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Rarely bothering with a car if at all possible, cyclist, sculptor, small project construction manager-builder, and others, Jon says that bicycles are THE sublime, fun, and supremely efficient machine for human transport. The perfect tool to provide viable, clean, and safer cities. This was motivation enough to seek a genuine seating solution. The MANTA saddle was designed to revolutionize the riding experience.
So, why choose a MANTA did you ask?
In stark contrast to bicycle efficiency, bike seating has been much the same since its inception. Not supportive enough, not supporting in the right places. Large traditional saddles are too restrictive, and too soft.
Pain is a body’s way of saying something isn’t right. It affects endurance and enjoyment, especially over distance, you think you get used to it, as you go numb. Eventually soft parts become hardened.
The MANTA is designed to suit all riders from 10 years-on (and from two or so, soon), it is found to be therapeutic, via increased blood-flow* (research remains to be published).
Time for a totally a new sensation.
*[the MANTA is unique in increasing arterial blood-flow during cycling]
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“Existing “comfort saddles” are compromised. They lack a neccesary form and function. Movement is restricted by width, adding chaffing, and the supported area is little better than with most sports seats.
The priority wasn’t for the perception of comfort, instead an absence of what creates discomfort. The problem needed turning round to provide maximum support with no loss of performance.
I contacted BBC Tomorrows World, who had an innovations competition programme coming up, but I was advised not to go public, with a design with commercial potential, until a patent was applied for.
Several years were spent organising patents and talking to NESTA about prototype market trials, at a great cost, for what you learned from it. We decided to head into product development for manufacture – to get real-world feedback. This was acheived with vast assistance from friends, riders and the likes of DuPont, Velo, in Taiwan, and back to Protomould, in Fife to make the final tooling for the initial production run. This took about 8 years.
What kept the motivation, was the contrast, with increasing evidence of damage caused by conventional nosed saddles – and their sheer discomfort – they’re unsuitable for the job of supporting the human anatomy – we changed that.” – Jonathan Catling (designer)
Cute cycle quote: “I read a study that measured the efficiency of locomotion for various species… the Condor used the least energy to move a kilometer. Humans came in with a rather less impressive showing, about a third of the way down the list. But then someone at Scientific American had the insight to test the efficiency for a man on a bicycle – a man on a bicycle blew the Condor away” – Steve Jobs
Each MANTA begins its travels crossing over to the mainland ¡Buen viaje!
Unified Sport
Manta Design Ltd Reg. 04399997
Manta Design Scotland Ltd Reg. SC0355993
5-6 Herebost
Dunvegan
Isle of Skye
Western Isles, IV55 8GZ
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