Have you ever ever tried to arrange a demo or loaner bike to your match specs and had a horrible time doing so? Even essentially the most skilled riders have bother dialing within the good match on a brand new bike. Plus, it’s arduous to get a plumb bob, a stage, and another becoming instruments by way of TSA or in your baggage (with out breaking them). Thats why I used to be so excited to see the brand new Ergon TF1 saddle instrument at Sea Otter Traditional final weekend. The TF1 is slim, plastic, lined in actionable information factors, and sufficiently small to tuck right into a carry-on.
The concept behind the TF1 is fairly simple. It really works off Ergon’s BMR, or Biomechanical Reference Level. It makes use of the 75mm-wide level on the saddle because the constant reference as a substitute of the saddle nostril. That issues as a result of saddle noses are wildly inconsistent from one mannequin to the subsequent. Quick-nose saddles, odd shell shapes, dropped profiles, all of it makes measuring from the tip a fairly sloppy strategy to preserve a match constant. Utilizing the identical level each time makes it a lot simpler to repeat saddle peak, setback, tilt, and even attain to the bars.
There are reference factors notched into the instrument for a blumb bob, a small stage, and different becoming instruments. Nevertheless, essentially the most fundamental becoming might be performed with a small measuring tape and a stage app on a cellular phone. So that you don’t must convey the Match Studio on trip.
The Ergon TF1 retails for round $25, and it’s additionally the form of factor that feels straightforward to justify. It’s plastic, certain, so it’s not indestructible, but it surely additionally isn’t some valuable carbon trinket you’ll be afraid to throw in a journey bag.
Journey Time Buddy
The TF1 feels just like the form of instrument that might be particularly helpful for journey, occasions, and fast fixes. Flying to a race? Toss it within the bag. Making an attempt to get a rental bike or demo bike near your regular setup? Increase.
It’s not listed on the Ergon website simply but, however we’re informed that it is going to be obtainable for buy quickly, so control the becoming part right here.
