After I first heard about Freedom Coasts’ 90 Diploma Pod Clamps a few weeks in the past, I most likely obtained extra excited than I ought to have. However as somebody who has whined concerning the ergonomics of the AXS Pod Controllers for the previous couple of years, this straightforward however novel design was music to my ears.
I promptly positioned an order. It arrived simply a few days later, and it instantly changed the inventory Matchmaker Pod Clamp on the Yeti LTe eMTB that I’ve been using. Since then, I’ve taken a couple of rides with it and am very joyful to report that it’s a important enchancment — for me. I wouldn’t name it good, however, for my part, it’s a lot better than what SRAM is at the moment offering.
Cry Me a River
I’ve been complaining about SRAM’s AXS Pod Controllers for the previous couple of years. I’ve not too long ago come to comprehend that it isn’t the Pod itself that I dislike. As an alternative, it’s the clamp that causes me issues. The size, angle, and restricted adjustability simply don’t work for me. Irrespective of how a lot I’ve tried, I’ve by no means discovered an ideal place for the Pod utilizing SRAM’s inventory clamps.
It leads to the higher button on the pod being too near the grip and awkward to succeed in with my thumb whereas using. And whereas I can attain it and shift gears, it simply strikes me as a poor design. For what full SRAM Transmission drivetrains value, I really feel like I shouldn’t should accept subpar ergonomics. I do know fairly a couple of folks who aren’t in love with the AXS Pods for a similar motive.
On the identical time, this doesn’t appear to be a problem for everybody. I do know simply as many individuals who don’t have any points with the ergonomics of the Pods, which I discover laborious to consider given how a lot I dislike them. However hey, completely different strokes for various of us. Possibly their setups are simply extra dialed than mine? Blips are additionally an choice that some riders appear to take pleasure in.
Regardless, that’s why I used to be so pumped to see Freedom Coast’s 90 Diploma Pod Clamp. This straightforward little part flips the Pod on its facet, orienting the buttons side-by-side moderately than prime and backside. This places them on the identical peak relative to the thumb, so that you don’t have to succeed in the thumb up or right down to shift.
A Huge Enchancment
With the ability to reverse the orientation of the clamp, rotate it on the bar, and rotate the Pod (on its vertical axis) within the clamp permits for an enormous vary of changes to dial it in to your preferences. I had no points getting it right into a place that made it a lot simpler and extra snug to succeed in each buttons. As an alternative of a clumsy attain as much as the higher button with my thumb, they’re proper subsequent to one another and equally accessible. It’s price noting that it does take a experience or two to retrain your mind to shift with the buttons on this new orientation, however I obtained used to it fairly rapidly.
Is it life-changing? Properly, no, probably not, however the 90 Diploma Pod Clamp works means higher for me. Whereas comparatively minor within the grand scheme of issues, I shift very often whereas I experience, and now each single one in every of my upshifts is barely simpler and extra snug to make. Even minor modifications like this may have a huge impact on my experience expertise, and this can be a important enchancment.
Might it Be Higher?
Is it good? I believe it’s a lot better, however I nonetheless wouldn’t name it good. Whereas there may be quite a lot of adjustability, I wouldn’t complain if I may regulate it much more. Because it stands, the 90-degree angle is fastened, clearly, and you can also’t rotate the a part of the clamp that holds the pod on its horizontal axis. With the ability to regulate the clamp’s angle and/or rotate it on its horizontal axis could be really game-changing. A Pod Clamp with a ball joint is what I’m imagining, so you might have nearly limitless angle and rotational adjustability. If anybody wants my armchair design providers, be at liberty to contact me…
I suppose it could even be good in the event that they made a MatchMaker-compatible model. Clear cockpits certain are good, however I additionally acknowledge that designing a clamp round MatchMaker may put limitations on its adjustability in comparison with the bar clamp. And, at $54, it’s a spendy little piece of metallic.
My Takeaway
For my preferences, the Freedom Coast 90 Diploma Pod Clamp is a dramatic enchancment over the inventory clamps supplied by SRAM. It’s tremendous light-weight, it’s simple to put in, and it additionally appears to be like darn good. Extra importantly, it has improved the Pod’s ergonomics and my total shifting expertise. No, it’s not good, but it surely’s an enormous step in the appropriate path that has already carried out wonders for my relationship with the AXS Pod Controller.
I assume now I’ll want to seek out one thing else to complain about.
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