The New Era of Fabric Continues With 145g ALM:HALO Saddle
- Saddle platform first developed alongside Airbus updated for modern era
- Unibody design and leaf spring rails combine aesthetics and comfort
- All-new 'Ergo' option features a covered pressure-relief channel
29th October, The Hague, Netherlands - Fabric, the disruptive parts and accessories brand born out of British urban and MTB culture, has continued its return to innovative product development with the introduction of the ALM:HALO saddle range. Ultralight at just 145g, the launch marks the next evolution of the brand’s ground breaking aerospace-inspired ALM saddle platform.
First conceived in 2014 alongside aerospace engineers at Airbus, the original ALM reimagined saddle construction in a way that had never been seen before. A unibody construction celebrated for its timeless silhouette and genuine, unexpected comfort despite its radically thin padding.
Florian Bont, Brand Manager at Fabric said of the launch:
“The original ALM, released over a decade ago in 2013, set a benchmark by bringing 3D-printed titanium aerospace technology to cycling, so going into this project, we knew we had massive shoes to fill. While manufacturing techniques have shifted over the last decade, the fundamental design of the ALM remains timeless. The goal for the new ALM was never to replace an icon, but to evolve it. We asked ourselves the exact same question we did ten years ago: what can we learn from cutting-edge industries and apply to innovative saddle design”
And that’s exactly what Fabric has done. Reuniting the same engineers from the original Airbus project, now working at the National Composites Centre, who helped pioneer the original ALM.
Setting out to discover how to further improve the revolutionary platform, Fabric had to dissect how traditional saddles fail under pressure. Their research identified two major ergonomic failures:
- Hammocking: Occurs when the center of the saddle sags under load. While comfortable initially, it causes deep soft-tissue discomfort during aggressive pelvic rotation.
- Pivot Effect: Occurs when the saddle wings flex downward under pedaling pressure, using the rail bonding points as a fulcrum to force the center of the saddle upward into the rider.
Fabric wanted to retain the legendary leaf spring comfort of the original ALM rails while engineering out any hammocking or pivot effect. To determine how, they worked alongside the NCC to subject the original ALM to brutal load-to-failure testing, with the resulting data showing exactly where to intervene.
Fabric began iterating using Tailored Fiber Placement (TFP), a highly advanced technology derived from Formula 1 that is only available to a select few around the world. TFP allows for continuous fibers to be stitched exactly where needed, enabling the designers at Fabric to map out structural demands with complete flexibility, quickly prototyping and testing different configurations.
They discovered that connecting the rear two rails into a single unibody base created massive rigidity, completely neutralising the upward pivot flex when driving power through the wings. Fabric dubbed this the HALO design. The wing geometry was then adjusted to curve naturally downwards, preserving the unmistakable leaf spring compliance at the rails, while locking the base solid.
These TFP blueprints were then translated into a highly refined, hand-laid carbon fibre thermomoulding process. Placing material only where performance demands it. The resulting saddle is an ultra-lightweight option designed for the purist, the ergonomic flaws of the last generation engineered out from the inside while the clean lines and inimitable ride characteristics remain.
For the first time riders can now choose an ALM saddle with a pressure relief channel. Found on the ALM:HALO ‘Ergo’, its open base design is designed to reduce pressure, numbness and restricted blood flow in the softer perineal tissues. The lightweight foam pad covers the channel, ensuring a sleek look and ensuring there is no dirt or water ingress as found on traditional pressure relief cut outs.
Technical Specifications:
- Carbon unibody construction
- HALO unibody rail design
- 145 Grams
- 265 x 142mm Dimensions
- 10 x 7mm Oval rails
Price & Availability:
The ALM:HALO range is available in the EU at fabric.cc and worldwide at Fabric dealers.
EU RRP €329 / US RRP $329 / UK RRP £299
Lifestyle and Product Imagery Available Here
For more information please contact:
Chris Terry
About Fabric:
Fabric creates award-winning cycling equipment designed to enhance the rider's experience through simple, cutting-edge innovation. Driven by the core values of Passion, Progress, Excellence, and Openness, Fabric searches outside the cycling industry for progressive technologies to perfect the contact points between body and bike. From ground breaking saddles to essential accessories, Fabric never settles for ordinary. Learn more at fabric.cc
