Essax Saddle Guide - Which Saddle Is For You

Before I get onto the in's & out's of which saddle would best suit you its important I explain the AF-Net technology that is one of the many things that make Essax Saddles so special.

AF-NET
AF-Net or Anti Fatigue Net to give it its full title is a revolutionary move forward in saddle technology. The AF-Net matrix that is built into every Essax Saddle has been proven through totally independent testing to improve performance by an average of 4%.

In the independent test Caja Rural rider Garcia Raul Alarcon was asked to hold  200,300 & 400W for 15 minute periods with a 10minute rest period between each set at 150W.

The test was held over 3 days, testing saddles in different orders and every time the riders heart rate was lower using the Essax saddle to maintain the same wattage output. So in short the rider was having to work less to output the same power. When he worked at the same heart rate his power output was far greater hence providing a performance gain through Af-Net technology.
One of these tests that is published at the end of this blog showed a 2.5% performance gain with an Essax saddle against a Fizik Arione saddle and in all tests an average of +4% has been found.

New technology AF-NET.
Tested by the professional team of Caja Rural:

ANTI FATIGUE NET:
+38%  more rigid
+63%  more rigid to the sitting impact
+70%  more resistance to dynamic fatigue
+4,7% more efficiency & improved performance



Quick Essax Saddle Guide

Essax Shark Saddle.
All the features and benefits are so in depth I suggest you read my blogpost on the saddle here. The small fin is for road riding and the medium fin is for TT, Track & Triathlon where you are sat down on your saddle the majority of the time.

Performance Saddle
If its a pure performance saddle you are looking for then look no further than the Adrenaline R. Its available in a raft of colour options to colour co ordinate your beloved steed. Its available with Chrome , Titanium & super light Carbon Rail.

Performance/Sportive
If you want a balance between performance and comfort then the Adrenaline Tech is perfect. It shares the same shell as its big brother the Adrenaline R but features 5mm extra padding on the rear and 1mm on the nose to help with those long days in the saddle. The Adrenaline tech is available in Chrome  and Titanium Rail.

TT/Triathlon
Essax saddles with the Af-Net technology are perfect for riders racing against the clock or riding in an aero position. The Shark with the medium fin is mainly designed for cycling disiciplines where you are sat down most of the time. The benefits of the Shark are explained here in detail. If the Shark feels a step to far then the 226 is specially designed for TT and Triathlon riders with padding added to where you need it and an extra grippy cover used to stop you from moving forward on your saddle. The 226 comes in Chrome and Titanium Rail.

Track
Simply the Shark with the medium fin is incredible in this enviroment. You get all the performance, biomechanical benefits and it also helps you steer to hold that tiger line round the track.

Entry Level
If you want to get the benefit of the performance enhancing Af-Net technology without spending a lot of money. Then at an RRP of £24.99 the MX-R offers amazing value and comes with a steel rail.

Suffer From Numbness or Loss Of Sensation
Its a common problem that can ruin riders enjoyment of this great sport on long rides. The good news is that Essax has 2 great soloutions. The Biomechanical Singel and Advance 2 both have a central channel that relieves pressure in the perineal/genital area to take away that pressure that causes the discomfort. The Singel has more padding and a deeper channel than the Advance 2. The Advance 2 is a cheaper model with a steel rail if you are on a budget. The Singel is available both with Steel and Chrome Rail.

Womens Saddles
Without stating the obvious women are built differently to men and different saddles will suit their anatomy. Women can obviously use unisex saddles but the Singel and Advance 2 with the central channel are a great fit for women riders.

MTB/XC
The high end MTB offering is the Adrenaline XC which is the same saddle as the Adrenaline R but has Kevlar added to the rear of the saddle to make it more durable. If you are on a bit more of a budget then the Mud XC and entry level MX offer better price points and more padding/comfort.

Urban
If you are looking for a super comfy saddle for that family bike that feels like sitting on a cushion then the Malmo is the perfect option, very cheap too.

Essax Adrenaline R with Af-Net v Fizik Arione Test Report.