F’izi:k THAR saddle – first look

F’izi:k THAR saddle – first look

New 29er-specific saddle

F’izi:k designed the THAR to counter fit issues the company saw with existing saddles on 29ers

Courtesy

Josh Patterson

Published: November 6, 2013 at 10:09 pm
F’izi:k designed the THAR to counter fit issues the company saw with existing saddles on 29ers - Courtesy
The THAR has extra long saddle rails, with the extra length added to the rear in order to push the saddle forward on frames with slack seat tube angles - Courtesy
The rear of the saddle is shorted to prevent the the tire contacting the saddle. A rare occurence on some full suspension bikes - Courtesy
The THAR with manganese rails (shown here) has a claimed weight of 225g and retails for US$99. The version with K:ium (tubular titanium alloy) rails has a claimed weight of 195g and retails for $150 - Courtesy

Saddle manufacturer F’izi:k has developed a new saddle intended to be used on 29er mountain bikes.

So what makes a saddle 29er-specific? According to F’izi:k, “Larger wheels have forced changes in mountain bike geometry, often including longer chainstays and shallower seat angles. These changes have an affect on weight distribution and bike fit, tending to position the rider further towards the back of the bike.”

In order to address these fit issues, the THAR has rails with 95mm of fore/aft adjustment—25mm longer than comparable saddles, F’izi:k claims. This length was added to the rear of the saddle, allowing it to be positioned further forward to compensate for shallower seat angles and longer top tubes found on some (but certainly not all) big-wheeled mountain bikes.

In addition to adding more fore/aft adjustment, the THAR also has a shorter tail to prevent the saddle buzzing the rear tire. A rare occurrence that can happen on some long-travel 29ers when the rear suspension is fully compressed and the seatpost is completely dropped.

The THAR comes with two Nylon spaces, called Tuner Inserts, which allow the rider to customize saddle flex.

The thar with manganese rails (shown here) has a claimed weight of 225g and retails for us$99. the version with k:ium (tubular titanium alloy) rails has a claimed weight of 195g and retails for $150 : - Courtesy

The Thar has longer rails and a shorter tail than comparable saddles

The THAR is available in two versions. The THAR with manganese rails has a claimed weight of 225g and retails for $99. The version with K:ium (tubular titanium alloy) rails has a claimed weight of 195g and retails for $150.

Josh Patterson

Contributor

Josh Patterson is a BikeRadar contributor and former technical editor. He has spent most of his career working in the cycling industry as an athlete, mechanic and journalist. He holds a master's degree in journalism and has more than 20 years of experience as a cyclist and 12 years of experience riding and writing for BikeRadar, Cyclingnews, Cycling Weekly, Dirt Rag, RoadBikeReview and Outside Magazine. A native of the Flint Hills of Kansas, Josh was a pioneer in the gravel cycling movement, having raced the first Unbound 200 and many other gravel events around the globe. He considers himself a cycling generalist and enjoys road, gravel and mountain biking in equal measure. When not traveling for work, he can be found exploring the singletrack and lonely gravel roads that surround his home in Fort Collins, Colorado. In addition to his love of cycling, Josh is an enthusiastic supporter of brunch, voting rights and the right to repair movement.
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