When a company packages a saddle in a clingfilm-wrapped polystyrene tray like a piece of meat, you know it's something a bit special.
The Freek is Fizik's innovative and almost totally indestructible jump seat, using a deep sided, hard nylon shell with rubbery pad inserts across the broad, flat top and on the thigh gripper sides. Finger grips are also moulded under the nose and the tail for easy 'seat grabs' and 'supermans' if you're a flyboy.
The deep flanks also work really well when you're stood up and trying to stabilise the bike between your legs, and the flat top is great for shifting your position on. We've also seen these saddles handle some brutal impacts unscathed. What you mustn't do though, is sit on it for more than a few minutes at a time, as it'll batter your bits to pieces.
The sharp back shelf can also pinch flat your personals with eye-watering effect if you catch your cobblers when you're hanging over the rear wheel. To be fair, Fizik are fully aware of the brutal lack of comfort and we've been promised something more forgiving soon. Still, it's an admirably innovative way to add control and stop your seat post going intravenous, if you spend 99 per cent of your time stood up that is.
