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PC15: Fabric’s Water Bottle Goes Cage Free, Plus New Air Cushioned Cell Saddle, Ratcheting Multi Tool

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Fabric_Cell_Saddle_Cell

Since their recent debut, UK brand Fabric continues to demonstrate its dedication to challenging the industry established design norms. Offering a collection of fresh and ultra-functional saddles and accessories Fabric’s line includes accessible entry price points and piles of color options.. They include a comfort saddle that accomplishes suspension with air cushioning rather than gel, a tri saddle with integrated water bottle carrier mount, a cageless integrated water bottle system, and a multitool with an integrated ratchet for getting into hard to reach places…

Fabric_Cell_Saddle_Cover Fabric_Cell_saddle_base

In developing the Cell saddle, Fabric once again looked outside of the cycling industry for an innovative solution to the comfort saddle. Rather than add more material to mimic the cushioning common with gel saddles, Fabric designers recognized opportunities in running shoe technology, specifically air cushioning.

Fabric_Cell_Saddle_Complete
The polyurethane cell structure layer (first photo) and saddle surface (second photo, left) is heat-bonded to a polycarbonate base to be permanently air-tight and waterproof. This air suspension negates the need for extra material in the saddle and keeps the overall weight of the complete saddle (above) at 356g (actual). Fabric chose the Radius profile of their Scoop saddle, the roundest of the three available, to be conducive for more upright riding positions. It also has the widest widths of their saddles at 155mm and is available in a variety of candy colors, reminiscent of late 90’s iMac styling. So far, the saddle has mainly been tested off-road with positive feedback. The Cell will be available in December for $99.99 MSRP.

Fabric_Tri_Saddle_iso

The Tri Saddle was developed from the ground up, rather than adapted from a road saddle, for triathlon and time trial specific functionality. The split bonded pad features water vents to encourage water to flow off the surface for wet riders after transitions. The saddle construction is similar to the Line in that it shares the built in flexing feature of the base – there is a depression in the pressure relief channel of the base to allow flex for rider comfort.

Fabric_Tri_Saddle_clip Fabric_Tri_Saddle_Mount-installed

The fun feature of this saddle system is that it comes with an optional water bottle mount included. The small clip in the saddle rear can be removed and water bottle mount can be inserted and secured with two bolts into the saddle body. The whole system will be available in stores in September for $89.99 MSRP for the cromoly version, and $109.99 MSRP for the ti-railed version.

Fabric_Water-bottle_1 Fabric_Water-bottle_2

The minimal cageless Water Bottle system consists of a bottle and a pair of studs. The studs bolt directly to your existing water bottle bosses. The bottle slides directly onto the studs, concealing them completely when installed. Because there is no cage to maneuver the bottle up and over, the bottle can be placed in small frames or those with tight geometry in the front triangle – it only requires about an inch of lateral movement to be installed or removed from the stud mounts. Fabric claims the system is secure, having tested it on downhill bikes. When pressed on whether they had other projects in the works to exploit this bottle-style mounting interface, Fabric conceded some things could be in the works (maybe we’ll see an aero bottle or tool pack). The bottle will be available in stores in September for $20 MSRP.
Fabric_The-Chamber_multitool

Last but not least is the Chamber multi tool, featuring thirteen different functions. Each bit clicks securely into its individual spot within the body of the Chamber. The canister style top features a tiny ratchet for the tools to be loaded into. The ratchet has exciting implications for allowing users to get into tight spots when on the road or trail. If you’re not sold on the ratchet aspect of the tool, there will be a rigid interface system avaialble for $50 MSRP. The ratcheting version will be available for $60 MSRP.

Fabric_The-Chamber_multitool_ratchetFabric.cc

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23 Comments
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Bill
Bill
9 years ago

Huffy used that system for water bottles in the 80s 🙂 Bummer if you don’t have the matching bottle.

Zach
Zach
9 years ago

That multi tool looks awesome. Ill be looking into getting one of those.

ObligatedToSay
ObligatedToSay
9 years ago

I wonder why they don’t provide a jacket of sorts in conjunction with the water bottle studs, so you can use any water bottle…

I too like the ratchet multi-tool, but I wish the bits weren’t proprietary. The driver down the middle, there might be space for three sets of bits on rings.

balls
balls
9 years ago

If Fabric made a Pelican case that mounted like that waterbottle it wood b sweeeeeeet

Jim
Jim
9 years ago

“I wonder why they don’t provide a jacket of sorts in conjunction with the water bottle studs, so you can use any water bottle…”

That’s what a Monkii cage does – uses the same system to attach any type of bottle to the same stud design.

http://www.freeparable.com/monkiicage

54
54
9 years ago

When it comes to tools, I want to unfold the right one and get to work. No open the chamber, find the right bit, take it out, hopefully your full length gloved finger can fish it out, put it in the ratchet, put the chamber back into the barrel …then you get to work on the problem. All the while you have to be careful not dropping those bits in the bushes and the trail…

alvis
alvis
9 years ago

@obligatedctosay like a bottle cage?

dickl5455
dickl5455
9 years ago

I’ve got a ratcheting bike tool. It’s called the ratchet rocket. I think topeka makes it. It’s half the size of this one.

Andy
Andy
9 years ago

http://www.prestaratchet.com is another option for a ratcheting multi tool, though I have to agree with 54 and think you’d wind up combing through the grass one day desperately searching for the bit you just dropped.

Menos
Menos
9 years ago

I think the air cushions should be helium-filled to make the saddle even lighter…

Carl Spackler
Carl Spackler
9 years ago

WOW. Simply WOW.
That tri saddle was not built from the ground up. They googled “specialized Sitero” and made a copy. Even down to the water bottle mount on the rear.

Mike D
9 years ago

@Carl Spackler …what the heck are you talking about? I *did* google Specialized Sitero, and how is this a copy again?? Are you referring to the deeper channel that goes all the way over the horn unlike the Sitero, or the water vents that the Sitero also does not have? How about the complete lack of cutout in the channel, again, unlike the Specialized saddle. The obviously different overall shape even?? I’m trying to see, amongst all the obvious differences, just exactly what makes the Fabric saddle a copy..

Do you even know what ‘copy’ means, or are you paid by Specialized for your misplaced internet outrage?

ZC
ZC
9 years ago

Mike D, easy tiger. This saddle *does* resemble the Sitero. It isn’t an exact copy but it really does.

mudrock
9 years ago

Innovative designs, but the first fall on some rocks would take the air out of that saddle – better to reinforce the tear zone. I also like the multi-tool, but it looks a little heavy to carry with you. I see a lot of steel.

maddogeco
maddogeco
9 years ago

I love that they made the drainage channels on the tri saddle. So the athlete can now dump “yellow ballast” mid race more conveniently.

Liasara
Liasara
9 years ago

Bottle system like the fabric have been around for a while.
It is hard to put the bottle back in place after drinking.
Assuming you drink while you ride (as you should) it is a major, major issue.
So, don’t expect to see it among the pros.

Jedi
Jedi
9 years ago

Did anyone else click thinking that they were using the saddle as a water bottle? haha

Hpbiker
Hpbiker
9 years ago

@Anna Who will be selling these in the USA? Are they only going to be sold at Schwinn/Gt/Cannondale/Charge dealers or will QBP or BTI pick them. Thanks. Really interested in the saddle.

AA
AA
9 years ago

You’re not challenging the industry by using air cushioning rather than gel, google topeak saddles.

Fjork
Fjork
9 years ago

@ZC
Does the saddle look like a tri saddle? Yes. Does it look like the Sitero? No. Does the Sitero look like a tri saddle? Yes.

If Fabric is “copying” Specialized with this saddle, Specialized is copying everyone else.
That’s like calling everyone with a double triangle bike out for not being original.

TheKaiser
TheKaiser
9 years ago

Not to mention the fact that all foam padded saddles are, in a sense, air cushioned.

ZC
ZC
9 years ago

@Fjork, I DID NOT say the Fabric is a copy of the Sitero. I just DID say it looks a bit like the Sitero. Look closely (especially at the nose), there’s no denying that. Thank you.

craigsj
craigsj
9 years ago

“They include a comfort saddle that accomplishes suspension with air cushioning rather than gel…”

There’s not a saddle out there that “accomplishes suspension” using gel since gel is not for that purpose. There are plenty of gel saddles that use foam to “accomplish suspension” but foam, of course, is a form of “air cushioning”.

Is there anything remotely original here? These guys should pay attention to what existing products in the market already do.

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