In our Saddle Library, we carry options from many name brand cycling companies, but we've also got offerings from some brands that you likely haven't heard of. Both started as passion projects by their founders and each one approaches saddle comfort in a different way. Let's take a look from each boutique brand and what they have to offer.
Zeta Saddles
"Not Foam. Not Gel. Something Entirely Different."
ZETA Saddles are powered by Reactive Padding™, a proprietary multi-density formula designed for maximum comfort and shock absorption. Developed by Dr. Patrick O’Shea, a lifelong cyclist and biomechanics expert, it creates softer contact pressure with added sit-bone support and active shock absorption. It offers comfort without sacrificing performance,
From personal experience in experimenting with all of the ZETA offerings in our library. I've found all of them to be comfortable enough to ride without a chamois. The Ultima which I would consider a more casual saddle, purely from its maximal padding, has found a permanent home on my commuter bike, a Surly Straggler. With a generous 165mm width, and over an inch of padding at it's thickest, the Ultima makes for a very comfortable 🍑 platform.
For "racier" situations, I was demoing the Optima S. It follows the snub-nose trend of late, with a 240mm length. The flatter profile allows for easy position changes while riding. While not as thick as the Ultima, the Reactive Padding still does a great job of support and shock absorption, making it a good option for roads less traveled.
I've been quick to suggest any saddle from Zeta to customers who have complained about sit bone pain. One customer was having issues after 15 minutes of pedaling on their trail bike, I recommended that they try out the Optima S and soon to be released Ultima S (145mm). A week later, they came back and ended up raving about the padding specifically. "I don't know what magic is going on, but they know their stuff". It was great to have another success story for our Saddle Library, but specifically from someone who had tried every saddle under the sun, and finally found the one that works for them.
ZETA Saddle offers a risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee on all of their saddles, a rarity in this industry, so you know they stand by their product.
Form Cycling
Form Cycling’s roots trace back to the world of professional bike fitting, 3D Bike Fit, where riders of all levels came in chasing comfort and performance. Over time, one thing became clear: every rider sits differently, and forcing a certain posture or position rarely worked. Instead, they focused on letting the rider find their own natural position—then building a saddle that supported it.
That philosophy led to the creation of the Form Throne RS, a modern evolution of the “pocket” saddle concept made popular by designs like the Specialized Power. The goal wasn’t just to shorten the nose or add padding—it was to help riders rotate their pelvis naturally. With proper pelvic rotation, the rider moves from sitting on the sit bones to supporting weight through the perineum, allowing a flatter back, engaged glutes, and more efficient power through the quads.
Their lineup now includes three distinct models. The original RS suits most riders, while the RS2 offers a wider platform for broader sit-bone spacing—something that better reflects how most real humans, not just racers, actually sit. For rougher roads seeking more bone support, the GT features a flatter top and slightly firmer feel, making it a great match for endurance rides, and has also been popular choice for women.
A key design innovation is the new rail system, which allows the saddle to be positioned up to 3 cm further back—sometimes eliminating the need for a new seat post (offset) altogether. This added range gives fitters and riders more freedom to fine-tune their position and balance comfort with performance.
Form Cycling’s approach is simple but refreshing: build a saddle that works with your body, not against it.
What appealed to me was the shape and simplicity of the Form's offerings. Sit on it and go. When you try out a saddle, you usually know immediately if it's a go or no-go, and the Throne RS was one that I knew I had to explore further, just from how comfortable I felt aboard it. The shape worked will with my thicker thighs, as some saddles have been prone to rubbing and chafing, while the downward-wing shape really put me in a good spot. lI've dealt with knee issues from improper posterior chain activation while riding, so I'm looking for any opportunities that get my glutes firing better.
But don’t just take my word for it—stop by Cyclepath East and try one out through our Saddle Library. No matter what bike you ride, we’ve got plenty of options to test. Brands like Zeta and Form might fly under the radar, but they’ve quickly become favorites among our customers once they get the chance to demo them.
