By Jack Evans

Published: Wednesday, 19 June 2024 at 14:00 PM

Fizik will now custom-fit 3D-printed saddles for individual riders after introducing its ‘game-changing’ One-to-One service.

Other manufacturers, including Specialized and Selle Italia, also make 3D-printed saddles, which some riders find very comfortable. The lattice of polymers used in their padding is deeper and softer than traditional foam padding.

But Fizik will become the first major saddle brand to tailor the density of 3D-printed padding according to a rider’s individual bike fit data, rather than to a generic formula.

The Italian’s brand’s One-to-One service will cost £499 / $599 / €499 for its carbon R1 saddles and £459 / $499 / €459 for the brand’s alloy R3 models. That adds about £200 / $200 to the cost of Fizik’s road bike saddles.

The custom fitting service is now available in certain Fizik dealerships and you will receive your saddle within two weeks.

How will the Fizik One-to-One 3D-printed saddle service work?

Fizik will design your saddle’s padding based on where you place pressure. – Fizik

Fizik One-to-One in brief Customer is analysed riding their own bike in a Fizik dealership
Pressure mapping data is collected to determine their best saddle shape 
Data is recaptured on the correct saddle shape 
New measurements inform design of the bespoke 3D padding structure 
Fizik makes the custom saddle and sends it to the rider
The rider can return to their Fizik dealership to test the saddle

At the Fizik dealership, the customer rides their own bike set up on a Wahoo Kickr Rollr.

Technology developed by Fizik and bike-fitting specialist gebioMized captures their saddle pressure data in 64 points in a range of riding positions. For example, on the tops and hoods, and in the drops.

Male cyclist riding bike on rollers — Pressure data recorded from a variety of riding positions goes into a fitting algorithm. – Fizik

Data from this assessment is fed into a fitting algorithm. This pairs the rider with the most appropriate saddle shape from Fizik’s Adaptive range of 3D-printed saddles.

Next, the customer undergoes another pressure-mapping session on the new saddle.

Collage of Fizik 3D-printed saddle and saddle pressure map — Fizik says the One-to-One service focuses on eliminating hotspots on the saddle.

Fizik claims the software pays particular attention to ‘hotspots’ on the colour-coded pressure map. These are places where the rider puts excessive pressure, a key cause of saddle sores.

Another algorithm uses this pressure data to create a three-dimensional padding structure that’s uniquely suited to the rider. For example, the honeycomb of hexagon-shaped polymers will have more layers where more cushioning is required.

Saddle padding moulds on tray in Fizik factory — 3D-printed saddles don’t require a mould, so manufacturers can make several designs at once. – Fizik

The client can choose alloy Kium or carbon rails before ordering their saddle.

Fizik then makes the saddle at its northern Italy HQ and the customer will receive their order within two weeks of the initial consultation.

The way in which 3D-printed saddles are made enables this rapid turnaround.

Fizik saddle padding being printed — Fizik will be the first major brand to make custom 3D saddles. – Fizik

Every time manufacturers want to change the design of a traditional saddle they have to make a new mould, sometimes taking weeks.

The template of a 3D-printed saddle is stored in a digital file, so the design can be changed almost instantly and the saddles produced much quicker.

3D-printed saddle in Fizik factory — Once finished, the customer can test their bespoke saddle in a Fizik store. – Fizik

Once they’ve fitted the saddle to their bike, the customer can return to their dealership for a final consultation.

Fizik claims this last pressure-mapping session will indicate how the custom saddle has improved the rider’s comfort.

The brand says it does not have a formal refund policy if a customer is unhappy with their saddle. The Fizik retailer would have to handle such a scenario on a case-by-case basis.