2022 Eurobike tech gallery, day two: Magnets, motors, and 3D-printing galore
The bike industry is seemingly obsessed with 3D printing these days. It’s long been a staple of product development for rapid prototyping, but it’s quickly becoming a preferred method of production for high-end consumer products, too.
Selle Italia and Selle San Marco are jumping into the saddle pool with new models slated to be released later this year, Elastic Interface Technology has incorporated 3D-printed pads into a new premium chamois concept, and German outdoor brand Jack Wolfskin is even using 3D printing for backpack padding.
What’s next? Only time (and imagination) will tell.
Fidlock — the maker of all those fancy magnetic helmet buckles, like on Bell’s new Falcon XR — is also continuing to expand its range of magnet-based closures. There’s a wealth of accessories that use the same latch concept, but also things like magnet-based hydration bladder reservoirs. Perhaps most interesting, however, is a new magnetic ratcheting shoe closure concept called Winch that’s already being used in some limited-edition everyday footwear and bike bags. Might the company be thinking of going after Boa? Maybe — or maybe not.
Finally, IDmatch (essentially a division of Selle Italia) is continuing to push its novel bike fit system, which uses a network of high-precision cameras to quickly acquire body measurements without having to use stick-on marker dots. The system uses those same cameras to analyze — in real time — your position on the fit bike, and then automatically (!) moves the saddle and bars to wherever the software thinks they should be.
Selle Italia says the whole process usually takes less than an hour from start to finish, and the company claims the system can go head to head with premium traditional fit systems like Retul and others. Seems too good to be true, no? Perhaps, but even if the system gets a rider pretty close, if the time and cost makes a fit more accessible to more people, that’s hardly a bad thing.
More to come soon from the 2022 Eurobike show. Stay tuned! Oh, and if you haven’t checked out our gallery from day one, you can find it at the link.
Selle Italia, Selle San Marco, and IDmatch
Selle Italia is getting into the 3D-printing game with the new SLR Boost 3D.The Selle Italia SLR Boost 3D is apparently quite light (the company didn’t provide official figures), and the padding is as firm as you’d expect for a racing-oriented saddle. It’s due to come out around September, with retail prices ranging from about €360-450, depending on rail choice.Selle Italia has some new colors for its off-road-minded saddle models.Selle San Marco – which is now owned by Selle Italia, by the way – is releasing a 3D-printed saddle of its own, using a different cell shape and a generally softer overall feel. The pricing is a bit more reasonable, too, at €350-399.Selle San Marco is hoping more than a few people will be into these wildly iridescent saddle colors.Looking for some earthier colors on your gravel bike? Selle San Marco has got you covered.IDmatch’s fit system uses nothing but high-resolution cameras to gather initial body measurements. The system then analyzes (in real time) video of the rider on the fit bike. The most impressive part, however, is that the fit bike is fully automated, using the software and the camera data to move the saddle and bar positions where the system thinks they need to be to get the motion parameters correct. IDmatch bills the system as being just as good as premium traditional methods (despite supposedly taking less than an hour from start to finish), which seems unlikely. However, if the system’s greater accessibility (in terms of client cost) means it gets used by more riders, even a fit that’s pretty close will hopefully be far more helpful than nothing.Camera-based systems usually gather these measurements with markers that the bike fitter places at specific locations on the rider. But the IDmatch cameras do it automatically, somehow.The fit bike’s crankarm length can be adjusted from 160 to 180 mm. The stock pedals feature Look Keo compatibility on one side, and Shimano SPD on the other. If neither of those work, it’s easy to swap pedals to something else.Seatpost masts attach using a special quick-release base.IDmatch – which is essentially a division of Selle Italia – includes a broad range of Selle Italia and Selle San Marco saddles with each fit bike.New from IDmatch are a range of insoles with three different levels of arch support.IDmatch prescribes the insoles to provide support, not correction. In other words, if you’ve got flat feet, the system will suggest a flat insole instead of one with more arch to help correct overpronation.IDmatch uses this special jig to determine the proper insole size. This isn’t so much for total length as it is for proper arch support placement.IDmatch’s cleat placement jig is easy to use and seems reasonably precise. The shoe fixture locates the shoe using the inside of the heel cup, which should theoretically yield a consistent location regardless of shoe make or model.
Elastic Interface Technology
Elastic Interface Technology is constantly pushing the envelope with chamois designs, and this N3T (“next”) features the latest-and-greatest innovation: 3D printing.Elastic Interface Technology is using the 3D-printed pads just under the sit bones. The company says the pads are more comfortable than conventional foams, but also far more durable so that comfort is more likely to carry on for a long time.The open structure is also supposed to be good for breathability. And in wet conditions, it won’t hold water like conventional open-cell foams, either.The pad itself only has a bit of stitching around the pads, while the rest is welded.Different pad densities can be used depending on the desired level of cushioning.Elastic Interface Technology also showed off a new range of pads made with scraps from other models that would otherwise be thrown away.Elastic Interface Technology has followed up on its molded half-finger glove designs with a range of full-finger options.
Fidlock
Fidlock is best known in the cycling world for its magnetic helmet buckles, but the company actually has a remarkably diverse range of outdoor products, all using similar magnetic latches.Fidlock is getting into the shoe closure game with this new ratchet concept called Winch.Each Winch can be tightened like most Boa ratcheting dials, and it can be loosened pretty easily, too. To release, just pull the magnetic knob off the base, and away you go. I’m not sure how well this will catch on for cycling shoes, but we’ll see.Fidlock is playing with a quick-release attachment for conventional laces, too.Coming from Fidlock is this new Hermetic hydration bladder, which uses a magnetic waterproof fold-over closure up top, plus a magnetic lock further down for added security. The whole thing opens up wide for easy cleaning (and drying!), too.
Bell
Bell’s new Falcon XR helmet builds on the success of the recent XR Spherical, offering similar styling and ventilation performance, but with a conventional MIPS liner instead of the XR’s more complex dual-layer architecture.The styling of the Bell Falcon XR is pleasantly clean, and there’s a bit more coverage than usual around the back, too.The magnetic Fidlock buckle is a nice feature to see on a helmet costing just US$120.The sweat tab is another wonderful feature to find at this price point. It’s a small thing, but it should help immensely with keeping sweat from running down into your eyes and sunglasses.The Falcon XR is offered with or without a visor, but all of them include grippy rubber appliques to help keep stashed sunglasses secure in the vents.
Jack Wolfskin
German outdoor company Jack Wolfskin showed off a collection of bikepacking bags, all of which were using Fidlock’s new Winch magnetic ratchet systems.The bags actually look quite nice, and the company generally has a reputation for goods that last a long time.Think 3D printing is just for fancy hard goods? Jack Wolfskin is using it for backpack padding.
Follow the link for our continued coverage from Eurobike 2022, the world’s biggest cycling tradeshow.
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