The MANTA Saddle

  • Ride as far as you like without a saddle imprint
  • Kinetic support, encourages 360° pedalling
  • Adaptive Ray Tech™ equals a fluid riding experience
  • A naturally comfortable support when pedalling



Rear of MANTA Saddle

Why MANTA?

Cool & Dry & Comfortable

The MANTA saddle was developed, researched and tested, then further tested in the wild without supervision, this provided uncompromising feedback to drive the design’s evolution. The geometry remained the same, that had to be right at the beginning.

Prototyping and production development were meticulous, over about 8 years work. Apart from a friend, and talented CAD maestro, Warwick Macdonald (RIP), there are collaborations with leading technology, and manufacturing companies such as DuPont™, Lola F1 carbon fibre specialists, Velo Ent, IMAR (Dundee University), and others, several world-class-riders, all lead to an optimized design.

The focus has always been exceptional support, ventilation and comfort, removing potentially harmful, and the inevitably uncomfortable “nose”, removing the chafing under the thigh that padded seats offer.

The MANTA saddle is designed to suit all riders, male and female, from 10 years-up (smaller ones soon), all riding disciplines, from leisure and commuting, competition, to road and off-road riding.

Whether you use your bike to commute to work, you’re heading cross-country, or up a mountain, once acclimatized  (they are radical!) you will be at home on a MANTA, reassured that you can continue for mile after mile without pain, or numbness, cool and dry.

So, it is unique, in order to support the human body naturally whilst in motion it has to be. Being quite radical, any challenge with fitting or acclimatization reward a little patience. And we’re here to help. Embrace the difference, your body will thank you!

 

No other design offers MANTA levels of support.

Traditional saddles rely on a seat ‘nose’ to support a proportion of the riders weight, any pressure there is too much pressure, they have not changed since the 1800’s, 99% are still basically the same.

With advances in medical technology we have a greater understanding of how we are affected over time, or even by one big bump. With cycling increasing in popularity as a carbon-neutral, or a convenient ultra-low impact e-bike method of transport, for leisure, and exercise, much research has been conducted on the effects of cycling on riders, with a focus on the saddle as the weakest link in an otherwise healthful and joyful activity.

Numerous studies link the use of traditional saddles with even long-term damage to areas involving the perineum, which were not evolved to take a human’s bodyweight – up to 7x that bodyweight – riding over potholes, kerbs, speed bumps…

Riders are beginning to be more open with the problems caused by saddles, and much more aware of the health risks that have existed for too long with traditional saddles – carbon fibre cutouts, insets, and 3D printed seats are much the same as ever, under shiny details.

Born among the rugged mountains of Skye

Seat comfort and performance go hand-in-hand

MANTA Design, Unified Sport, and the MANTA saddle are a product of diversity and engineering. Born in NW Scotland, Western Isles, developed in and around Edinburgh, with amazing support from their Business Gateway, and R&D support. Others: the Department of Engineering University of Cambridge, Addenbrookes hospital, a large manufacturer in Taiwan, DuPont  …and others inspired to support a unique design, and set a new standard for seating on the sublime bicycle, a machine with only that one real flaw.

MANTA pays close attention to the manufacturing process, we use local suppliers for the main parts and components. We have excellent partners in the production loop. MANTA products supplied directly, or from a distributor are the latest, and only production quality version of this design – born and bread between Skye and Edinburgh.

A lot of tech rolled into saddle, it was developed to an exacting standard in the rugged, diverse environment of Skye, NW Scotland. They are made in Scotland, which enjoys a long tradition of manufacturing and history of innovation (e.g. pedal propulsion c1839).

Please ensure you are getting a genuine production model, made by, and supported by MANTA, or our European partners. Your rides are worth it.

The MANTA saddle consists of an adaptive surface: “Adaptive Ray Technology” – in action comparable to the wings of a manta ray – a dynamic surface in harmony with the rider.

Multiplying the supported area, alleviating high pressure points, and providing an increase in groin blood flow unique to cycling, this provides beneficial side effects on, and off the bike, you won’t know you’ve been on a bike.

These are the effects of more than just a reduced decrease in flow in comparison to others (as claimed by many designs) we provide a measurable, and significant increase in blood flow, such as found in sports other than cycling.

The MANTA compliments body and bicycle function. A kinetic, adaptive support surface, and interface between rider and bike.

By optimizing the connection between rider and bike, it’s possible to improve performance without the drain of pain. A particular must for static training bikes and e-Bikes. No more enforced recovery sessions on any length of ride.

Challenging, yes, and the genuine alternative to discomfort.

challenging conventions of cycle design, formed by function