{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1559179"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1559179/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW7847/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2021MW7847/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2021MW7847","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW7857","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW7845","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW7856","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW7848","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2021MW7851","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O1559179/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1559179","accessionNumber":"CD.13-2021","objectType":"Bicycle seat","titles":[{"title":"S-Works Power with Mirror","type":"manufacturer's title"}],"summaryDescription":"In March 2019 Paralympic cyclist Hannah Dines made headlines in the UK national press detailing her experiences as a female cyclist. She recounted enduring years of friction, pain and swelling whilst riding, resulting in her needing a reconstructive vulva surgery. As Dines shared her story, many other women came forward about their riding experiences. Alison Tetrick, a professional US cyclist, had the same surgery as Dines and had insisted that the area be researched by her sponsor, Specialized.\n\r\nThe bicycle manufacturer Specialized developed this saddle in response to the discomfort of riding a bicycle for extended periods of time. Women especially experience pain as a result of the design of saddles, that traditionally have been developed according to the needs of the male anatomy. \n\nFollowing a 2-year research project, Specialized released the Power Saddle with MIMIC technology in 2018. This was a “women’s saddle” that increases comfort for female and male users designed by Andy Pruitt. He had already ventured into this field in the 1990s creating body geometry technology and the women’s Power Saddle with MIMIC was his last product before retirement. For him, this saddle is his greatest innovation, stating: ‘Everything we learned and all the technology we discovered with the MIMIC will go into the Mirror, the 3D printed saddle project. It’ll only get better.’ \n\nThe S-Works Power with Mirror saddle launched in 2020 and is produced using 3D printing from a liquid polymer. The complex honeycomb structure enables a flex not possible to achieve with more traditional foam saddles and provides a more responsive and comfortable riding experience. The polymer saddle is also lighter than traditional designs, with rails and a carbon shell. \r\n","physicalDescription":"Black bicycle saddle","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Specialized Bicycle Components","id":"AUTH378059"},"association":{"text":"designer and maker","id":"x34662"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"polymer","id":"AAT218300"}],"techniques":[{"text":"three-dimensional printing","id":"THES270986"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"3D printed liquid polymer, with carbon shell","categories":[{"text":"Product design","id":"THES49025"},{"text":"Sport","id":"THES48893"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"DAD","id":"THES260586"},"images":["2021MW7847","2021MW7857","2021MW7845","2021MW7856","2021MW7848","2021MW7851"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"76","id":"THES49548"},"free":"","case":"CA6","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"bicycle seats","id":"THES398687"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2020 - 2021","earliest":"2020-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Specialized Bicycle Components","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"24.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"190","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"4.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"14.3","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Height (without mount): 4.4cm\r\nLength (without mount): 24.3cm \r\nWidth (without mount): 14.3cm\r\n\r\nHeight (with mount): 24.3cm\r\nLength (with mount): 24.3cm \r\nWidth (with mount): 14.3cm","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Bicycle saddle, 'S-Works Power with Mirror' saddle designed and manufactured by Specialized Bicycle Components, ca. 2020.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"<b>21.12.2020\n\r\n3D-printed bike saddle</b>\r\n\n\r\nIn 2020, Specialized launched its first 3D-printed saddle available for purchase off-the-shelf. Taking advantage of this manufacturing technology, its complex honeycomb structure has a flex and give not possible to achieve with foam saddles.\r\n\r\nSpecialized is committed to addressing the challenge of rider discomfort. In 2018, following a public outcry about the pain women cyclists endure, the US company launched a saddle designed around the female anatomy. It featured a cushioning system preventing high pressure on soft tissue. Most saddles have traditionally been designed for the male body, and as British Paralympian Hannah Dines states, ‘being a cyclist with a vagina means pain with a bit more pain added on top.’\r\n","date":{"text":"2021","earliest":"2021-01-01","latest":"2021-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["CD.13-2021"],"accessionNumberNum":"13","accessionNumberPrefix":"CD","accessionYear":2021,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-03-03","recordCreationDate":"2020-12-21","availableToBook":false}}