Are Speedneedle saddles OK for XC racing?

[kfcninja]

I'm considering purchasing a tune speedneedle saddle and was wondering how durable those rails are compare to the titanium rails on the SLR. I'm not to keen on spending $180 and have it break on me a week later. I weigh 74 kilos with gear, ride a hardtail and will use it for XC racing. If it matters, I'm using an extralite seatpost. Thanks for the help...

[noiz]

I'm considering purchasing a tune speedneedle saddle and was wondering how durable those rails are compare to the titanium rails on the SLR. I'm not to keen on spending $180 and have it break on me a week later. I weigh 74 kilos with gear, ride a hardtail and will use it for XC racing. If it matters, I'm using an extralite seatpost. Thanks for the help...

I have the same setup - extralite The Post UL and speedneedle saddle. I'm about 76 kg and I have been riding it the last year and it works great for me. I ride XC but no hardcore freeride-stuff!

[Pedä]

i use only the speedneedle... since a few years and without problems.

and i have never damaged one of my speedneedles or seen a broken speedneedle. but i wark in a bike shop and we had over five broken slr...

-> the titanium tube of the slr was every time damaged directly at the position where the seatpost clamps the saddle....

[Brandhout]

I rode a SLR for four years without any problems until my brother decided to drill some holes in it Now I've got a speedneedle (about six months now) and I feel very confident with it AND I find it a more comfy sadle, but that's more personal I suppose. I weigh 72 kilo's (without gear, kinky) and also only ride xc.

[kfcninja]

noiz: did you have to make any modifications to your extralite seat post to have the large rails on the speedneedle fit?

also, which one to get: alacantra, leather, lycra and regular vs. marathon?

[Furti]

I'm 78kg and I'm an XC and marathon racer.
I use lycra version and I like it very much.
(88g)
I use FRM ST M-20 seatpost w/titan bolts. 158,5g and these are perfect together.
f.

[Monticone]

Speedneedle is ok, but witch version is better?
Leather or alcantara?
On my rodie 585 I mount the Alcantara version (perfect for me), but I think that it could not be very functional for MTB.
In wet conditions alcantara make problems? Is it sufficently durable?

[Pedä]

Speedneedle is ok, but witch version is better?
Leather or alcantara?
On my rodie 585 I mount the Alcantara version (perfect for me), but I think that it could not be very functional for MTB.
In wet conditions alcantara make problems? Is it sufficently durable?

the leater version is better, but the alcantara version is lighter.....

the durability of both is te same, but the alcantara version saves water over one night... if you will ride through te rain with the alcantara version (or wash your bike) it will be wet until the next night..
but te next day it is okay!

[Tippster]

I've riden both an SLR and a leather Speedneedle, both with a USE carbon post.

I had to get an oversize clamp head for the speedneedle and also modify the clamp head.

Comfort wise, I find them similar in rides up to 2 hours on the road.

[kfcninja]

thanks for the info. i agree about the ride time limits on these saddles. i have the slr evolution on my road bike now and after 2 hours - you definitely start to feel it....

by the way, are the rails kevlar or is metal wrapped with kevlar? - just wondering. Also, for anyone using an extralite post with their speedneedle - do i have to modify my seatpost clamp or does it fit as is?

[dlight]

will a speedneedle work with a ritchey post

[Esben]

thanks for the info. i agree about the ride time limits on these saddles. i have the slr evolution on my road bike now and after 2 hours - you definitely start to feel it....

by the way, are the rails kevlar or is metal wrapped with kevlar? - just wondering. Also, for anyone using an extralite post with their speedneedle - do i have to modify my seatpost clamp or does it fit as is?

A speedneedle will work with a Extralite seat post.

I’ve just used my Speedneedle for a 12 hour relay mtb competition. We were two riders, which resulted in just over 6 hour of mtb riding on a really bumpy course and I had no problems at all with this saddle.

[Tippster]

thanks for the info. i agree about the ride time limits on these saddles. i have the slr evolution on my road bike now and after 2 hours - you definitely start to feel it....

by the way, are the rails kevlar or is metal wrapped with kevlar? - just wondering. Also, for anyone using an extralite post with their speedneedle - do i have to modify my seatpost clamp or does it fit as is?

I think it is more important to get a quality padded short than a padded saddle.

The rails are carbon wrapped in kevlar.