WTB has a new saddle designed to act as a carry handle for electric bikes.
The Devo, launched at the Sea Otter Classic in California, has a cut-out at the rear of the saddle, designed to help the rider lift or push the bike, either on the trail – WTB seems to be pitching this for eMTB use – or in transport.
“Everything else that’s heavy has a handle to pick it up, so why not your bike?,” says WTB’s Clayton Wangbichler.
The “pick-up handle”, as it’s known, is a patent-pending design. WTB says the hole is located “behind the sit bone contact area to make it completely unnoticeable while pedaling”.
Whether it provides a clear line of fire for water and mud ejected from the back wheel remains to be seen.
WTB claims to have reduced the amount of nylon fibres in the Devo’s shell to increase flex and improve damping. The saddle is said to offer a “medium” level of thickness.
In terms of shape, the Devo is 260mm long, and WTB says the saddle is designed to stay narrow before quickly widening at the sit bone area, to avoid thigh rub.
The wide nose is designed to encourage the rider forward on the saddle, “to keep the front wheel down on steep, technical climbs that are only conquerable on an ebike”, according to WTB.
WTB will offer the saddle in a 142mm width, with stainless steel or chromoly rails, and with the brand’s “plusher” HLX padding. The premium, titanium-railed Devo has WTB’s DNA padding, said to improve support by retaining its shape better.
- WTB Devo with titanium rails – $142.95, claimed weight 215g
- WTB Devo with stainless steel rails – $119.95, claimed weight 249g
- WTB Devo with chromoly rails – $95.95, claimed weight 264g
WTB Gravelier saddle designed for long gravel efforts
Moving on and WTB now also has, for the first time, a gravel-specific saddle in the form of the Gravelier.
While Wangbichler says the Gravelier can, of course, be used beyond gravel riding, the saddle’s shape, which curves from tip-to-tail, is designed to support the forward-leaning position that, according to WTB, many gravel riders adopt for extended periods.
It’s a saddle “for gravel riders who put in big miles at an expeditious pace”, according to WTB. It’ll be used by the WTB x Pivot Endurance Off-Road Team.
You’ll also find a perennial relief cut-out and a short nose, again to alleviate pressure when the hips are rotated forward, according to WTB. The Gravelier measures 246mm from front to back.
WTB will offer four models, ranging from $95.95 to $249.95. Claimed weights are unknown at the time of publishing.
- WTB Gravelier with carbon rails – $249.95
- WTB Gravelier with titanium rails – $142.95
- WTB Gravelier with stainless steel rails – $119.95
- WTB Gravelier with chromoly rails – $95.95
