SAN DIEGO (BRAIN) — California-based leather saddle company Selle Anatomica is working with UC San Diego to develop a carbon fiber road saddle that mimics the comfort of its leather saddles at considerably less weight. Selle Anatomic is trying to raise $30,000 through crowd funding to get the saddle into production.
The saddle would have a carbon fiber top attached to a carbon leaf spring, which in turn is attached to a titanium rail for use with standard seatposts. The design is projected to weigh under 200 grams, which is 300 grams lighter than Selle Anatomica’s comparable leather saddles.
According to Selle Anatomica, UCSD's composite engineering department is measuring the comfort properties of the brand’s current leather saddles, and they will use the data to tune the carbon spring and shell to produce similar performance.
So far the company has raised just over $18,000 in crowd funding, with 17 days left in its campaign (Update: As of April 9, the company had raised more than $30,000 with two weeks left in the campaign). Contribution levels start at $199, which buys a first edition of the saddle, which will eventually retail for $300-$400.
The company said it would use the proceeds to support research into a "comfort algorithm" to translate the benefits of leather to carbon. It will also support mold design and machining, and the purchase of parts and equipment necessary for production.
It expects to deliver the crowd-funding saddles by this fall. Production models are anticipated in January 2016.
Information on the crowd-funding project is on selleanatomica’s site.
Retailers interested in ordering single or multiple saddles should contact Selle Anatomica's sales manager, Fred Gonzales, at fred@selleanatomica.com.
