The idea for the Manta saddle followed from Jon's move to Skye in the late 1990's. Motivation to tackle cycle seating came when Jon had free time following a job building stone paths (in the Cuillin hills). The prototypes required ample time and space to develop, especially designing for manufacture due to the complex forms in motion.

"I had long been dissatisfied with how saddle pain impacts endurance - the legs are good for more miles, the backside isn’t. I had to attempt to find a better way to support the human body on a bike.

Existing comfort saddles were not very comfortable at all, because they are compromised. That was no good. The priority wasn’t a temporary perception of comfort but an absence of long-term, and increasing pressure - not the same. The design problem needed turning on its head."

Mock-ups of what Jon thought might work (some existed already), this led to prototypes that began to show promise. There was a breakthrough. His new company, Manta Design, headed into long product development for manufacture, primarily in-house, with vast assistance from friends and the likes of DuPont, then to Taiwan and back to Fife. It took about 8 years and a scary amount of money.

"What kept me going? A ride like a flying sofa, and evidence about damage conventional saddles cause to blood vessels and soft tissues - the 'seat nose' was clearly where it shouldn't be. Conventional saddles are simply unsuitable for human anatomy. Just wrong. The mission was to get old, busted saddle designs left in the garage, and replaced with Manta saddles."

The Manta is developed, manufactured, assembled and shipped from Scotland, worldwide