Cobb Cycling Vflow Hc170 Saddle
For racing. kkki^iX For trail riding. Lightweight and shaped for comfort
Cobb Cycling out of Tyler, Texas, offers a line of beautifully shaped saddles that are so striking, you hate to cover them up by sitting on them. The $179 V-Flow HC170 saddle is made for cross-country racers.
Tech features: The V-Flow HC170 uses a Polymer shell that flexes and molds to the rider. It also incorporates Cobb Cycling's "thigh guides" so the rider doesn't get chafing from the seat edges. It comes in both black and white finishes using a microfiber material. The seat comes with a tool kit that includes an instructional DVD, measuring tape, an open-end wrench and an assortment of Allen wrenches. Our HC170 weighed 6.1 ounces. Cobb Cycling, (903) 253-8555.
After the thrashing: Cobb Cycling's main business is saddles (they also make a handlebar extender for roadies and triathletes). This single-minded focus is evident from the moment you take delivery of your saddle and tool kit. A lot of thought has gone into this saddle, and Cobb Cycling wants to make sure you are using it properly with their detailed mounting instructions and tips.
The V-Flow HC170 is sold as a cross-country racing saddle, so weight is supposed to take precedence over comfort. Well, Cobb hit the weight target and brought along comfort as a bonus. The saddle looks too skinny, too firm and too minimally padded to offer comfort past the needs of a one-hour cross-country race. Surprise. The V-Flow HC170 is contoured to offer an incredibly comfortable ride. There are no pressure points that begin to bug a rider after the one-hour mark. The saddle does an excellent job of weight (your weight) management, and the smooth lines work great with a fast spin. Is it comfortable enough for a six-hour epic ride? No. The nose is probably too firm, and the rear could be a little wider for the epic rider. Still, the V-Flow HC170 works great in racing situations and can be pressed into service for weekend trail riding. □
Now you don't have to interrupt your ride to adjust your brakes Set reach and strode adjust with the Hick 11 n'.'CZ of your thumb. All-new PRIME hydraulic disc brakes Does everything a brake should do. Except slow o TD J ~K/f you down. Visit hayesdiscbrake.com/prime and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Now you don't have to interrupt your ride to adjust your brakes Set reach and strode adjust with the Hick 11 n'.'CZ of your thumb. All-new PRIME hydraulic disc brakes Does everything a brake should do. Except slow o TD J ~K/f you down. Visit hayesdiscbrake.com/prime and look for us on Facebook and Twitter.
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Unchained From The Past
The Ventana Belt-Driven El Comandante 29er SS
Sherwood Gibson and his merry crew have been handcrafting Ventana mountain bikes for the past 25 years at the company's headquarters in Rancho Cordova, California. You would think that after a quarter century, Sherwood would kick back a little. He could stick with a few tried-and-true models and turn them out at a reasonable pace. But Sherwood is not a kick-back kind of guy. Instead, he offers no less than 16 mountain bike models (two are tandems), including the El Comandante 29er single-speed that has Sherwood breaking from the chain gang to go with a Gates Carbon Drive drivetrain.
WHO IT IS MADE FOR?
The El Comandante 29er is sold as a frame only, so there are a number of ways to make it the bike of your dreams. It can be built as a no-holds-barred cross-country racer or as a do-it-all, hardtail, single-speed trailbike. While our test bike had a Gates Carbon Drive drivetrain, there is no reason you couldn't stick with a chain for your build.
and is so balanced that you might not even pick up on the large wheels at first glance. What does jump out the first time you roll El Comandante into the sun is the frame's orange metal flake paint. Spectacular!
HOW DOES IT PERFORM?
Our El Comandante was built more for trail riding than cross-country racing, with nice plump tires, durable wheels and a stout bar and stem. Surprisingly, even using this build, the bike barely broke the 25-pound mark. Remember, this is a carbon-belt-driven 29er. Not bad at all.
Off the line: It is not surprising to learn that Sherwood has BMX in his background. Even with the longest chain-stays we've ridden in recent history, the El Comandante is a tight, fast-accelerating package that does not tolerate lateral flex. The belt? Give it your best Brian Lopes-sprint effort and you will discover that there is no flex or stretch in the belt. It silently accelerates. It feels electric in its power output.
Cornering: We have never ridden a Ventana bike that doesn't have exceptional handling. The winning streak continues with the El Comandante. Ventana milks the big wheels for all their traction and small bump compliance without slowing the steering. The El Comandante's front wheel turns as lightly as a 26-inch front wheel. Climbing: Other riders seem skeptical about the belt drive, especially while climbing. Their fear? Drag created by the soft belt teeth gripping against the aluminum pulleys. It turns out this fear is unfounded. The belt rolls out effortlessly and maintains its smooth, efficient power transfer from soft-pedaling fire road climbs to gut-wrenching, steep ascents.
Descending: We are riding a hardtail here. The large wheels help gap the 2 6-inch guys on everything but ultra-tight singletrack, and that legendary (and we do not use the term lightly) Ventana frame construction backs up your handling skills, whether you are a rank beginner or seasoned pro.
WHAT IS IT MADE FROM?
Twenty-five years of experience goes into the proprietary, custom-butted aluminum tubing that makes up the El Comandante. The head tube is internally butted. The sloping top tube and seat tube junction are strengthened with an open-end gusset. A wishbone seatstay works its way down to what looks like a rear suspension pivot. On a hardtail? That little trick is so the chainstay and seatstay can be separated to allow the belt drive to be mounted. Remember, there is no such thing as a masterlink on a belt.
WHICH COMPONENTS STAND OUT?
None. Blasphemy, you say? Not really. While the Gates Carbon Belt and the specially designed sprockets that make belt use possible look unique, they don't jump out at you. The El Comandante 29er looks like a single-speed
TRICKS, UPGRADES OR TIPS?
The bar was way too narrow for this application. Give us a full 27-inch width so we can clear the last few walls on the ride without dismounting.
While Gates offers a tool to measure belt tension, we didn't need to use it. Tension the belt taught, tighter than you would a chain, and you won't have any issues.
Speaking of issues, we rode the El Comandante up Valve-Grind Canyon. It is named that because of the sandy, gritty soil that covers your drivetrain during 12 stream crossings. A chain drivetrain requires major service after this ride. The Gates Belt? Just hose it off.
If you are concerned about future support (right now, Gates is the one and only supplier of mountain bike belt drives), rest assured that switching the El Comandante to a chain drive is a simple matter.
July 2010 / MOUNTAIN BIKE ACTION 39
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