BMX is pretty unique in the sense that it’s always evolving and re-inventing itself. The bikes from 10 years ago are pretty much polar opposite of what they are today. Complicated things have been re-designed and made to be lighter, stronger and easier to install and maintain. Everything on a bike has been tweaked and changed to make it better, sometimes multiple times.
In the past decade, we’ve seen seats go from railed to the very popular pivotal style. I remember thinking how simple the design was and that there probably wouldn’t be much you could do to make a seat more simplistic and cleaner…
Well, I was wrong. A little over a year ago, David from Fly Bikes introduced the tripod seat system and like a Colorado wild fire in the middle of a drought, we’ve seen this new concept take off with more and more brands starting to offer their own version of the seat and post design with no signs of slowing down any time soon.
We were really curious to know what the story was behind this system, so we caught up with the brains of the operation, David Quesada, to talk a little bit about how this all came about. Let’s see what he had to say…
Alright, so for this new Insight we’re taking a closer look at the Tripod seat system that you guys created. When did the initial idea come along to do this type of design?
The final design was done around 2 years ago, but the concept was floating in my head for around one year before that.
The first thought was to achieve a simple, yet stronger set up using 3 points of support (Hence the Tripod name). The strength that you get allows the more simple and aesthetic structure that I was looking for. Also
realizing that the vast percentage of riders only use 2 seat angle positions, I came out with this simple system of adjusting the angle of the seat.
So once the idea was there, what was the next step? Who handles all the drawings and getting all the dimensions and what not for Fly Bikes?
The next step was to come out the final design, measurements, reinforcements, dimensions and tolerances etc., that process took quite a while.
I actually do all the drawings and design every Fly product. I guess is not usual to own the company and make the products designs at the same time but making products is the reason why I started Fly so I don´t want to change that. I consider myself more of a designer/inventor than a business guy, really.
Were there multiple designs for this or did you guys pretty much know what you wanted to do right off the bat? Was there anything in particular that inspired you guys to come up with the design?
I guess the only inspiration was the simplicity of the railed seats, without so much stuff going on the back of the seat. It is just two holders on the back, one on the front to hold the rails and a few reinforcements here and there. Just keeping the back of the seat as nice as possible.
Once the design was done. How long did it take to get a few prototype samples made so you could test out this design? Obviously this required you guys to do a seat and seat post so I could imagine that required a little more work that just doing one or the other.
Once the design was done, the prototypes took around 3 months. Then once we got the first samples and it took some time to test the several seat and post fitting tolerance to achieve the perfect fitting to have the smoothest assembly as possible.
Mutiny‘s Tripod seat and post.
Once you had the samples to physically work with and look at, did you guys make any adjustments? I feel like something like this could require small adjustments like seat angle just to get it perfect.
Yeah, over the last year we have refined the post position, angle and length. We have slightly moved the post 3mm. back to position the seat a bit more forward, lowered the wedge to have a bit less angled up and also added 1” for a slightly longer post.
We also changed the allen bolt from a 5mm. hex to a more convenient 6mm. allen key.
Something like a seat doesn’t seem like a part that really gets too much abuse. Was there anything in particular you guys wanted to see happen or not happen during testing?
Basically we wanted a really strong overall set up, especially on the nose area. The good thing about the Tripod design is how strong it is on the nose, with the bolt placed closer to the end of the nose there is less leverage to avoid bending or cracking noses. We also reinforced this area quite a lot with the shape of seat, and reinforcements.
Odyssey‘s Monogram Tripod seat and post.
Did the original design change at all from the final sample you guys sent into production?
Not really, it was the very same design we started with, there was only a few little tweaks needed.
Start to finish, how long did it take for you guys to go from idea to actually having the tripod seat for sale?
I would say around 3 years.
Deluxe‘s Tripod seat and post.
“We decided to go with the Tripod for a few reasons I guess – I just love David’s elegant design, how it just pops into place and gives a couple variants on seat angle, the smooth looks, the quality, the fact the seat upper doesn’t have a rubber slot in it, and the overall quality. I knew straight away that Tripod would be the one to go for, for our new Deluxe seats this year.” – Mark Noble / Deluxe BMX
Care to kind of take us through how the system works? It’s adjustable right?
Yes, it´s adjustable wherever you place the wedge included. If you place it between the seats and post you have a steeper position but if you place the wedge between the post and bolt, you have a more mellow flatter position.
Was there even a moment where you kind of thought, “what if this never takes off?”
Honestly, that never really came in too it. When I started the project I wanted to design something that fitted in with my other products. Even since the beginning when we showed it to the riders and they tested it they all loved it. They were really into the idea of the system and the simple design. But it´s definitely great that now other brands and their riders are into it.
The Shadow Conspiracy‘s version of the Tripod seat system.
Now, maybe I’m wrong, but I feel like it took about a year for other brands to start licensing the idea. Was there a reason or did it just take a little bit for brands to decide to give it a shot?
Yeah, the reason was because we needed to make those refinements on the post that I mentioned before and once they were done we opened the license.
How many brands are currently licensing the design? I feel like tripod seat and seat posts will be big at Interbike this year. Is it catching on outside of BMX yet like the pivotal seats did?
So far, the brands joining the Tripod system are Odyssey, Sunday, Cult, Mutiny, United, Shadow, Demolition, Volume, Proper, T1, Haro, Premium, Mutant, Deluxe, Superstar & The set. At the moment is just BMX brands.
How much is the seat and seat post going for from Fly Bikes?
In the US it is around $27 for the seat and $23 for the post.
You can pick up the Fly seat and post kit for $32.99 – $37.99 on Dan’s Comp
So now that the seats are taking off and brands are offering more options as far as seats go. What’s next? Do you guys have any plans of tweaking the design? I know a few people mentioned they wish it had more seat angle options.
We have a new wider seat base with bumpers to give the rider more seat options and there is a really long 230mm. post coming up soon.
Regarding the design, it works great so we don´t have plans to change it really, same with the seat angles too. We think that people are starting to realize that there is no real need for more angle option.
Cult‘s Dakota Roche and Chase DeHart tripod seats
What’s next for Fly Bikes? It seems like you guys are constantly coming up with new ideas or making existing ideas better. Any hints at what we’ll be seeing at Interbike this year?
Thanks for that, Kurt. We have some ideas in the works but they are not ready for the Interbike this year. We are releasing some quite interesting signature products next week.
How can people keep up with Fly Bikes these days? You guys are on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and everything, right?
Sure!
www.FlyBikes.com
Facebook.com/FlyBikesFanPage
Twitter – @FlyBikesBMX
Instagram – @FlyBikesBMX
Let’s say brands, shops or distributors have questions about the Tripod seat system. Who should they contact?
Yeah, they can contact to [email protected] for any question.
Is there anything I missed you want to say?
Just thanks to all the brands that have supported the system and obviously thanks to our team riders that have done the same from the very beginning.
That wraps up this interview with David Quesada about the Tripod Seat and Post system. Let us know what your thoughts are on this new design or if you’re planning on getting yourself one of the seats and posts in the comments! Also make sure you hit that “Like” button up top so your friends can check this one out too!
