SADDLE:
Cool Gear "The Seat 1977" (third edition) - injection molded DuPont Adiprene urethane prepolymer shell - post 1975 with forward mounted Allen wrench tension adjustment / revised rear slot configuration for more secure attachment of the frame undercarriage / improved "Cushion-Flo" slow memory foam padded inserts - post 1976 with square metal stabilizing insert for the Allen wrench adjustment mechanism / modified shell profile having fuller side skirting - Black simulated leather grain cover - detachable frame rails crafted from titanium bar stock - model Road ... [Cool Gear (...i.e. a registered trademark of the Jacobs Corporation) introduced their original "The Seat" to market back in 1974. Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of that saddle at the time was its use of Cushion-Flo pad inserts which were integrated into a simulated leather grain cover which was then bonded onto a DuPont Adiprene urethane prepolymer shell - a general manner of construction that would eventually be adopted by numerous imitators. Jackie Simes used this first version of The Seat when he broke the indoor world roller record on February 18th, 1975 at the New York City International Cycle Show by riding 681 virtual miles over a 24 hour time period (...and that included "non-cycling" periods where he had to sleep and/or nap - he ate while spinning away in the saddle). For model year 1977, Cool Gear unveiled their new The Seat 1977 edition in three distinct models - the Road, the SL, and a new Ladies specific version having a wider fantail. All of these new models benefited from an improved injection molding process which provided for more consistency and uniformity in flex as well as a refined shell profile which reduced overall weight despite having fuller side skirting. Other updates included a central stiffening bridge that was now molded into the shell itself, the rear slot was revised so that the saddle could no longer be separated from the frame rails unless one completely removed the Allen head tension adjusting screw (...both of these features had actually first appeared in 1976), a square metal stabilizing insert for the Allen wrench tension adjustment mechanism, and perhaps most notably, the frame rails themselves were now crafted from titanium bar stock rather than the aluminum or stainless steel tubing as had been used on previous editions. While Cool Gear appeared to be doing quite well for themselves by 1977, a warehouse fire at their Colorado facility late that year literally wiped out their entire inventory of product. Given a full season without any product sales and, to their credit (...no pun intended), unwavering financial support for the Cool Gear / Exxon racing team throughout the 1978 season, the company was basically bankrupt by 1979 and never recovered (...although they did attempt to resume offering elements of their clothing line, The Seat was never brought back).]
