Bayflex®, Royalgel®

Guaranteed comfort in a high-tech saddle

In the Lookin 3D saddle of Selle Royal S.p.A. a three-layer polyurethane sandwich features maximum comfort. In addition to the proven Royalgel® product, it also contains two layers of Bayflex® foam made from raw materials supplied by Bayer MaterialScience.

There are of course still plenty of hardened cycle fans who swear by their good old leather saddle. However, most cyclists today prefer to avoid unnecessary discomfort on their bikes by mounting a modern saddle made of state-of-the-art materials that offers excellent comfort even over long distances. It also allows competitive cyclists to concentrate entirely on their racing. One of the leading manufacturers of products dedicated to the well-being of cyclists is the famous Italian firm, Selle Royal S.p.A., which specializes in saddles. The latest product to emerge from Pozzoleone, the company's headquarters, is the Lookin 3D saddle, which features a perfectly harmonized combination of three polyurethane materials for maximum comfort. In addition to the proven Royalgel® product, it also contains two layers of "traditional" and viscoelastic Bayflex® foam made from raw materials supplied by Bayer MaterialScience AG.
"To increase seat comfort, the most important thing is to reduce the contact pressure in the saddle as effectively as possible," says Dr. Andreas Hoffmann, a polyurethane expert with Bayer MaterialScience. "The introduction of the now established Royalgel® was a giant step forward in this respect compared with conventional foams, because it is able to distribute compressive stresses outstandingly well. When you put pressure on it, it feels soft and springy and then returns to its original shape immediately the pressure is removed. In the new Lookin 3D saddle from Selle Royal - the 'D' stands for 'Density' - this property is enhanced through an additional layer of viscoelastic polyurethane foam." The trick is that, between the bottom layer of traditional Bayflex® polyurethane foam and the upper layer of Royalgel®, the 3D saddle has a so-called VEI, a "viscoelastic interface", which gives the gel more space to move around, not just in two dimensions but three. With the aid of this intermediate layer, the pressure is thus also dissipated very effectively to the lower regions of the saddle. According to Selle Royal, the Lookin 3D saddle reduces the pressure on the prostate gland, pubic bone and ischium by up to 80 percent.