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S-Works Power with Mirror

Bicycle Seats
2020 - 2021
Artist/Maker

In March 2019 Paralympic cyclist Hannah Dines made headlines in the UK national press detailing her experiences as a female cyclist. She recounted enduring years of friction, pain and swelling whilst riding, resulting in her needing a reconstructive vulva surgery. As Dines shared her story, many other women came forward about their riding experiences. Alison Tetrick, a professional US cyclist, had the same surgery as Dines and had insisted that the area be researched by her sponsor, Specialized.

The bicycle manufacturer Specialized developed this saddle in response to the discomfort of riding a bicycle for extended periods of time. Women especially experience pain as a result of the design of saddles, that traditionally have been developed according to the needs of the male anatomy.

Following a 2-year research project, Specialized released the Power Saddle with MIMIC technology in 2018. This was a “women’s saddle” that increases comfort for female and male users designed by Andy Pruitt. He had already ventured into this field in the 1990s creating body geometry technology and the women’s Power Saddle with MIMIC was his last product before retirement. For him, this saddle is his greatest innovation, stating: ‘Everything we learned and all the technology we discovered with the MIMIC will go into the Mirror, the 3D printed saddle project. It’ll only get better.’

The S-Works Power with Mirror saddle launched in 2020 and is produced using 3D printing from a liquid polymer. The complex honeycomb structure enables a flex not possible to achieve with more traditional foam saddles and provides a more responsive and comfortable riding experience. The polymer saddle is also lighter than traditional designs, with rails and a carbon shell.

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read At the press of a button: A V&A history of 3D printing 3D printing is an additive form of manufacturing, which involves heating (otherwise known as 'extruding') plastic, such as PLA (Polylactic acid), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) or PET (Polyethylene terephthalate), or other types of material, such as sandstone, metal or resin, to con...

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleS-Works Power with Mirror (manufacturer's title)
Materials and techniques
3D printed liquid polymer, with carbon shell
Brief description
Bicycle saddle, 'S-Works Power with Mirror' saddle designed and manufactured by Specialized Bicycle Components, ca. 2020
Physical description
Black bicycle saddle
Dimensions
  • Length: 24.3cm
  • Weight: 190g
  • Height: 4.4cm
  • Width: 14.3cm
Height (without mount): 4.4cm Length (without mount): 24.3cm Width (without mount): 14.3cm Height (with mount): 24.3cm Length (with mount): 24.3cm Width (with mount): 14.3cm
Production typeMass produced
Gallery label
(2021)
21.12.2020

3D-printed bike saddle



In 2020, Specialized launched its first 3D-printed saddle available for purchase off-the-shelf. Taking advantage of this manufacturing technology, its complex honeycomb structure has a flex and give not possible to achieve with foam saddles.

Specialized is committed to addressing the challenge of rider discomfort. In 2018, following a public outcry about the pain women cyclists endure, the US company launched a saddle designed around the female anatomy. It featured a cushioning system preventing high pressure on soft tissue. Most saddles have traditionally been designed for the male body, and as British Paralympian Hannah Dines states, ‘being a cyclist with a vagina means pain with a bit more pain added on top.’
Credit line
Given by Specialized Bicycle Components
Summary
In March 2019 Paralympic cyclist Hannah Dines made headlines in the UK national press detailing her experiences as a female cyclist. She recounted enduring years of friction, pain and swelling whilst riding, resulting in her needing a reconstructive vulva surgery. As Dines shared her story, many other women came forward about their riding experiences. Alison Tetrick, a professional US cyclist, had the same surgery as Dines and had insisted that the area be researched by her sponsor, Specialized.

The bicycle manufacturer Specialized developed this saddle in response to the discomfort of riding a bicycle for extended periods of time. Women especially experience pain as a result of the design of saddles, that traditionally have been developed according to the needs of the male anatomy.

Following a 2-year research project, Specialized released the Power Saddle with MIMIC technology in 2018. This was a “women’s saddle” that increases comfort for female and male users designed by Andy Pruitt. He had already ventured into this field in the 1990s creating body geometry technology and the women’s Power Saddle with MIMIC was his last product before retirement. For him, this saddle is his greatest innovation, stating: ‘Everything we learned and all the technology we discovered with the MIMIC will go into the Mirror, the 3D printed saddle project. It’ll only get better.’

The S-Works Power with Mirror saddle launched in 2020 and is produced using 3D printing from a liquid polymer. The complex honeycomb structure enables a flex not possible to achieve with more traditional foam saddles and provides a more responsive and comfortable riding experience. The polymer saddle is also lighter than traditional designs, with rails and a carbon shell.
Collection
Accession number
CD.13-2021

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Record createdDecember 21, 2020
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