fizik's new 3D printed lattice saddle optimizes comfort and performance

fizik & CARBON launch new 3d printed saddle

Vicenza-based cycling equipment manufacturer Fizik has collaborated with Silicon Valley-based digital manufacturing company, Carbon, to create its first 3D printed bike saddle, called ‘Argo Adaptive’.

Unveiled at the Sea Otter 2022 bike show, the saddle features a unique 3D printed lattice cushioning crafted with Carbon’s revolutionary Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) technology. The resulting design optimizes comfort and performance for cyclists around the planet, no matter the discipline, riding position, or body type.

all images courtesy of Fizik

a saddle that’s comfortable, supportive, and resilient

Fizik (see more here) worked closely with Carbon (see more here) in order to create revolutionary 3D-printed padding manufactured through a process known as DLS. This technique employs digital ultraviolet light projection, oxygen-permeable optics, and programmable liquid resins to print padding that is comfortable, supportive, and resilient, while it is also resistant to both UV exposure and prolonged, repeated use.

As Fizik Brand Director Luca Mathia Bertoncello notes, this new DLS technology creates all sorts of possibilities. ‘Digital Light Synthesis unlocks a new era in saddle design and manufacturing, driven by athlete data and agile manufacturing processes. It means we can fully release our creativity — transforming not just what we make, but how we make it, bringing a whole new way of thinking to cycling saddles.’ he explains. ‘Our aim is to provide riders with bespoke performance products tailored to their individual biodynamic data.’

adaptable and lightweight 3d printed cushioning

The Argo Adaptive line offers a selection of short-nosed saddles, adopting a shape that’s becoming increasingly popular among bikers who wish to maintain an aggressive riding position for extended periods of time. This specific shape, accompanied by the 3D printed Adaptive cushioning, is what keeps riders locked in place with no unnecessary changes of position.

By utilizing 3D printing, the team at Fizik was able to focus on elements such as power transfer, shock absorption, stability, and comfort, introducing an adaptive saddle design that responds to a cyclist’s needs efficiently. In collaboration with Carbon, the Italian company was able to increase the performance of the saddle by providing more or less cushioning in certain areas, thus adjusting to the user’s different riding positions. This is achieved thanks to the lattice structure, which also results in a saddle that’s lighter than conventional foam cushion pads.