Student saddle project...

Some of you may remember that in the past I put a few questionnaires up on the forum for my student project...

Well here it is! (so far). I have included a final evaluation questionnaire for those of you who want to take part.

The concept of the design is that it is an integrated saddle/seatpost which is based upon ‘suspended’ saddles (think Brooks), but which features a membrane which is removable without tools. The easy removal of the membrane allows you to:

• Take the membrane inside with you if the bike is left out in the rain.
  
• Switch between membranes of different colours/materials quickly and easily for different uses/looks (tweed rides?).
  Removing the membrane may also deter theft of the bicycle, as the saddle looks pretty uncomfortable without it.
  
  

Thanks very much to everyone who has taken part in the surveys so far! Do not underestimate how valuable this has been to the development of my project! Thanks also to anyone who takes part in the survey on this thread, or on surveymonkey.com (link here).

My end-of-degree exhibition is coming up if anyone is in Brighton and wants to come along. There might be beers... PM me if you’re interested.

Q1: How do you feel about the design?

Q2: How aesthetically pleasing would you say that this saddle is on a scale of 1-10?
Ugly 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 – 10 Pretty

Q3: Would you say that this saddle would be easier or harder than a normal saddle/seatpost to set up?

Q4: If you saw the saddle for sale, would you consider buying it? (I won’t hold you to the answer to this one!)

Q5: How would you improve the design?

Q6: Does the easy removal of the saddle membrane to deter theft/keep saddle dry make the saddle more or less convenient to use?

Q7: Do you feel that the product attracts you to touch it?
I want to touch it!
No strong feelings either way
I wouldn't touch it if you paid me to.

Q8: In which colour would you prefer the seatpost/saddle frame?
**- **Anodised silver aluminium

• Anodised black aluminium
  
  

Q9: Again, which colours/materials of membrane (the suspended bit you sit on)** would you choose?**

• Black leather
  
• White leather
  
• Tanned leather
  
• Leather with tweed lining
  
• Recycled seatbelts (black)
  
  

Thanks again to anyone who helps me by taking part!

3 Attachments

I'm sorry.

^i like

heres an image of the frame without the membrane

1 Attachment

haha! you have got to be shitting me!

i quite like it dave...

but it needs redizing a bit? who's you're audience?
i doubt i'd see one on a fixie....maybe a great market for foldable/commuter bikes?

but a very interesting concept

+1, it seems to me that unless the fabric is very stiff (uncomfortable), you might rub the inside of your thighs on the frame when you pedal.

No offence but I'll stick with a carbon saddle. Totally comfortable and it it rains you can dry it with one wipe of any piece of fabric you have (bag/armwarmer/Shinscar's tshirt etc.

Pitlock have the theft provention thing tied down too.

Yeah it's quirky for sure. Student projects sorta have to be a bit off-the-wall because it's your last chance to go nuts before the world of work breaks your spirit

+1, it seems to me that unless the fabric is very stiff (uncomfortable), you might rub the inside of your thighs on the frame when you pedal.

Yeah when i was testing the working prototype I noticed this, but the rapid-prototype (the one in the photos) is much thinner. Also, the material for the membrane should be a lot thicker, like 4mm thick leather etc. The cloth one on this model is just for show really.

one word... wedgie.

sorry .. i didn't mean to be so rude. i don't think stretched fabric would ever work on a bicycle saddle. you need something to support your weight and enable you to pedal consistently.

one word... wedgie.

Apologies for the thin-ness of the membrane in the photos - the ABS prototype can't take the stress of a full-thickness leather membrane.

I'm afraid you'll have to imagine that the membrane is made form 4-5mm thick leather (think Brooks) - the cloth material just being a veneer over it

sorry .. i didn't mean to be so rude. i don't think stretched fabric would ever work on a bicycle saddle. you need something to support your weight and enable you to pedal consistently.

Man i'm really gonna have to try to make a leather membrane for this model...

I used leather for the working prototype (think *Brooks *saddles - they consist of a suspended leather membrane on a metal frame) but was too scared to try to tighten a leather one up on this plastic prototype (it cost me £170!).

but a very interesting concept

Haha "interesting"

even leather .. it won't make much diff. there needs to be something actually underneath the material to support it, not just air.

even leather .. it won't make much diff. there needs to be something actually underneath the material to support it, not just air.

have you actually ever seen a Brooks saddle?

yes :p, ok brooks use the same principle as yours. sorry. carry on!

have you ever seen a dursley pedersen bicycle

have you ever seen a dursley pedersen bicycle

only in this picture^

Is this solely marketed towards people with haemorrhoids or?

^no, but an added bonus. See also:

• doing a shit while biking along (although this would spray forward as it hits the back wheel)
  
• farting without getting 'vapours' on saddle surface
  and so on
  

how much does the frame weigh. also, how exactly are you joining the membrane to the frame.

Anyway, let's give him a break and fill in his questionnaire. That's all he asked for.

Q1: How do you feel about the design?
Looks good although novelty would not make me buy a new saddle.

Q2: How aesthetically pleasing would you say that this saddle is on a scale of 1-10?
7

Q3: Would you say that this saddle would be easier or harder than a normal saddle/seatpost to set up?
harder

Q4: If you saw the saddle for sale, would you consider buying it? (I won’t hold you to the answer to this one!)
No, see Q1.

Q5: How would you improve the design?
Make it stiffer.

Q6: Does the easy removal of the saddle membrane to deter theft/keep saddle dry make the saddle more or less convenient to use?
Less.

Q7: Do you feel that the product attracts you to touch it?
No strong feelings either way

Q8: In which colour would you prefer the seatpost/saddle frame?

• Anodised silver aluminium
  
  

Q9: Again, which colours/materials of membrane (the suspended bit you sit on) would you choose?

• Recycled seatbelts (black) - [no leather please]