ergon bike - sm3 saddle

GERMAN INNOVATION

The First Saddle.

World Premiere Eurobike 2011

German Sport University Cologne

Development Partner:

Form follows ergonomics.

Sm3. the first saddle from ergon

The development of a bicycle saddle is a particular

challenge from an Ergonomic point of view. A saddle

needs to support about half of the body weight, the resul-

ting pressure is then concentrated on the most sensitive

region of the body - yet this area has to suffer no pain or

discomfort if possible. At the same time the rider must not

be prevented from being able to put as much power into

the pedals as possible. Problems with the saddle have a

direct and extremely noticeable effect on the perfor-

mance, endurance and general well being of a rider. The

numerous factors which must be taken into consideration

when developing a saddle, are also extremely complex.

For example the type of riding to be undertaken, the

position on the bike, the width of a rider‘s sit bones, the

sex of a rider, their level of fitness, the amount they ride in

a single journey, the intensity of the workout, the type of

rider they are.

To develop a saddle many fields of expertise are called

upon. Ergonomic specialists in the field of sport, and

sports physicians, engineers, material scientists, process

and CAD engineers, and industrial designers - to name

but a few. Ergon‘s development team has cherry picked

the best people available for each of these roles. The

methodology and knowhow is state of the art, and they

are motivated by their passions - cycling and innovation.

The technology used in the Ergon Ergonomics

Laboratory, the multitude of sensors and pressure

mapping, was developed in Germany and is some of the

most advanced Worldwide. The intensity and effort put

into the Ergon saddle‘s development phase had just one

clear aim - to develop the ergonomically best fitting, most

efficient, highest performing and comfortable saddle in its

class.

ErGonomiC SADDLE SEriES 2012ErGonomiC SADDLE SEriES 20122 3

Every Sm3 - handmade.

Produced by Selle italia.

Form follows ergonomics.

Sm3. the first saddle from ergon

The development of a bicycle saddle is a particular

challenge from an Ergonomic point of view. A saddle

needs to support about half of the body weight, the resul-

ting pressure is then concentrated on the most sensitive

region of the body - yet this area has to suffer no pain or

discomfort if possible. At the same time the rider must not

be prevented from being able to put as much power into

the pedals as possible. Problems with the saddle have a

direct and extremely noticeable effect on the perfor-

mance, endurance and general well being of a rider. The

numerous factors which must be taken into consideration

when developing a saddle, are also extremely complex.

For example the type of riding to be undertaken, the

position on the bike, the width of a rider‘s sit bones, the

sex of a rider, their level of fitness, the amount they ride in

a single journey, the intensity of the workout, the type of

rider they are.

To develop a saddle many fields of expertise are called

upon. Ergonomic specialists in the field of sport, and

sports physicians, engineers, material scientists, process

and CAD engineers, and industrial designers - to name

but a few. Ergon‘s development team has cherry picked

the best people available for each of these roles. The

methodology and knowhow is state of the art, and they

are motivated by their passions - cycling and innovation.

The technology used in the Ergon Ergonomics

Laboratory, the multitude of sensors and pressure

mapping, was developed in Germany and is some of the

most advanced Worldwide. The intensity and effort put

into the Ergon saddle‘s development phase had just one

clear aim - to develop the ergonomically best fitting, most

efficient, highest performing and comfortable saddle in its

class.

ErGonomiC SADDLE SEriES 2012ErGonomiC SADDLE SEriES 20122 3

Every Sm3 - handmade.

Produced by Selle italia.

Ergonomics for performance.

3 World Championships for Ergon.

The best test laboratory Worldwide - the race track

Ergon is the only pure ergonomics brand in the world to

have their own professional mountain bike race team. A suc-

cessful one at that - with 3 World Championship Titles. That

means 3 World Championship Titles for ergonomics, a clear

sign that ergonomics means performance. For around 100

days a year our riders are racing the toughest courses

Worldwide. Collectively they ride more than 100,000km a

year. This effort is something Ergon puts in for pleasure.

Being involved in racing at this level, the experiences and the

knowledge it provides, this is something massively valuable

for our product development team. The extreme demands

made by racers feeds the continuous search for the next

innovation. The information exchange is direct. New ideas

and concepts can be quickly tested in the laboratory and

then under the hardest possible conditions by the racers.

Only then can true and meaningful data be collected. The

Ergon SM3 saddle was developed for mountain bikers, and

in close partnership with the riders for the World Cup race

team. The Ergon SM3 offers a unique combination of

ergonomic features, performance and quality, which is the

result of the input of the team, science and design.

ERGONOMIC SADDLE SERIES 2012ERGONOMIC SADDLE SERIES 20124 5

Ergonomics for performance.

3 World Championships for Ergon.

The best test laboratory Worldwide - the race track

Ergon is the only pure ergonomics brand in the world to

have their own professional mountain bike race team. A suc-

cessful one at that - with 3 World Championship Titles. That

means 3 World Championship Titles for ergonomics, a clear

sign that ergonomics means performance. For around 100

days a year our riders are racing the toughest courses

Worldwide. Collectively they ride more than 100,000km a

year. This effort is something Ergon puts in for pleasure.

Being involved in racing at this level, the experiences and the

knowledge it provides, this is something massively valuable

for our product development team. The extreme demands

made by racers feeds the continuous search for the next

innovation. The information exchange is direct. New ideas

and concepts can be quickly tested in the laboratory and

then under the hardest possible conditions by the racers.

Only then can true and meaningful data be collected. The

Ergon SM3 saddle was developed for mountain bikers, and

in close partnership with the riders for the World Cup race

team. The Ergon SM3 offers a unique combination of

ergonomic features, performance and quality, which is the

result of the input of the team, science and design.

The form of the saddle surface takes into account the anatomic demands made in this position.

The wide yet angled ‚u‘ formed rear of the saddle allows for easy maneuvering, without having to remove all weight from the saddle. Extra padding reduces painful injuries from unwanted contact on bumpy terrain.

The relief area is scooped out, leaving gentle curves, without tight radii. This innovative solution allow for a greater effect further forward, while giving the support and dynamics needed further back.

Relief When using a cut out to relieve the pressure on the urinary area, it is important not to create hard edges which create extra pressure - this is the disadvantage of many saddles.

The padding in the nose are is greater, but the flanks of the nose drop away sharply to allow a wide enough area, but prevent chaffing.

Nose On steep climbs, mountain bikers often bring their weight forward transferring it to the nose of the saddle.

The form of the cushion pays particular attention to the anatomy of the sit bones. The pressure distribution is thereby even, minimizing pressure peaks - the type which hard hits make particularly noticeable. Cushion density, damping and rebound are progressive and designed for this particular demand of mountain biking.

Padding Generally Mountain Bikers suffer more bumps and shocks through the saddle and their backs than road cyclist. Rear suspension, often is not fast enough, or sensitive enough to solve this problem fully.

Sitting position The body is at around 45º from the ground, although this is frequently adjusted.

Rear Mountain Bikers shift their weight to the rear of the bike on steep downhills - often sliding off the back of the saddle.

SM3. From start to finish, a saddle for Mountain Bikers.

SM3. 100% Saddle Ergonomics. For Mountain Bikers