This article originally appeared on BikeRadar
Introduced back in 2009 the Spine Concept was Fizik's idea to match rider flexibility to saddle shape. Defining riders as Snakes, Chameleons or Bulls: Snakes being the most flexible and Bulls the least. Now after seven years this has evolved into the Spine Concept Evo. For the last three years Professor Roger Kram at the University of Boulder, Colorado has worked with Fizik investigating and studying the original Spine Concept and looking to see where else Fizik can move the system forward.
Fizik tells us that flexibility and pelvic rotation are inextricably linked to saddle comfort: high flexibility leads to low pelvic rotation, and less flexibility leads to high pelvic rotation. Fizik has found that body weight and power transfer has a significant effect on which saddle you should choose, and has introduced two sizes of saddle: standard and large. In the Arione that means a 130mm and a 142mm version, Aliante gets 142mm and 152mm, and the Antares 140mm and 152mm.
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The research showed for example, a 75kg rider with a power output of 2w/kg at 28km/h leads to 29kg (39%) of their weight exerted on the saddle. But the same weight of rider outputting only 1w/kg and an average speed of 20kmh actually puts significantly more weight on the saddle — 32kg (43%). For a fast 75kg rider outputting 3.5w/Kg at a speed of 35kph less weight is put on the saddle, just 25kg (33%).
To find your size Fizik came up with an algorithm, and by inputting your weight, average speed on a flat road, and power output the system suggests a saddle size. In theory that's a good thing, but the question remains, how many riders know their power output? Power analysis, such as power meters, is becoming more readily available, but for most it's still prohibitively expensive. So has Fizik made a system for the elite (and wealthy) only?
To help with this, Fizik has developed the Spine Concept app to help riders choose a saddle. The app will estimate your power output from weight and speed, and will also measure flexibility. By holding the device loaded with the app to your chest and bending forward the app will recommend saddles from Fizik's range as well as the most suitable size. The app will launch this week and will be available free on iOS and Android devices.
- % Body weight on saddle = -0.0324X + 0.4555 Where X = Power in W/KG
- pW = [[P x(p/100 + a) + (KS x V92 )] x v] x g
- P = riders weight + bike weight
- p = Climbing grade (fixed to 0)
- a = Coefficient of friction (fixed to 0,01)
- KS = Drag coefficient (fixed to 0.021)
- v = Speed in m/s
- g = gravitational acceleration
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
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