First Look: Fabric Prototype Seat - Taipei Show 2014
Fabric is a new saddle company from the minds behind Charge Bikes, the UK brand that turned heads last year when they released info on their 3D printed titanium dropouts. Creating 3D printed objects has been in the news quite a bit recently, usually using some sort of plastic material, but Charge was the first cycling brand to employ titanium powder to create ultra-detailed and incredibly lightweight pieces that simply couldn't be replicated by more traditional frame manufacturing techniques.
![Fabric prototype seat]()
Judging by the photo we snapped above, it looks as if Fabric might be utilizing the same methods to create 3D printed titanium seat rails that are then attached to a carbon fiber shell. The rails feature some relatively extreme shaping, with a wide and flat profile up front that tapers to a more traditional oval shape at the clamping points, only to widen out again before terminating at the back of the shell. Their shape looks like something that could only be created by using a composite material, but these rails were definitely titanium, and their matte finish very much resembles a part that has been created using a 3D printing process but not yet polished smooth. Fabric's Nick Larsen wasn't too keen to comment on any of the above, but he also didn't deny any of it.
The other talking point is the Airbus logo at the base of the rail, with the UK based aircraft manufacturer's headquarters just down the road from the Charge/Fabric offices. Fabric didn't make it clear what Airbus' involvement with a bike seat could possibly be, although it's pretty obvious that their expertise with carbon and titanium likely eclipses that of nearly any company in any industry. One interesting fact that Larsen did mention is that much of the future technology used in aircraft manufacturing has to be proven in other settings for a full decade before it can be put to use in the air, and that it's that detail that brought Fabric and Airbus together on the project. The question is, what exactly did they help Fabric with?
Spot the Airbus logo on the 3D printed titanium seat rail?
Judging by the photo we snapped above, it looks as if Fabric might be utilizing the same methods to create 3D printed titanium seat rails that are then attached to a carbon fiber shell. The rails feature some relatively extreme shaping, with a wide and flat profile up front that tapers to a more traditional oval shape at the clamping points, only to widen out again before terminating at the back of the shell. Their shape looks like something that could only be created by using a composite material, but these rails were definitely titanium, and their matte finish very much resembles a part that has been created using a 3D printing process but not yet polished smooth. Fabric's Nick Larsen wasn't too keen to comment on any of the above, but he also didn't deny any of it.
The other talking point is the Airbus logo at the base of the rail, with the UK based aircraft manufacturer's headquarters just down the road from the Charge/Fabric offices. Fabric didn't make it clear what Airbus' involvement with a bike seat could possibly be, although it's pretty obvious that their expertise with carbon and titanium likely eclipses that of nearly any company in any industry. One interesting fact that Larsen did mention is that much of the future technology used in aircraft manufacturing has to be proven in other settings for a full decade before it can be put to use in the air, and that it's that detail that brought Fabric and Airbus together on the project. The question is, what exactly did they help Fabric with?
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en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus
Airbus is based in Toulouse, I work there. And I think they don't care about bike saddles !
By the way BOS suspensions is also based in Toulouse
We gripe and moan about products going out of date, but also gripe and moan about a concept that has been around for "too long." Enduro pacific is still a new a thing! If we let it be old and un-rave-about-able already, we are our own problem.
No wonder only big companies exist. A little company's claim to fame will be uncool a year later, and suddenly, they are out of luck.
Enduro is a type of dirtbike riding/competition. It makes it more confusing referring to it.
"Airbus ... has long been one of the original pioneers utilizing 3D printing for industrial applications."
Article link: 3dprintingindustry.com/2014/02/20/expanded-3d-printing-application-base-airbus