MtnBikeRiders.com

I recently received the Prologo Vertigo Nack to review. I’ve only put about 40 miles on the saddle, so this is just a quick first impression and some pictures for everyone to look at.

Out of the box, the Vertigo Nack looks plain Jane from the top save for the flash of gold on its rear

Out of the box, the first impression you receive is that this baby is light! The Vertigo family has three different variants: Vertigo, Vertigo Max and Vertigo Nack. All are designed for mountain biking. The lightest and most XC oriented saddle is the Vertigo Nack. I don’t have a gram scale, so my office’s postal scale will have to do. It came in at a svelte 5.8 oz which translates into 164.4 grams. The posted weight of the saddle is 163 grams, so I’d call this truth in advertising… a rarity. A push with my thumb yields a decent amount of padding up top, but its the butt’s opinion that will matter.

Mounted on a Thomson post to my Niner AIR9, where this will probably stay for a while

I’m coming from a WTB Rocket V saddle and I was surprised to note that the sizes are similar. The Rocket has a more upward sloped rear end to its saddle as part of the whale tail design while the Vertigo Nack eschews that element. The length and width are pretty similiar with the WTB being a slight tad bit shorter than the Vertigo Nack. I really should get up a picture of the two side by side. I guess that will have to wait until the review.

The rails look like they have a carbon fibre weave (but it may be just for looks) and distance markings, note the red dots, but they are hard to make out. I could barely make them out with my own eyes, let alone get them to show up in a picture

The fit and finish on the saddle is good. The base is made of carbon fibre and kevlar and looks really cool! So cool, that I wish it was the design on top so that EVERYONE would be able to see it when I ride. Oh… vanity! The cover is made of Lorica and the design is low key. A quick search for the word Lorica nets me: a Latin word literally meaning body armour. This doesn’t help me very much but I will be testing the durability of this product with some use over the next couple of months.

The underside of the saddle is pretty. The white “Prologo” against the red/black weave is a nice look

After putting about 30 miles on the saddle the first weekend I received it, I was surprised to find that I was immediately comfortable on it. I basically copied the same clamping angle (got to love the Thomson posts for that!) and location on the rails as I used for the WTB. This put the saddle in a very comfortable position. Saddles, in my opinion, are a highly subjective piece of equipment and as such I was very concerned my sensitive tush wouldn’t take well to the Vertigo Nack. I was sorely (or not sorely) mistaken.

A little more detail of the carbon fibre (look?) weave of the rails

A review will be upcoming after more miles and saddle time on the Prologo Vertigo Nack.

For more information check out the Vertigo Nack here.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Product Tested:
Selle Success RTM

Red Selle Success RTM saddle stands out on the trails

Website’s MSRP:
Approx: $100-$120

Specs:
Elegance and attitude truly define the RTM saddle. The RTM sports a unique design that features a FLEX VENTILATION KEVLAR system, CARBON FIBER COMPOSITE shell, and TITANIUM rails. The unique saddle shell design and elegant styling combine to offer an amazing level of riding comfort not found on other saddles. All this available in a package that weighs a scant 170 grams for the Titanium rail model and at a price much less than other saddles offering similar features. Available in embroidered KEVLAR covering and either titanium, vanadium or chromoly rails.
Size – 300mm X 130mm
Full KEVLAR with Embroidery
Weight: Titanium Rail 170 +/- 5% grams
Weight: Vanadium Rail 180 +/- 5% grams
Weight: Chromoly Rail 230 +/- 5% grams

About Me:
6’1” 210lbs, 29 year old male. I’m a mountain biking enthusiast who enjoys XC riding.

Testing Grounds:
All over the Southern California Trails, Sea Otter 2009

Putting the Selle Success RTM on the SS made sense: lightweight, and since I stand alot on the SS I gave my butt a bit of relief from the minimalist padding.

First Impressions:
Pretty and lightweight. The wings are different from the design I usually run which has more of a whale tail look. The red was a looker. I was definitely apprehensive using a saddle that ran 205 grams. The carbon under and titanium rails are a visual treat.

Strengths:
The Selle Success RTM was reasonably comfortable for the weight and the minimalist design. Many people think the copperish-colored piece of metal at the front of the saddle would be a cause for pain, but it never did for me. Overall, I wouldn’t call this saddle the most comfortable I’ve ever ridden, but it is comfortable enough. I’ve taken it on longer rides 4-ish hours and it did fine, but your milage may very.

The saddle held up well over the last few months of testing. The fabric still looks good, although the red is not as bright and vivid as it was when it first arrived. There is also a bit of fraying where the cloth meets the carbon fiber underlay, but other than that, the saddle looks good.

Copper colored metal piece up front was never a bother

The saddle is light and will get some looks and for the price, the Selle Success RTM is a bit of a steal if you’re a weight weenie. The weight to cost ratio is pretty reasonable. Many saddles at this weight are much higher priced.

Even though the saddle is a bit on the long side, I never had any issues getting off the back to weight my rear tire. I think that the saddle’s narrow width made it easier to push myself off the saddle and not have any issues when I did so.

Carbon Fiber base is quite nice.

Weakness:
On install, the saddle had an issue with its rails. I installed the saddle on two different posts: Thomson Masterpiece and a Ritchey Pro. Both times, I had to squeeze the rails together to get them to fit onto the seatpost. This didn’t present itself as an issue during the actual testing of the saddle, but it was interesting that there would be such an issue like this.

Summary:
The Selle Success RTM is a reasonably comfortable saddle that delivers on stunning looks, lightweight and reasonable price. Saddles, in general, are a very subjective piece of equipment and as with most saddles the RTM does have a break in period but after that, this light weight saddle is down for big rides.

There isn’t much info on the Selle Success RTM, but you can click here to get to the website anyway.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites