Note: WTB sent two Solano saddles to Guitar Ted Productions at no cost for test and review. WTB has not paid for, nor bribed Guitar Ted for these reviews. All opinions and images, unless noted, belong to Guitar Ted/Guitar Ted Productions.
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| The WTB Solano saddle |
The previous post in this review, including the technical introduction, can be seen HERE. In this post I will focus on the Solano, as it fits me best. The Solano SL is now in N.Y. Roll's hands and I will get an update from him on it soon.
The Solano is for, what WTB describes as, "shorter, harder efforts" and matches up best with riders who prefer harder efforts in the saddle. With this in mind I rode the Solano on my single speed gravel bike which seems to work best with efforts in the saddle as opposed to standing and sprinting or "mashing".
I found the shape of the Solano was easy to get along with and higher cadence pedaling was no problem. I had no interference with the saddle's edges or any problems with being punished by a non-forgiving base or stiff padding when bouncing slightly at these higher cadences. This went for rougher spots I traversed as well.
Pushing hard going up a longer grade, I found the Solano was transparent but provided a solid base from which I could press back on for a bit more leg power when it was needed.
Moving slightly fore and aft gave me some different feelings which provided a bit of relief on longer grinds. Obviously, being a very short saddle, with abrupt shape changes in a short distance, you don't have to move much to find a different feel. The contour depression in the middle of the saddle provided excellent protection against numbness and discomfort. I had no issues with this saddle as far as feeling went over a longer ride on gravel.
So Far... I've had a ton of shorter rides with this saddle but only a couple which went into the three hour range. I'd like to get something a bit longer bagged for my reviewing purposes before it is time to wrap things up with the Solano. I also want to bring in N.Y. Roll's opinions on the Solano SL he has in my next update.
Right now? I'd keep the Solano on this bike. It does its job quite well, with no irritations, and it isn't harsh, nor does it induce any chafing or numbness with me. Now, this may not be your experience, and saddles are a personal choice, so my recommendations need to be seen in light of this. With this said, I can say with confidence that the Solano does raise the bar for me in terms of what a WTB saddle can do for my riding. I want to hold final judgement until I can manage an over three hour ride, so look for my final verdict later this Summer, if not before.
6 comments:
Just wanted to let you know I am appreciating the artwork and photo headers you have been rotating in the last few weeks. Makes me smile each day 😎!
@tntmoriv - Thank you!
Patiently waiting for another WTB SSTi reissue like they did several years back and I missed! My original is no going on 30 years old! I do have a stockpile I have hoarded
I've been looking at this saddle. I appreciate a slightly shorter nose. I like my WTB Gravelier saddle on my go-fast gravel bike but it's too firm for MTB (for me). If you have experience with that saddle, would you say the Solano is basically a cushier version?
@eBikeADV - Thanks for the comment and question. I do happen to have a Gravelier on one of my gravel bikes. I found it to be a bit harsh as well. I also thought it could have been the shape, but I wasn't sure back when I tested it.
Now that I have the Solano I thought I'd compare it to the Gravelier one day and I was surprised to find the shapes are nearly identical. So, my guess is that it comes down to the new padding material used in the Solano compared to my Gravelier.
It is interesting to note that WTB claims the Gravelier has minimal padding and a slightly curved up tail in comparison to the Solano. So, my guess is the Solano would prove to be the better saddle from a comfort standpoint. So far, in my experience, I think this tracks.
I do like the Solano SL very much. It is my first short nose saddle. Give me a few rides on it. Right now I am in love with it.
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