Existing comfort saddles are compromised, they lack the form and function to support a human body as it should be supported, naturally.

Movement is restricted when adding width conventionally, leading to chaffing, and nerve compression, even if the pudendal arteries are not affected by a saddle ‘nose’, pressure moves elsewhere, often in other critical areas It has been a tradeoff. The support area of ‘conventional comfort’ seats is little better than a conventionally narrow sports seat in use – which is preferable to wider padding. As we mentioned, that needed changing somehow.

“The design’s priority wasn’t just to provide a perception of comfort – an initially soft feel – it was to provide an absence of the causes of discomfort. With zero peak pressures, and an even distribution, over a far larger area, none in the pudendal zone.”

The parameters were to maximise support, with no loss of motion in the supported body. 

Jon contacted BBC Tomorrow’s World, who had an open innovations programme, he was advised not to go public with a design, they saw it as having commercial potential. It was suggested, a patent must be applied for.

“Almost a year was spent searching patents, then talking to innovation investors, NESTA, about prototype market trials, this seemed a great cost for prototypes, for one day’s feedback, at a venue somewhere.”

“My brother, Paul and I (and his business experience), were obliged to form a limited company as part of NESTA negotiations.”

“We decided to go ahead with development for manufacture, straight to public trials, based on a product, trusting real-world cyclist’s feedback, rather than a hall full of folk off the street.”

“This was achieved with assistance of friends, riders, manufacturing experts, especially DuPont, including the final prototype, then Velo Ent., carbon fibre specialist Lola, and a successful six months prototype trial with Décathlon, Lille.

Rather than the expense, and distance of working in Taiwan, we took the opportunity to work with DuPont, again, alongside Protomould in Fife, introduced by Edinburgh Business Gateway. We met Bill Scott, Protomould’s owner, and it was clear he was perfect to work with. He was to produce a final, high quality tooling, and the early production runs. These processes, took about eight years.”

During this early development, and proof-of-concept, Jon’s cottage paid for patents, and secured the design. Beyond that, Jon and Paul’s family [bravely] stepped in to keep the family business independent. Scary, but all involved were confident in the design, it’s having passed enough, and varied trials.

“Motivated by the contrasting experiences in use, and increasing evidence of damage caused by conventional nosed saddles. Feedback from early takers was impressive, reassurance”.

“Conventional saddle design has barely changed from the very beginnings of the bicycle, the ability to support the human anatomy has become less, in real terms. I think we just changed that.” – Jon