I can still remember when WTB released their Rocket saddle in the mid ’90s. It cut a distinctive profile and clearly wasn’t just another rehashed road model. The nose of the Rocket was wider than most road saddles with extra padding. This made it more forgiving on those super-steep climbs that force you to ride the front of the saddle to keep the front wheel grounded. It was also hooked, making it less likely to snag your shorts when moving around on the bike.
The Rocket remains within their line and now the Volt splits the difference between the old school marque and the newer and more ‘racy’ Silverado. The Volt clearly echoes the curves of the older design whilst introducing a more sporty edge.
For 2015 WTB has also introduced variable sizing for a number of their models. In the case of the Volt it comes three widths; 135, 142 and 150mm. It’s also offered in a number of spec levels; the Comp ($59) has steel rails, the Race ($80) gets chrome-moly rails while the Pro ($129) runs firmer ‘DNA’ padding with a better quality finish. Next comes the Team ($189) with titanium rails and finally there’s the carbon railed Volt ($329). Our 135mm wide Team saddle weighed in at 198g; that’s a few grams lighter than claimed.
The finish was top notch with a nice textured cover that offers some grip without being restrictive when you need to move around. While there’s some depth to the padding, it’s quite firm and supportive—you’ll be better off with the more affordable Comp or Race models if you prefer softer padding. Saddle comfort will always be subjective, but I found the Volt to be unobtrusive. For the most part it went by unnoticed, which is just what you want really, and with the additional width options there’s an even better chance you’ll find a WTB model that fits.I can still remember when WTB released their Rocket saddle in the mid ’90s. It cut a distinctive profile and clearly wasn’t just another rehashed road model. The nose of the Rocket was wider than most road saddles with extra padding. This made it more forgiving on those super-steep climbs that force you to ride the front of the saddle to keep the front wheel grounded. It was also hooked, making it less likely to snag your shorts when moving around on the bike.
The Rocket remains within their line and now the Volt splits the difference between the old school marque and the newer and more ‘racy’ Silverado. The Volt clearly echoes the curves of the older design whilst introducing a more sporty edge.
For 2015 WTB has also introduced variable sizing for a number of their models. In the case of the Volt it comes three widths; 135, 142 and 150mm. It’s also offered in a number of spec levels; the Comp ($59) has steel rails, the Race ($80) gets chrome-moly rails while the Pro ($129) runs firmer ‘DNA’ padding with a better quality finish. Next comes the Team ($189) with titanium rails and finally there’s the carbon railed Volt ($329). Our 135mm wide Team saddle weighed in at 198g; that’s a few grams lighter than claimed.
The finish was top notch with a nice textured cover that offers some grip without being restrictive when you need to move around. While there’s some depth to the padding, it’s quite firm and supportive—you’ll be better off with the more affordable Comp or Race models if you prefer softer padding. Saddle comfort will always be subjective, but I found the Volt to be unobtrusive. For the most part it went by unnoticed, which is just what you want really, and with the additional width options there’s an even better chance you’ll find a WTB model that fits.
Dirt Works Australia
(02) 9679 8400
www.dirtworks.com.au
