Bandera

As predicted the mid-industrial mass production manufacturing model is just about to be superseded by the 3D production of unique individual components before giving way to totally 1-Off race bike production carefully tuned to the individual requirements of a particular rider's unique physique, power output, riding style, event, terrain and road surfaces.

The Specialized 3D saddle:

Specialized launches 3D printed saddle with new Mirror Technology | Cyclingnews.com

Soon the mass produced machines of this era of racing will be looked upon as crude, quaint and so hopelessly Early 21 as to to be un-rideable, except by the ever present Luddite C&V Period Correct Police.

-Bandera

cmh

I think 'just about to be' and 'soon' are debatable. Have you seen the price of this one-off saddle? I'm assuming it is going to be crazy expensive.

furiousferret

I have an issue with my sit bones where they don't align, so I've considered putting aligned ridges in my saddle to force alignment. 3d printing would probably help with that but I'm not sure how comfortable it would be since though ridges would effectively only allow me to ride 3 positions or so.

Bandera

My perspective is across generations of bike design and manufacturing looking forward to a whole new paradigm of truly "custom" manufacturing for each customer in every aspect of fit and function on the bike and in host of other applications.
This 3D saddle and it's next generation of 1off custom made-to-fit is the harbinger of a radical change to come "soon" just over our horizon in a revolution of manufacturing a host of products that are personal and not mass produced in a "range" of sizes that are "close enough".
Expensive? Yes, especially in early adoption and soon required for professionals.

Step into the scanner, upload your data and wait for delivery, not tomorrow but "soon".

The next C&V Luddite meme: "Close enough is Good enough."
Not really......

-Bandera



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Radish_legs

one more thing to drive up costs and reduce participation. I think you are assuming that non e-bikes will be the norm. I'm not as convinced. I think the day is soon coming when the majority of rec fitness cyclists are on ebikes.

Bandera

This is the sub-forum "The 33"-Road Bike Racing isn't it, not The 41?
What recreational riders with e-bikes, recumbents or whatever operate that's not approved for USAC and/or UCI competition isn't relevant to my remarks.
Race bikes are.
As far as the costs of "state of the art" road race bikes go I agree they are expensive indeed, always have been and those costs are rising.
My '74 Raleigh Pro, the same design as ridden to multiple US road championships by Howard and Allis in the era cost $2,081.71 in 2019 dollars adjusted for inflation.
An S Works Venge goes for $12,000 today, a stupendous relative increase in cost indeed.
Just wait, radical new tech for personalized production of contact point components and kit followed on by entire bespoke machines will increase that cost.
So it goes.

-Bandera

topflightpro

I think custom shoe beds and aero bars might be more interesting than saddles. I have three pairs of custom shoes, and they were worth every cent.

Though, it would be nice to recreate saddles not longer in production.

Radish_legs

There are already local sanctioned races for e-mountain bikes.

topflightpro

And a UCI World Championship: https://www.uci.org/mountain-bike/ev...-mercedes-benz

gsteinb

Ygduf

do we like posts now? it's been a while

Radish_legs

e-bike crits could be something that gets people back into racing. You don't need elite training or fitness (though it helps). But it's mostly about the strategy and decision making. And surviving the sketch.

Bandera

I've been in and around "The Sport" for 51 seasons now, raced in ABL of A, USCF and NORBA events, seen the start of BMX and the early days of MTB racing from inside events.

If someone wants to enjoy low powered moped racing, have at it.
Just don't pretend it's part of the Sport of Cycling, it is simply not in my opinion.
As the OP in this thread please take e-content elsewhere.

-Bandera

Radish_legs

like I said, in the Dallas area, local mtn bike racing now with e-bike categories. Don't tell me it's not sanctioned racing, when it clearly is. Go yell at a cloud.

Bandera

Dallas?
Of course, Dallas.

-Bandera

Darth Lefty 

Customization of soft parts, or molds for composite if you want hard parts, is the best place to use this manufacturing strategy. My bosses at work tout additive manufacturing of metal and the parts can now be heat treated but it’s never going to result in the same strength as forging.

StanSeven

Closed at OPs request