Evaluation: CADEX Amp Saddle – PezCycling Information

• Rising rear curve design will increase ischial help and places the rider in a extra environment friendly and aerodynamic place.
• Topped form drops away rapidly at wings for extra pedaling house, rising match choices and lowering clearance points.
• Clean-edge, truncated nostril design reduces interior thigh pedaling interference.
• Superior Solid Composite Expertise supplies a low-seated, SMC carbon base that eliminates flex and presents most help for extra environment friendly pedaling.
• Built-in Rail Design relieves stress factors and will increase compliance.
• Constructed-in high-elasticity Particle Stream padding disperses stress over a broader space.
• Excessive-density rebound Light-weight Reactive Foam presents sturdy consolation and vibration dampening.
• Ergonomic heart cut-out relieves stress on gentle tissue areas.
• Official CADEX Amp Saddle US web site

CADEX specs 129 grams

Chuck Peña PEZ sez: If CADEX isn’t a model title you’re conversant in, they’re a part sponsor of the Australia Jayco Alula workforce (the most recent evolution of the unique Orica-GreenEDGE workforce). The Amp is CADEX’s latest saddle (the opposite saddle of their lineup is the Increase). Michael Matthews aka Bling rode a prototype of the Amp saddle to victory in Stage 3 of this yr’s Giro and has been using it ever since.

You may’t see it, however that’s a CADEX Amp saddle Michael Matthews is using

PEZ readers will know that I’m a fan of short-nose saddles and at 245 mm lengthy, the CADEX Amp falls into that class (the UCI restrict is 240 mm). And my butt is a fan of a curved (each front-to-rear and side-to-side) saddle form, which is the CADEX Amp’s form. So — at the very least on paper — it appeared like a saddle that ought to go well with me.

Glossy curves front-to-back

The side-to-side curvature is extra obvious when seen from the entrance

On the floor, the CADEX Amp seems to be quite a bit like numerous different excessive finish saddles. Most noticeable is the lengthy cutout designed to alleviate stress the place it counts probably the most.

For all intents and functions, the middle channel runs the total size of the saddle

However there’s additionally stuff lurking under the floor price noting:

• The carbon fiber shell is made through Superior Solid Composite Expertise. Most carbon fiber composites are made with steady layers which can be “laid up.” Solid composite consists of small items of carbon fiber which can be pressed into form because the resin cures. This course of permits for a wider vary of shapes (akin to thickness transitions and compound curvature) to be fashioned with precision relative to conventional carbon fiber.
• Along with high-density EVA foam, the Amp saddle additionally makes use of ETPU (expanded thermoplastic polyurethane) particles to offer cushioning to soak up each physique stress (consolation) and floor impression (vibration dampening). CADEX claims the ETPU “mould[s] to the rider’s distinctive pelvic contact situation. This eases stress factors and distributes that stress throughout a broader contact space for a firmer, extra snug journey.”

All that black goodness on the underside is cast carbon fiber (NOTE the “randomness” of the sample versus the cross-hatched sample of woven carbon fiber or the extra easy, uniform look of unidirectional carbon fiber)

One factor to recollect is that carbon fiber rails are ovalized (the trade customary is 7mm x 9mm), not spherical. In case you have a seat put up that clamps from the highest/backside, not an issue. However when you’ve got a facet clamp seat put up, you’re going to wish adapters from the producer.

Undoubtedly not spherical rails, however positively lifeless horny — NOTE that they’re positioned as far again and as far ahead as potential to keep away from areas which can be contact factors with the rider

One other factor to know is that cast carbon fiber isn’t as robust as woven or unidirectional (UD) carbon fiber (the latter being the strongest). That doesn’t imply the cast composite rails on the CADEX Amp are weak — simply not as robust as woven or UD. If that creates some concern, CADEX has what it calls a Composite Confidence help plan (along with CADEX’s guarantee and repair insurance policies):

We’re so assured in CADEX’s composite expertise, if any composite part is structurally broken whilst you’re using within the first two years after you acquire it, we’ll restore it or exchange it freed from cost.

Simply remember that “it solely covers injury finished whereas using, so don’t go driving into your storage together with your bike on high of your automotive. That’s on you.”

If you happen to’re switching from a standard size saddle to a short-nose saddle such because the CADEX Amp, you’ll most likely must take some measurements to get your fore/aft saddle place appropriate:

• Lay the short-nose saddle on high of your conventional, longer size saddle
• Align the large half (the place you sit) of the saddles (typically as straightforward as merely pushing the backs of the saddles up towards a wall
• Measure the size distinction between the saddle noses
• Measure the gap between your present saddle’s nostril to the steerer tube
• Add the distinction in saddle size to the nostril to steerer tube size
• Set up the short-nose saddle with the above distance between the nostril and steerer tube
• Additionally, double test your saddle peak as a result of the stack peak (44mm within the case of the Amp) might not be the identical as your outdated saddle

FWIW, my expertise with each saddle I journey (short-nose or in any other case) is to place the saddle as far again on the rails because the markings enable. However that’s simply me and my using place.

Saddle rail markings could or could not assist you determine saddle place — I take advantage of them to let me know the way far again I can slide the saddle

I do know it covers up the attractive cast carbon rails and the rail markings, however for each grip and safety, I put material tape on the carbon rails

My first journey on the CADEX Amp saddle was not a “lock and cargo” affair. That means I didn’t instantly “settle in” on the saddle. Slightly, I discovered myself having to maneuver round quite a bit over the course of the journey a to discover a “excellent” place on the saddle. I feel there are a number of elements at play:

• A minimum of for me, the fore/aft curvature has quite a bit to do with the place my most pure place is on a saddle since I set my saddle such that the nostril and again are stage, which creates a valley
• How and the place the saddle “flares out” from the nostril — the CADEX Amp flares out ever so barely sooner and ever so barely wider than a few of my different saddles (however not a lot that it creates interior thigh pedaling interference)
• The form of the again finish of the saddle — the CADEX Amp is extra T-shaped (in comparison with Y-shaped) so creates extra of “shelf” on the again (even when the precise saddle width isn’t appreciably completely different than my different saddles)

The again finish has loads of actual property (for a racing saddle) as a perch in your butt

However as soon as I found out the place I wished to naturally sit on the saddle, I used to be effective. And the extra miles I put in on the CADEX Amp saddle, the extra my butt has gotten snug using it (keep in mind that it’s a racing saddle so “snug” means agency cushioning not soft). NOTE: It’s vital to keep in mind that saddles are a really private alternative. What’s snug for one particular person is usually a whole PITA (fairly actually) for one more. So YMMV.

Solely you (and your butt) can resolve if the CADEX Amp (or every other saddle) is the precise saddle for you

Lastly, the CADEX Amp saddle isn’t billed as both males’s or ladies’s particular. In actual fact, some members of the ladies’s Jayco Alula biking workforce are using it. I’d ordinarily say that the CADEX Amp saddle could be a keeper for me, however my spouse has requested if she might check journey it and I’ve a sense I received’t be getting it again.

UPDATE:  My spouse was wanting a brand new saddle (her outdated saddle was pretty flat and he or she wished one thing with some curve) and, as famous above, she wished to provide the CADEX Amp a strive. As I suspected, she took a direct liking the the CADEX Amp. So at the very least one knowledge level that it’s not essentially a gender particular saddle. And the CADEX Amp is now adorning her bike.

• See extra and purchase one at Official CADEX Amp Saddle US web site