A saddle could make or break your journey, so is it value the additional value? In that case, what precisely do you get from a saddle that prices as a lot as an entry-level bike? Meet the Wove Mags Saddle.
You would possibly keep in mind the $595 Wove saddle from our information piece not too way back. The carbon-clad perch (therefore the Wove title) boasts a super-lightweight design and is manufactured proper right here in USA.
Are decreased weight and status the one advantages of a Wove saddle? No — while you dive into the Wove saddle world, you enter a realm of motorcycle match concept and positioning that may flip your preferences slightly on their head.
Wove Mags Saddle
Wove has been designing saddles for practically twenty years. Initially, the crew pursued a “zero comfortable tissue stress, no chamois-bunching, and 0 thigh rubbing” quest. Over time, they prototyped, examined…made extra prototypes, examined, and ultimately agreed on one thing that was market-ready.
For this overview, we study the Wove Mags saddle. The Mags is essentially the most sensible within the Wove assortment. The model’s different preliminary providing, the V8, is a Triathlon and Time Trial (TT) centered design. The 2 share many similarities in design and manufacturing, so should you’re a TT or Triathlon-focused rider, maintain the V8 in thoughts.
Consolation is King
Wove describes the Mags as a highway and gravel saddle that may cut back your bike’s weight whereas including consolation. Now, I care little about a type of promoting factors and loads concerning the different. However let’s discuss extra about how Wove achieves each as a result of they don’t seem to be simply positioned collectively, very like efficiency and low value.
The concept behind the Wove Mags saddle is brief, environment friendly, and, above all, free hip motion. The rider adapts a selected saddle setup when dialing within the Wove Mags. The directions for arrange ask the rider to position a degree on the flat a part of the saddle nostril and alter the saddle angle in order that the extent is 0°.
After all, the rider can alter as wanted, however Wove likes the setup a bit nostril down. This match model is turning into more and more fashionable, particularly with slammed stems and slender bars to scale back frontal space. Wove, nevertheless, desires the hip angle as open as doable with the hips rotated ahead. This implies the saddle may be anyplace from 0° to 1.5° nostril down. Additionally they just like the saddle extra ahead. This transfer ahead is barely correlated with the general size of the Mags.
The Mags measures 24cm—the UCI minimal for saddle size—however the usable part is far shorter. The rear of the Mags is generally carbon fiber. It seems cool and gives a pleasant placement for the saddle rails for suspension, however doesn’t supply a lot, or any padding for that matter.
Shorter Nostril
I’m a fan of short-nosed saddles, and it’s partially why I took this overview on. The concept of a saddle that regarded (in pictures) intently sufficient to the Specialised Energy and CADEX AMP that I principally journey was engaging. The Wove promise of consolation was an excessive amount of to disregard.
Once I obtained the saddle, the very first thing I seen (apart from a really good presentation) was the padding peak and distinctive dimensions.
It’s like a mixture of saddles:
Wove Mags Measurements
- Size: 24cm
- Nostril: 30.5mm
- Rear: 146mm
- Rails: Carbon fiber 7mm spherical
- Weight: 124g
Wove Mags Saddle Set up
I adopted the set up particulars from the Wove web site however took my match measurements under consideration. The Mags was barely taller than the Energy it changed, however the match actions had been all you’ll count on from a “new saddle dial-in interval.”
I went with a conservative 1°down, matching my earlier saddle concerning the nostril and angle. This bike has extra of a drop than my others, so I stored in thoughts that I’d want to regulate later.
The spherical rails are a pleasant bonus. You don’t see many (or any, actually) on full carbon saddles. Most are available in an outsized form or one thing extra sturdy to assist with flex and breakage. Wove gives a guaranty (plus a 30-day consolation assure), and they’re assured within the integrity of the spherical rails. It’s a novel flex, however I dig it. I didn’t have to vary out my seat put up for the ti-railed saddle the Wove changed, making issues barely simpler on me—which I like.
The Nostril
One factor with short-nose saddles is that there is no such thing as a commonplace on nostril width; for some, just like the Specialised Energy, the nostril tappers quick and to a close to level. Nonetheless, on the Bontrager Aeolus and the PRO-Stealth, the nostril stays extensive with no actual tapper The Wove Mags has a slight mixture of the above, with a slight tapper and really comfortable plush padding that conforms to the rider’s stress factors.
The padding is one other vital characteristic that units the Wove aside. The padding is thick however not tremendous dense, and from what we hear, it’s replaceable through Wove manufacturing unit should you take it down in a crash. The quilt materials is barely cheesy (extra on that later) and skinny. The skinny materials permits the froth to behave like reminiscence foam and cushion the rider with out sinking in. The feeling is as totally different as sounds describing it, nevertheless it works.
Trip Impressions
My overview rides had been a beneficiant mixture of highway, gravel, and Zwift. After my preliminary setup of 1° nostril down, I opted for an additional diploma sloping, placing me at -2°, the place I might keep for a lot of the overview rides.
My first rides had been on the highway, and proper off the bat, I might inform the Mags and I might get alongside fantastic. The highway chatter took a again seat, one thing that’s widespread on full carbon-shelled saddles. This was extra obvious. I might really feel the cushioning and assist. That mentioned, it may very well be from the froth or the thinner spherical rails. Both approach, that saddle felt good.
I preferred the impartial motion and assist of the nostril. It jogged my memory barely of an ISM saddle, nevertheless it was simpler to maneuver about when placing out more durable efforts. The flexibility to maneuver round on the saddle is diminished with the Mags, however there may be nonetheless a light-weight bit you are able to do. I discover myself sliding to the nostril on climbs or within the bunch responding to assaults. You are able to do this on the Mags, however solely barely.
The grippy texture of the saddle (they’re accessible in two cowl choices) didn’t agree with my winter bibs and would squeak barely. I discovered myself aggravated with this on a couple of event, and if I might, I might have preferred a much less tactile really feel. The 3D-printed saddles are simply sufficient for me, and this was a tick above what I preferred. However the sensation different relying on the make-up of the shorts, I’d say it was about 20/80 on the additional seize really feel.
No Sizzling Spots
I actually preferred the Mags on the coach and the gravel; you possibly can actually really feel the assist. I can’t keep in mind having a sizzling spot on a journey with this setup. I’m often full of “I’d change this place barely or transfer this again, and many others.” however with the Mags, I felt comfy.
Climbing within the saddle felt as planted as going arduous within the drops. The flexibility of the saddle is one thing that I wasn’t used to. Typically, a saddle can really feel very totally different going uphill, particularly while you’re placing stress on the nostril. The Mags, nevertheless, felt constant in all.
Is it well worth the cash?
The 595 greenback query: “Is it well worth the cash?” Effectively, if cash had been no object, then sure, I might journey the Mags and have it on all my bikes. I like the texture and luxury, and many others. However cash issues, and that is the most costly saddle I’ve ridden. If it had been extra within the $300 vary, it will be value 100% of the cash, however the $595 value level is excessive and arduous to justify.
For many riders, we wish to have a saddle on every of our bikes that’s related or the identical. I’ve varied saddles with the identical shell and ranging weights to accommodate the bike’s wants. Having saddles and components at this value is tough to swallow. I perceive the manufacturing and expertise that goes into it (simply have a look at the factor – it’s superior), however the fee is simply an excessive amount of, for my part.
Closing Ideas
The Wove Mags is a wonderful saddle; it does the whole lot that it claims: feels nice, tremendous light-weight, highly effective pedaling from the hips, and many others. That is it in case you have the dough and desire a short-nose saddle that will provide you with essentially the most efficiency you possibly can stand.
I might like to see this glorious journey and the standard trickle right down to a extra inexpensive degree with out compromising the efficiency.
