Reverence: Fi’zi:k
Three is a big deal. There are three constituents to an atom, there are three main classifications of galaxies, we live on the third stone from the sun, we perceive the universe in 3D, we have the holy trinity, there are three goals in a hat-trick, there are three little pigs (and bears), there’s the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (yup, three), and of course we all practice the three-point system. Basically, when there’s only three things that contribute to one thing, each one of those things is really important. The loss of one renders the other two, and the sum of their trinity useless, sooner or later.
The three things that Fi’zi:k focuses on are the contact points between the rider and the bicycle. Starting at the hands and moving down (or aft as it were), Fi’zi:k has been designing and manufacturing handlebar tape and saddles since 1996 and more recently, shoes. As gear-junkies, snobs even, you all know this. There are few, if any, bicycle equipment manufacturers that haven’t released at least one less than savory product. And in this time of big helmet-to-cleat-and-below-the-seat companies branding everything from frames to rim tape to kit there are probably fewer still who have as small of a line as Fi’zi:k (they also do seatposts). If you’re not already fully familiar with their line click on over and have a look here.
To my knowledge we have yet to write a Reverence article for an entire company. My intent here is not necessarily to review Fi’zi:k’s gear, lest I wow you to sleep with Huangisms and other musings. My intent is to declare our reverence for Fi’zi:k’s sublimely elegant wedding of style and purpose. Even if their shoes and saddles aren’t quite suited to your anatomy, and Merckx forbid one company could be all things to all riders, you must admit that Fi’zi:k has cultivated a top-shelf aesthete and makes the gear to back it up.
My personal foray into Fi’zi:k’s product line started, as most folks probably do, with handlebar tape. Previously to becoming a devotee of their tape though, I had noticed their logo on the backsides of some of my favorite riders in the pro peloton for years. Smart marketing. Place a logo on a kit where it’s either going to be frequently shot by the camera car or seen by riders as they get dropped and it’ll be remembered.
The virtues of microtex may have first been chronicled on this site here. It looks impeccable, wears well, and cleans up nice. You owe it to yourself to grace your bars with some Fi’zi:k tape. After being sold on their tape I delved into their saddles. I purchased a black and red Antares for bike number one and was immediately impressed by the perfect stitching and elegant lines of the rails and saddle platform. To this day my VMH still doesn’t understand how I can perch myself atop such a small looking saddle for so many hours. And if there was ever a saddle that epitomized Rule #61 it is the Antares. I now run the Antares on all three of my bikes. And truth be told, due to the circumstances of extended gravel rides in cellular dead zones bordering wilderness on a bike with one bidon, I frequently use their integrated/yet detachable EPMS on my gravel rig. As far as Rule #29 violations go I figure I may as well be classy about it.
That brings me to the Fi’zi:k shoe line. Recently I picked up a pair of R3’s and had a similar reaction to them as I did to my first Antares. They just look cool and are made extremely well and no other country on earth has produced better cobblers than Italy. From the baby kangaroo leather toe, to the sail cloth straps, the Italian flag under the tongue, to the “:K” logo on the baby kangaroo leather heel these things scream Italian shoemakers. When I say “scream”, I really mean get bras and panties tossed at you by not saying anything and just sitting there in that Cipo back in mid-nineties sort of way. In other words you render all who gaze your way powerless to your handsomeness. In fact, the power these shoes hold over me have led me to (in the tradition of this fine site) name them “The Aristocrats” for their black-tie look and high-end appeal.
So chapeau, er, bellissimo to Fi’zi:k for nailing the three ways we contact our machines. I appreciate your dedication to developing products that serve to provide us with one thing; connecting to our bikes.
Fizik Rocks!
I wish so bad I could find their celeste microtex, its disappeared like innocence in Las Vegas, GONE!
And even in white (i know, i know) those R3’s are smoking
great one Marko!
There are way more constituent in a atom than three (quantum physics)and there is also the rule of three in comedy (do something funny 3 time and it will be funny the three time but no more than three).
Three is a magic number!
@Godsight
Granted this isn’t a physicsinati, I’m under the impression that atoms contain electrons, protons, and neutrons. If you’d like though, I can add your input on comedy.
@Marko
well said. Didn’t realize how much I like Fizik till I read this. I also rock an Antares and really dig the white microtex. As for the shoes. They looks sweet as hell. Especially in red.
@Marko
Rule of 3 in comedy goes: Set expectation (1), reinforce expectation (2), break expectation (3).
Like the joke of about the guys held captive by superstitious bandits. They are to be shot at dawn. One guy says they’re superstitious, make out like there’s a natural disaster and in the confusion we can escape.
One by one they’re taken to the firing squad. Their captain says “Ready, aim…” First guy shouts “Flood, flood, flood! Run for your lives!” Bandits freak out, he scarpers and waits in some bushes. Same thing for the second guy, but he shouts “Earthquake!” and staggers from side to side like a Star Trek extra when the Enterprise has been hit. He escapes. Third guy comes out, confident. “Ready, aim…”
Dude shouts “Fire!”
@Blah
Even better:
I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land. “”Jon Stewart
It’s a well known rule that you shouldn’t change your setup right before a big race.
The week before riding 250km up down and around Mt. Rainier (the longest ride of my life), I bought a pair of R1s and wore them for the duration. I couldn’t have been any more comfortable.
Ok guys. You’re causing me some trouble here. I really, really, REALLY love my White Ladies. But all this shoebone is making me want to stray. I’ll stay the path, though.
I love Fizik; Marko – you nailed it on this one, as usual. Reverence to a company. Lezyne could get a Reverence as a whole, too, those guys rock. But the three contact points (in elementary Physics, yes, there are three elements to an atom, but quantum theory and sting theory are buggering your beautiful metaphor – did you hear some Physicists got a particle to exceed the speed of light? Fucking insane – it pretty much means it passed through another dimension in order to get to where it was going).
I love a company that figures out its focus and defines itself by that. The contact points on the bike, I hadn’t thought of it that way, but that’s very classy. I love their tape and saddles. This spells trouble for the shoes.
To further your Three concept, I was in a band called “Three Options” for 5 years because there are always only three options.
@frank
here a bit of temptation(be gone devil!)
These are giving me Shoebone for sure.
De La Soul knew of the reverance of three and sang of the virtues in – “The Magic Number” which was of course “3”. This in itself contained samples of “Lesson 3” by Double Dee and Steinski. This is from the album, coincidentally called, “Three feet high and rising”. They also didn’t know about Fizik at the time, though one suspects that those associated with Fizik may have heard of De La Soul.
Anyways, Fizik do make absolutely great products. Having Antares and Aliante saddles across two of the bikes and a Tundra on the MTB, my backside thanks me everytime I use them. Those shoes do look nice as well….
@RedRanger
Out damn spot!
Beautiful shoes. Damn.
Just had a look at what those R1’s retail for out here in Aus, one of the local shops is offering them at $525 (down from $550). I’m pretty sure they’d actually rate as the most expensive pair of shoes in our house (if you knew my VMH you’d understand how big a deal that is)!
Rock, Paper, Scissors – the Decisive Three.
@frank
That was no particle. It was V-essence of JENS. The laws of physics don’t apply. Unless he tells them to.
In the tradition of Velominitpicking, Marko I must point out that there are three wickets in a hat trick. It is a cricketing term which has been stolen by lesser sports such as soccer.
“In fact, the power these shoes hold over me have led me to (in the tradition of this fine site) name them “The Aristocrats” for their black-tie look and high-end appeal”
The Aristocrats? Dear fucking god no.
The Aristocrats…
fantastic article marko well written, i really want that anteres saddle, it’s on the list for sinterklaus. along with a big pile of other stuff i want and can’t afford so unfortunately i’m going to have to take a scrubbing brush to my brain and eradicate those beautiful, beautiful shoes…
@Minion
Brilliant. Have you seen the Aristocrats documentary ?
@frank
Did you see that they replicated that experiment. Successfully. Einstein was wrong. Maybe.
Anyhoo Fizik does indeed rock. The white bar tape with black fizik logo on it is simply the boss. As is the Antares. Did anyone ever contemplate why the Antares saddle is so small when the red Giant Antares is so large??
you see this is what happens when you work night shift and you have sleep deprivation. You post like a drunk….
@Minion
I would call em the Fat Cats cause they look like the shoes the Monopoly guy is wearing, rocking the spats. And since I own spats, thats just damned cool.
What’s with all this three arguments? I’m shocked that all these examples are necessary to assert the obvious. And cricket, @Marcus, really?? How many times has Eddy Merckx won the World Championships? Nuff said.
Great post, Marko! I do love me my Aliante. And I’ve some black Fizik tape for wrapping this winter once the snow is down…
Really want to get my hands on a kurve snake to try out.
http://www.fizik.it/kurve/images/slideshow/kurve-snake-01.jpg
@Minion
@ChrisO
The only time Bob Sagget has made me laugh.
@Marcus
I don’t even know what the fuck cricket is but I’ve heard the game can cause riots which, as it happens, all games with hat tricks cause riots from time to time; cricket, soccer, and hockey (which is what I was thinking of at the time). I was going to reiterate the hockey point but our resident Canadian adroitly pointed out the Prophet’s W.C. accomplishments.
+1 Steampunk
I was going to do another Reverence on another little gem these guys have: their little rear flashy light. I have mentioned it before, but it’s absolutely brilliant. I have at least two flashers on my rain bike for visibility, redundancy, and to give some perspective to traffic, and this one clips into the little dealibob under the saddle and you hardly even know its there. Its super light, and while its not as visible as the main flasher I have, it does a great job.
@frank
I’d love to see your total light set-up as I am having to do a fair amount of night time riding these days.
@ frank:
that lite just make me think one thing
TRON…..
that thing is the shimmizzle!!
just bought one:-)
@Lee
When its really rainy, I go full-bore with lights on both drops (the little velcro planet bike SPOK lights) and both rear flashers. I also have a white flasher on the front. I’ve not done any night riding just yet, but really all I’d change in the setup is a brighter front light.
This is pretty serious overkill, but the planet bike lights do stop working, so having extras going is not crazy. Also, I like having the lights on the bars so cars know how wide I am, and having them on different points give me some dimension so the cars might have a better idea what to expect in terms of where I am exactly.
Overkill, but saying you have too many lights is like insulting someone that they think too much.
@paolo
I think traditionally we still would say Einstein was right. His theories just didn’t account for conditions when you move that fast. Just like Newtons laws are right except if you’re super small. For the space we operate in, they’re right.
But now I’m just getting dangerous because I’m not a physicist. Love that shit, though. Should have dropped Computer Science and done that instead.
I haven’t been able to get those shoes out of my mind since last night. If I am forced to obtain a pair (1) I will not be held responsible for my actions and (2) will refer Marko for a conmission.
@frank
and no-one else has repeated the results elsewhere yet(although it may only be possible to do this experiment at/from CERN) so it’s early days I guess. Maybe Einstein wasn’t completely correct (cosmological constant) but it’s very exciting none the less. Science is good for cycling!
@frank
But the important thing to remember is “That no matter where you go, there you are”, even across the 8th dimension.
ICARUS is now refuting the OPERA findings. They are both at Gran Sasso. Going to be some geek beat downs during lunch.
My understanding is that relativity says nothing can accelerate to the speed of light but has nothing to say about particles created going faster than light. Like The Prophet, you better be born with supernatural speed or you are out of luck.
I believe the correct way to pronounce Fi’zi:k is the same as the word Phisique. I, however, refuse to use this pronunciation and instead pronounce it the same way as Andre the Giant’s character in The Princess Bride.
It’s much better that way.
@Nate
I got your back, bro.
as I re-entered road biking about six years ago I was introduced to Fi’zi:k by way of having their logo burned into my retinas as I spent hours focusing on the saddle of the guy that took me under his wing and shepherded me all over southeast Idaho. Fi’zi:k is one of those companies that I admire from afar. I’ve always wanted to try out one of there saddles and when their shoes came out I wanted some of those really bad but I gots Mericun feet so I always end up in Specialized Body Geometry. I guess I’ll have to get some Fi’zi:k bar tape.
@itburns
Icarus refutes
Oh wait, itburns already knew that, I meant to thank him and provide a link for others who may be interested.
@Souleur
Or the toasters from the old-school Battlestar Galactica.
@frank
I hate to tell you this but think an aeronautical engineer stole your seat tube and replaced it with a wing. Does that thing help your bike generate lift in crosswinds?
A very well considered Reverence piece Marko. Fizik is Italian cool. I have gone two for three in the world of Fizik. I bought a bright green Fizik saddle for the co-owned clone Merlin, a fine saddle until 50km into a ride, then a mean mistreater. It still sits a top my Bontrager hard tail mountain bike.
I also am a fan of the hard wearing bar tape but it’s your white shoes I really want. Tell me they are comfortable for the long ride?
Unfortunately, shoes and saddles, these contact points between bike and body, they have to fit one’s body first, look good second. Fizik sure has the good looks, quirky Italian marketing, and the made-with-love products, everything Specialized doesn’t, who currently dominate my three contact points. But they fit, damn.
I purchased the Antares VS (“I’m a chameleon!” said in my best Ralph Wiggins voice) earlier this year. The LBS I sometimes go to lets you try a saddle for free for a week to see if you like it first before buying, which is pretty sweet as you never know what’ll fit your rear and what won’t until you give it some miles.
Boy, am I sorry I waited so long to upgrade my saddle. It’s one of the best purchases I’ve made for my bike. Even after 169 km, my longest ride on it, my ass is one thing that isn’t really an issue.
Their microtex tape is also the cat’s pajamas. I’ll be due to re-wrap my bars after this winter is over, but the current white tape has held up great for a year now, with little cleaning.
Figure 1: The Cat’s Pajamas. See also: Fizik microtex bar tape.
@Gianni
I wish I could tell you they are comfy on a long ride but I’m not sure I’ll have the chance to wear them on a long ride until April. They are very comfortable and seem to caress my dogs in all the right places but time will tell. Since I underwent a pro bike fit I’ve been wearing insoles in my shoes and they’ve made a difference overall.
Saddles and shoes are most certainly personal. I feel like the Big Mig every time I travel with my saddle, shoes, and pedals when I can’t travel with my whole bike.
@frank-I think what we have in Fi’zi:k and Sidi is the juxtaposish of understated classic Italian style and garish Italian flare.
@RedRanger
Those white ladies are giving me serious butterflies. … must … procure!
My first foray into Fi’zi:k was my first replacement saddle for my current steed. I got an Arione and I Love it – I can spend all day on that saddle (and have!). My next purchase will be some of their bar tape. Is this a backwards way of getting into the brand?
@itburns
Not quite; relativity just means that time is not universal and changes relative to the subject’s speed. The problem with the E=Mc2 is that it means that as your speed increases so does your mass, and once your mass is infinite it takes infinite energy to accelerate. The only way to get around it is do jump a dimension, which almost has to be possible. It would also explain quantum particles, I think, if they’re just bouncing around in other dimensions and not actually disappearing. Conservation of mass prohibits it, but it works if you include other dimensions for what you consider “conservation”.
@snoov
Good link. I like the adjective “superluminal”. I think Frank’s rain bike could be described as superluminal.
The comments section there is a gas (at STP, of course).
@frank
So the faster I get the fatter I become.
So obese people are really mega fast beings from the planet Tharg who are just passing through our dimension but because we just see a brief reflection of time from that dimension they just appear fat and slow….Yes. It makes sense.
I need to sleep dammit.
@frank
Yes, infinite energy needed to reach c and everything is relative to your inertial frame of reference. Newtonian constant time thrown out when the frames of reference are different enough but good enough for every day. As G’phant observed, the OPERA people are saying they have found a particle that says “Shut up legs”, climbs to the top of Mount c, then leaves the course to continue climbing in hopes of getting to Nobel first. Will be exciting, but ICARUS has already raised some doping concerns and it will probably end up taking longer than a Clenbutador arbitration before we know the official decision.
Look to CERN for more interesting results in the future. The Large Hadron Collider is at the lowest level of energy to start confirming/refuting some multi-dimension theories.
Apologies – just remembered this was a thread about Fizik, not physics, but I typed all this babble so you are going to get it.
@mcsqueak
Now that trumps the Cats Cock every time.