A saddle for the Rampage. Built for wild tricks, hard landings and just one rider: Bienve Aguado. Ergon still refers to the 3D-printed saddle as a one-off. However, the manufacturer has hinted that this may not be the end of the story.
Anyone watching the Red Bull Rampage who focuses on the saddle usually misses the spectacle above it. Bienve Aguado’s bike might be worth a second look, though. Ergon has built a prototype for the Spaniard that has to meet some very specific requirements. Above all, it’s designed to help Aguado keep his bike under control whilst in the air. And there’s plenty of airtime at the Red Bull Rampage.
How should a saddle be designed to meet such requirements? It all starts with the shape. The saddle is designed so that Aguado can clamp it firmly between his knees whilst performing tricks, even when both hands are off the handlebars. At the same time, it should offer enough freedom of movement for his manoeuvres and provide protection during hard impacts. The seat area features a custom 3D-printed lattice structure, the cushioning of which, according to Ergon, has been specifically tuned. The design also matches the paintwork on Aguado’s Rampage bike.
It’s an unusual amount of effort for a component on which a freerider spends relatively little time during a run. But that is precisely what makes the saddle interesting: during a seat grab, it acts as a grip; during a no-hand trick, it serves as the point of contact between rider and bike. What sounds like a minor detail on paper could prove decisive in the air.
Aguado is a rider who pushes such details to the limit. The Spaniard has made a name for himself in the freeride scene with spectacular tricks. At Rampage 2023, he amazed the crowd with a front flip over the Canyon Gap and was awarded the Best Trick Award for it. We can also expect him to push the boundaries of what’s possible on a mountain bike during his run tomorrow at the Rampage in Utah. What he has planned for this year’s run remains his secret for now.
Ergon is almost as mysterious when it comes to the question of whether Aguado’s saddle is more than just a personal Rampage experiment. The Koblenz-based ergonomics specialists merely hint that other riders might one day benefit from this development. The brand is clearly aiming to pique people’s curiosity.
Tomorrow, Saturday 10 October 2026, the men’s Red Bull Rampage competition will take place in Utah – the live stream on Red Bull starts at 4.30 pm.
Josh Welz
Editor-in-Chief
