PressCamp '16: Fabric

By now, most mountain bikers would be familiar with the Fabric name. Launched back in 2014 as an offshoot of Charge Bikes, Fabric originally kicked things off with a line of cleverly designed saddles that included the versatile Scoop, the high-tech ALM and the innovative Cell. Given Charge’s existing reputation for producing wildly popular saddle designs, it made sense that Fabric would take this knowledge and apply it to a new brand that could find its way onto a broader range of bikes – both for OEM and the aftermarket. And given that both Charge and Fabric are owned by the Cycling Sports Group (CSG), which also own Cannondale, GT, Mongoose & Schwinn, there were certainly some big opportunities within the CSG umbrella for Fabric.

As we’ve found out though, Fabric isn’t just a saddle company. Nick Larsen is the GM of Fabric, and he’s also the ideas man behind many of their new innovations. Along with a team of industrial designers and engineers, Fabric has been exploring some intriguing concepts that are very much outside of the usual box that cycling components dwell within. Two years on from their debut, I had the chance to see their expanding product line during PressCamp 2016, which now includes multi-tools, pumps and even LED lights too. Here’s a look at some of the highlights from this year’s event.

While Fabric’s line continues to grow for the 2017 model year, it’s the Scoop saddle that remains as one of their core products. Available in a wide variety of versions and colours, the Scoop also features some nifty innovations that stand it apart from the competition. For the most part, there’s a strong chance that the saddle on your mountain bike comes from the same factory that the vast majority of the world’s bicycle saddles come from. With the exception of a few different colours and perhaps some slightly different shaping, a lot of saddles out there are really just the same thing. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but when Fabric decided to produce their own saddles, they didn’t just want to slap their branding onto the same designs and manufacturing processes that everyone else uses. Firstly, Nick Larsen and his team weren’t big fans of the staples and glue typically used to attach the saddles upper to its plastic base. Secondly, the unsealed foam padding that most saddles use has a habit of soaking up water on wet rides. And being from Britain, Larsen didn’t like that one bit.

With the Scoop saddle, Fabric addressed both of these issues by employing a vacuum bonding procedure to apply the upper to base. This seals the upper and the internal padding entirely, and gives it a really clean look. The plastic base used for the Spoon saddle is also unique, because it has in-tuned flex throughout its length that helps to deliver more suspension and more comfort than a typical construction does. Because the underside of the saddle is completely plastic, it’s also a lot easier to wipe off mud and dust, and you can also add a nice splash of colour in a place that’s typically not that pretty.

If you think the name sounds familiar, that’s because it should. The Fabric Scoop is of course a reinterpretation of Charge’s classic Scoop saddle, which had already proved to be one of the most popular saddle options in the UK. The new Scoop takes on a similar-ish shape, but Fabric have built it in three distinct profiles to suit different riders, depending on their bike position. There’s the Flat profile that suits an aggressive riding positions, the Shallow profile for an intermediate position, and the Radius profile for an upright riding position. On top of this, each Scoop profile is available in several versions that vary in price and materials, from the base-level Elite saddle that features Cromoly rails and a Nylon base, all the way up to the Ultimate saddle that uses a full carbon base and carbon rails too. Along with multiple base colours to choose from, there is a dizzying array of choice for the Scoop.

Introduced last year, the Line saddle came into the Fabric saddle range as a slightly racier option with a central relief channel. While Fabric fully admit that relief channels aren’t actually necessary with most saddles, consumer demand suggested otherwise, and so they delivered with the Line to appease those riders. Rather than a full cut-out, the Line instead uses a deep channel through the centre of the upper, so as to not create an open window where mud and dirt can be flung up from the rear tyre into the riders nether-regions. While the Line saddle doesn’t come in the same three profiles as the Scoop, it does have two different widths. New for 2017 is the addition of a wider profile, which measures at 142mm compared to 134mm of the standard Line. The extra width should provide a little more surface area to increase sit-bone support.

The Cell is an intriguing item, because it’s a comfort-based saddle that doesn’t look like your traditional comfort saddle. To create this model, Fabric went outside of the saddle manufacturing industry to a sports shoe company, who helped them develop an air-sprung cushion that would help deliver more even pressure distribution, and therefore more comfort. The Cell features a broad 155mm width and a profile that suits a relatively upright riding position. It’s designed to suit a wide variety of different bikes, but is more likely to find its way onto a high-mileage commuter or touring-type bike, where arse comfort is particularly important, and the riding position is more upright. That said, we can see the Cell being a great option for gravel grinders and XC riders cramming as many km’s into the day as possible.

In the above photos, you can see the three layers that make up the Cell saddle. The first is the Nylon base, which uses the same construction and the same saddle rail design as the popular Scoop model. The second layer is made up of a bunch of pyramid cells, which are designed to squish evenly to provide the in-built ‘suspension’. The top layer is a durable and weather-proof TPU cover, which is sealed onto the mid-layer and the Nylon base. This complete seal is tested for pressure retention at the factory before shipping, which ensures that the Cell can maintain its air-based suspension properties. The result is a super comfortable design that provides more support than a traditional foam-based saddle, and a very unique look.

Covering off Fabric’s existing line of products is the Chamber multi-tool. Named after a gun chamber, this clever pod houses a number of tools inside that fit straight into the ratcheting head.

Purist mechanics will really dig this one. There are thirteen separate tools available inside the Chamber housing, and each can be loaded into the ratchet mechanism that offers increased functionality than a traditional folding multi-tool, and a little extra length to each bit that makes it easier to reach small adjusters. The tools are made up of 6 extra long, double-ended bits, with an extra 8mm hex key bit found in the centre of the barrel. The Chamber tool includes;

• Smooth metal casing
• Allen keys: 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8mm
• Phillips head: two sizes
• Flat head: two sizes
• Torx keys: T10 & T25
• Weight: 162 grams

Aside from the new wider option for the Line saddle, the main news at PressCamp ’16 from Fabric was the announcement of their all-new bike light range. With the goal of introducing their sleek design ethos into a number of front and rear LED lights, Fabric have brought some well thought-out ergonomics that make these some of the most versatile lights I’ve ever seen.

The range starts at a compact 30 Lumen front light, which you can see in the above photo (that’s the white light that’s second from the left). Fabric have gone to great lengths to ensure proper water resistance to the 1PX5 standard and the F30 is also USB rechargeable. Available in a rear version called the R30, the tail light version features an in-built accelerometer that sense deceleration to increase brightness or change into a flashing mode every time you brake – how cool is that! Going up from there, you move into the barrel-style lights that utilise high-powered CREE LEDs. Power ranges from 150 Lumens, through to an off-road capable 500 Lumens, with the lights labelled as such: there’s the FL150, FL300 and FL500. The internal Lithium battery increases in size along with the increase in power, so each light will punch out its full Lumens for 2 hours on high. There’s also a medium, flash and strobe mode.

The FL lights use a tough aluminum body that houses the LEDs, battery and electronics within. On the FL150, there are 3 individual LEDs, while on the FL300 and FL500, there are 4 LEDs. The end of the light housing is hooded, which helps to shield your eyes from the bright beam. However, a split on either side of this hood distributes the light out into a wider pattern that is ideal for capturing the attention of other road users. Fabric have built a multi-position mount, which uses a large rubber strap to wrap around pretty much anything – your frame, handlebars or even the seatpost. Why a seatpost? Well that’s because…

…each FL light can be used as a rear light too! With four LEDs across the top of the light body, a quick tap of the main button can transform your high-powered front light into a powerful rear light that can be mounted both vertically or horizontally along the seatpost.

Also new for 2017 is a brand new line of compact pumps, and floor pumps too (not pictured). As with the lights, the pumps have a Lezyne-ish feel to them, with lots of slick machined alloy and shiny bits. The mini pumps are split into road and off-road versions, though they all feature an extendable hose with a dual-valve head that can quickly be adapted for presta or schrader valves. The pumps have a lovely feel to them, and they have a good length stroke to get more air in per-pump.

You may very well have read my review of the Fabric Cageless Bottle, which debuted last year in the Fabric line as one of the coolest new products we’ve seen to date. Shirking the traditional bottle-and-cage design, the cageless bottle instead relies on two small stubs that mount to your frames mounts where you’d normally fit a cage. These stubs fit into corresponding pockets on the underside of the bottle, which wedge down in place. Aside from being lighter, the Cageless Bottle also gives a super neat look to your bike. Available in a variety of colours and bottle sizes/shapes.

Addressing more rider contact points, Fabric have an expanding line of grips and tape for all kinds of different bikes. With matching colours to their saddles, there are plenty of options for getting matchy-matchy. The Silicone grips in particular have a very nice and soft feel to them, though being made of silicone, they offer incredible wear resistance. Available in both standard and lock-on versions, and now available in a semi-ergo and a full ergo shape to offer a little more comfort.

For more information on the full Fabric range, head to Fabric.cc or get in touch with Monza Imports to find your nearest dealer.