Ritchey WCS Bar, Stem, Seatpost, Biomax Saddle

by Simon · 01/07/2013

WCS Alloy 1-Bolt Seatpost – $89.95

For the seatpost, it was the WCS Alloy 1-bolt post with zero offset and 350mm to work with (also available with 20mm offset and/or 400mm length). Simple, light, sturdy – perfect words to describe this post. Installation into the seat tube has never been an issue for me, but the Ritchey post comes with some smart shaping on the insertion end that makes it even easier to drop the post in.

The Sidebinder clamp is a breeze to use as well – one bolt simplicity with a great clamp design. Whereas with some 1-bolt designs you have to finagle with twisting the top piece or entirely disassembling the clamp, Ritchey designed theirs so that you just open the clamp wide using the 5mm bolt, pop the rails into a somewhat flexible carrier, and tighten. Adjustment of the saddle tilt and fore/aft is easy – just loosen the bolt and adjust as needed.

Putting the post to use on rides, I certainly have zero complaints. It’s well made, doesn’t move, and the saddle stayed in place without so much as a peep. As with any aluminum post, there isn’t any vibration dampening but that’s not why you get this post; you get this post for its strength and for its light weight (195 grams for a 350mm 27.2 post).

Biomax Saddle – $119.95

If ever there was a saddle I was on the fence about, it would be this saddle. The micro fiber covered saddle looks great and fits in perfectly with the rest of the parts. Plus it weighs in at 225 grams so it’s nice and light; both great things.

However, on long road rides, I noticed that the saddle would sag a little in the middle – something that cause me and my bits and pieces a bit of discomfort – usually after about half an hour into the ride. My other saddles don’t do this. At the same time though, in a recent Kermesse (a farm road race much like cyclocross without the barriers/run-ups) it performed flawlessly. 45 minutes of hard riding on rough roads and I had zero complaints about my backside.

After all of that, it makes me think this will be a great saddle for this year’s cyclocross season – just not the training up to it. If you have a dedicated cyclocross bike though and you like a saddle with a cutout, it certainly deserves a look.

So, as a whole, while I may have a couple of minor complaints (stem nuts and saddle sag), I think the WCS kit is really quite good and I’m pleased to have it on my bike. Everything has held up through many miles of training and commuting, and performed excellently through the rigors of a recent Kermesse and off-season cyclocross training – all this, and no weight penalty. To me, the Kermesse and cyclocross style of racing is where this kit really shines. The bars, stem and post are sturdy, but the saddle has just enough give that you don’t walk off the course wondering if you were violated during the race. I’m rather pleased.

Of course, it also doesn’t hurt that the kit fits my bike’s paint scheme perfectly either…