The Radavist

Hold onto yer butts!

Fizik utilizes new 3-d printing technologies on their new Antares Versus EVO 00 Adaptive and the result is the most unique saddle I’ve seen, yet it’ll cost you! The Adaptive saddle padding is crafted by Carbon 3D using its revolutionary Digital Light Synthesis technology.

“DLS is an additive manufacturing process that uses digital ultraviolet light projection, oxygen-permeable optics, and programmable liquid resins to produce parts with excellent mechanical properties, resolution and surface finish.”

Sounds high tech right? Well, it comes at a cost. 390.00€. See more at Fizik.

Products like this intrigue me. They pique my interest and pull at my heartstrings. Oftentimes, I find the cycling industry’s apparel offerings to be too wrapped up in the supergraphic, the superhero, the loud, obnoxious, and ostentatiously-designed garb most of us are forced to wear due to brand simply one-upping, building off of and straight biting-off of other’s designs. Personally, I want my cycling gear to emulate my outdoor gear. I want my cycling shoes to look like boots and honestly, most of the time while I tour and bikepack, I wear just that.

Fizik’s Terra lineup – their dirt-focused shoes – has trapesed about the tundra that is earth tones and laces for some time now but it wasn’t until their Ergolace X2 model dropped earlier this year that I was intrigued enough to reach out to the brand to review a pair. So, aside from a rugged aesthetic, how do they really feel in person?

Meshing hiking boot stylings and their road shoe functionality, Fizik’s new X2 mountain shoe line is quite the looker. With lacing, velcro and Boa closures, in high and low top, with great colors and stylings, the X2 line has something for everyone.

Head over to Fizik to check them out and see more specifications below.

Fizik’s newest shoes are marketed to gravel riding and are a part of the Terra off-road series. The Terra Powerstrap X4 is designed to have a close fit, with the quick and easy Powerstrap Velcro closure system to give your feet a secure fit.

These shoes have a walkable sole, touting a stiffness index of 6. They weigh 292g (size 42- 1/2 pair) and retail for $149. See more information at Fizik.

I must say, this time of year is one of my favorites in the cycling industry. Summer is nearly over and brands begin to push out their new products, eagerly awaiting the consumers’ reactions. When I saw the new Fizik Tempo Powerstrap R5 hit their webshop, I suddenly was excited for road shoes, since forever ago. At only 499 grams for a size 42, a sleek silhouette, easy to adjust velcro straps and a price of $119, these shoes hit a lot of marks, including an all-black design. See more at Fizik and holler at your local dealer for ordering.

I don’t want to say this is a new feature, because I’m not sure how long it’s been out, but in the vein of Nike iD and other customizable products, Fizik has a saddle customization application on their website. Match virtually any of their saddle shapes to a spectrum of colors and tones.

See more at Fizik.

Busyman is so busy, man that he’s just now getting around to posting projects he finished months back. This Kurve saddle and matching bar tape is now in Seoul, Korea. See more at Busyman.

Why is it that the raddest shoes are always the ones never slated for public consumption? Case in point: the Eloquence of Movement Project that Fi’zi:k is promoting.

A little backstory: 2014 is David Millar’s final season of professional racing. He wants to go out with a bang, raising money for a charity and exploring his career as a pro through a series of conceptual cycling shoes.

These shoes were designed by VCRC Style Council in partnership with Fi’zi:k and will be auctioned off for the Small Steps Project.

Each pair was hand made in Italy and are completely insane – like the Milano Sanremo editions pictured above.

Head over to Fi’zi:k to see what all is on the auction block.

Let me preface this review by saying I’ve never felt the need to own a saddle with a relief channel. I always find that proper saddle position and bicycle fit will keep your body happy, even in the most sensitive areas. That said, I completely understand that not everyone’s body is the same. Much like having a proper frame fit, saddle fit* is one of the key deciding factors in an enjoyable ride.

My normal saddle of choice is the fi’zi:k Kurve but I’ve found that without a chamois, they can be a bit harsh so when I began to use my cross bike as an around the town bike, I wanted something with a little more padding. That’s when numerous people turned me onto the fi’zi:k Antares VS. I rode one on Ty’s Hufnagel up to Mt. Disappointment while in LA last summer and was sold immediately. Since then, I picked one up and have been in love ever since.