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news
Unique Essax Shark saddle arrives in the UK
Remember the unique Essax Shark saddle, with its raised fin, that we told you about earlier this year? Well, you might be interested to know that will soon available to buy in the UK, with distributor NRG4 confirming this week they’ll be selling the full range of saddles from January.
The Spanish company produces regular saddles as well, but it is the Shark that has gotten most attention since it was unveiled to the world. It was developed by Spanish bike fitter Jon Iriberri, and he reckons the novel design more evenly spreads the weight of the cyclist onto the sit bones and reduces hip rotations, limb differences and inefficient pedalling techniques.
Apparently the Shark saddle is going past the UCI technical committee with a view it being authorised for use in UCI races, as the company sponsors UCI Professional Continental Team Caja Rural Seguros RGA, so we could yet soon it in the professional peloton next season.
The Shark weighs a claimed 210g, pretty light for a saddle, and features 3mm deep foam, with a 40mm raised fin that is 100mm in length. The saddle is 140mm at its widest point. Every Essax saddle, including the Shark, incorporates an “AF-Net matrix” in the shell, which the company reckons, through its own testing, improves pedalling efficiency, with an Essax saddle offering a claimed 2.5% performance and efficiency claim compared to the popular Fizik Arione saddle.
Some eyebrow raising claims indeed. We'll be getting a couple of their saddles in to test very soon so we’ll be sure to test against the Arione to see how they perform in our own testing.
Essax are a Spanish-based saddle company with 25-years experience in manufacturing polyurethane foam, and they’ve since turned this knowledge into making their own bicycle saddles. As well as the Essax, the range includes the Adrenaline Tech, Tudons and Eon.
You can see the full range at www.essax.eu and http://nrg4.co.uk
David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes.
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20 comments
Starting from the assumption that the fin seems more pronounced in the photo than in real life and is padded which exaggurates things, you know what, I think they might have something. Sitting upright, yes this saddle is going to be nasty. But how many of us sit upright? We're usually leaning forward; slightly on the hoods, more on the drops. I wouldn't mind giving one a test ride - probably a short one to start with, though!
It's butt ugly...b'dum tish! My tuberosities are wincing just looking at it....having said that one of those would probably be (get) lost on Kim Kardashian...
da-dum, da-dum
dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum...
da da dum!
'Shark pierced my perineum' shock for cyclist. Scientists claim that 'Sharknado' may in fact be real.
It looks upside down to me. But what do I know! Interested in hearing feedback from people using it.
im a cat2 racer struggling with biomechanical issues - wanting to get to cat1...
i'd give anything a go, even stick a saddle up my bum
When I had a coach as a kid, he swore by his trainer setup. If your technique was wrong or your upper body shifted, he would put you on the turbo wearing a blindfold and ear defenders; he reckoned it was like applying the principle behind seasickness but in reverse, and the sensory deprivation would cause you to focus on your body awareness and help your technique.
Alternatively, set up 2 computers and a camcorder in front of the turbo. Download the Sufferfests 'Elements of Style' and run it on one screen, following the instructions to the letter. Run a real time video feed to the other screen so you can see your position and correct it on the fly.
As soon as the potential power gains come out; coming soon to a sportive near you...
I'm looking to get one of these. I have an issue where I sit off centre on the saddle, causing me alsorts of problems. Currently have a piece of dowel to 're educate' me to sit correctly. casn only do 15mins as gets quite painful as you'd imagine.
this is post bike fit. so this may be a good idea for me. will wait for reviews with interest.
Try putting the dowel horizontally, not vertically on the saddle.
Do you like cycling? Or having things up your bum? If so now you can combine the two together with our new saddle!
It's white, how apt.
Is there a reversed version for Women?
If you think I'm riding on that, you can shove it up your....
Actually, I'd interested to try it just to see what the crack is.
I'm here all week.
Just. No.
The Essax website has an "Installation guide." Ouch!
http://www.essax.eu/shark/shark-laying-guide/
From the guide:
"If you the 2 Ischia (sitbones) are molested or incomfortable the fin needs to be slightly higher."
Oh my. I'm not sure I'd want a saddle that's capable of molesting.
Ooh me grapes...
how are the testers being decided? Anyone actually volunteering, or are you drawing straws?