Manufacturer, Retailer, Survey and Consumer Feedback - Velo Orange Is A Ripoff

Group;
Last April I purchased a sprung touring saddle from Velo Orange for use on my classic ''74 Schwinn LeTour that use to ride the local, Des Moines trails. It was their #5. After I had ridden it three or four times the cowhide got loose and I kept trying to tighten it with the adjustment wrenches. It was always loose. Last week I kept feeling something rubbing on the inside of my right leg and after a 50 mile ride I had red mark and a small blister there. I removed the saddle from the bike and started looking for the problem. I found that both the front side rivets had been improperly installed (see pics). The inside of each rivet had never been peened or if they had been peened the peened over ring had broken off. Both rivets had pulled loose, the head of the rivet was backing out of the leather and causing the red mark. There was nothing holding the cowhide to the front of the adjustment bracket and platform.
I called Velo Orange and asked if I could return it for an exchange. No way! They only warranty their products for one year and no more. If one of their products proves to be defective it is just your tough luck. Also, if you don't notify them of any potential problem within 60 days of date of purchase then you can't return or exchange an item. I guess that is what I get for spending $100 with an American company selling Chinese junk disguised as so-called high quality bicycle parts. Grand Cru is actually Grand Poo. Needless to say Velo Orange has seen the last dime of my money. So fellow classic lightweight fans, remember it is Caveat Emptor with Velo Orange. I am going to use a couple of fender strut rivet bolts to fix the problem but it sure ticks me off that I have to fix something that really should never break. Next time it will be a Brooks B16 for sure.

Have Fun;
Ventana

Set in some replacement , how about Pop-rivets and stop whining

I bought a Brooks B17 Imperial and two rivets had sharp burs around the edges that were catching on my shorts and scratching my skin. I had to file them down. How did that go through quality checks? No one sells good quality these days.

Did this get moved or was the road forum not enough forum space for this thread?

It's not a rip-off if they stick to their policy. I always found these seats suspect, why bother, Brooks on sale is about the same price. Thanks for the review.

Did this get moved or was the road forum not enough forum space for this thread?


Nope... not moved. Bad form to post the same cut and paste(complaint) in different sections..

Nope... not moved. Bad form to post the same cut and paste(complaint) in different sections..


On the bright side... you still have something like 20 other sections you can cut and paste to.

Kayakdiver;
No, two sections will do. I honestly don't think posting a cut and paste twice in the same forum is any less bad form than your self-promotion of Hammer Nutrition just so you can get a discount on your next order for referring a customer. Actually, the whole idea is rather desperate and cheap since you are posting your referral link on another person’s website for free.
However, I don’t want you to lose sleep, become edgy and overly concerned so I will make you a deal. I won't ever post another cut and paste into two forums if you remove your cheap, tacky referral link from all your future posts. Plus, that way you won’t have to post as often and then you can really save the forum some space. What do you say, Kayakdiver, do we have a deal?
Have Fun;
Ventana
P.S. I wanted to send this as a PM but the forum requires a minimum of 50 posts before you can PM.

It seems reasonable that they not accept a return after a year...

It seems reasonable that they not accept a return after a year...

Agree. I also can't help but think that if the OP had returned the saddle when he first started noticing problems, that he'd be doing a lot less whining now...

It is reasonable that they wouldn't warranty it after a year. The OP should've contacted VO when he first noticed the problem. That being said, there's a reason that Brooks has been in business for a hundred years. He should have bought a B17 to begin with.

I agree that the OP probably shouldn't have expected a warranty after that much time. However, his assertion that the VO saddles are jenky seems totally valid, and this idea is bolstered by the various VO piles of pretty junk I've seen over the years. So, really, warning fellow forum members about the QC of VO items seems like a good idea to me.

All that being said, the OP did kind of flip out on kayakdriver excessively, don't ya think?

regards
-rob

It is reasonable that they wouldn't warranty it after a year. The OP should've contacted VO when he first noticed the problem. That being said, there's a reason that Brooks has been in business for a hundred years. He should have bought a B17 to begin with.

Maybe it's not as simple as that. I have 3 Brooks saddles and love them. But the short rails mean I cannot use them on my Trek Madone 5.9 since there is no way to get them far enough back for the BB to saddle position my bad knees require. So I too have had to try the VO route since there saddles offer longer rails with the ability to get a farther aft position.

Maybe it's not as simple as that. I have 3 Brooks saddles and love them. But the short rails mean I cannot use them on my Trek Madone 5.9 since there is no way to get them far enough back for the BB to saddle position my bad knees require. So I too have had to try the VO route since there saddles offer longer rails with the ability to get a farther aft position.
The VO Grand Cru setback seat post addresses the short saddle rail issue. I use one and it is beautifully designed and very well made. Don't know if it will work in the Trek though...only comes in 27.2....for real bikes (smiley face here)

The VO Grand Cru setback seat post addresses the short saddle rail issue. I use one and it is beautifully designed and very well made. Don't know if it will work in the Trek though...only comes in 27.2....for real bikes (smiley face here)

Yeah, won't work on the Trek. It's a new-fangled design where there is no standard seatpost in the traditional sense. There is a molded "post" that is part of the frame and then another CF cap that goes over it to give you some adjustability. This cap only has 20mm of offset though and I need a bit more for it to work with the short rails of the Brooks Saddles. Not an issue on my real steel bikes though. :thumb:

I don't think the Madone was designed with Brooks saddles in mind.....

I don't think the Madone was designed with Brooks saddles in mind.....

Maybe not, but my butt was!:lol:

Seriously, I've tried over a dozen and a half modern saddles and yet must keep coming back to the Brooks for comfort on any rides over 20 miles which for me is about every ride. Pretty sad that I find riding on the very back metal frame of my Brooks Swift more comfortable that any other saddle.:o

Well the VO saddle just arrived. Close examination does not show any apparent issues with it but I am not an expert. Frame quality seems a bit off when compared to my Brooks but for the price I'm not worried.

The saddle should get tested pretty good with around 200 miles or so planned for the 3 day weekend.

I've read in other posts that these saddles are softer than the Brooks but that does not appear to be the case with this one. Leather is thick and plenty stiff.

Jamesdak, have you talked to your dealer about getting an alternative seat mast? I don't know if they still do it, but when I got my 5.2 a few years ago Trek was offering masts in a variety of setbacks and lengths.

Jamesdak, have you talked to your dealer about getting an alternative seat mast? I don't know if they still do it, but when I got my 5.2 a few years ago Trek was offering masts in a variety of setbacks and lengths.

I did, they have a 5mm and 20mm offset and I already have the 20mm. Ritchey makes a 25mm mast cap but are not sure if it will fit my 5.9 frame. They gave me the dimensions that will match their cap but I need to get my hands on a set of calipers to check the size.

Rants I wish I'd read before ordering thru Velo Orange..
Had I known the guy who runs VO was the same guy who owns CLC Kayaks I probably would have thought twice about ordering anything thru VO (for years there have been issues with CLCs wooden tortured wood kayak kits)
Velo Orange HAS some viable quality control issues with their products.
My experience came via the Grand Cru 50.4 bcd crnkset.
For any and all
IMHO "THIS" is what happens when you get an entrepreneur with no experience in cycling mechanics offering products sans any pre testing.
VO's return policy is defeatest from the get go.
IF the product has been in any way installed, it cannot be returned.
From the intense inquiries prior to purchase and intense inquiries about setup after purchase,it's pretty obvious Velo Orange lacks a crew with the mechanical experience needed.
Dealing with VO on an issue is sort of akin to talking with one of those 'on line' advisors who read from a prompt and if the problem still exists are unable to help.
My issue was ergonomics plain and simple.. a crankset made too compact which placed my knees in at an angle they couldn't take.
This was an issue that could have and should have been seen and corrected before the crankset was ever put into production.
While it may not affect everyone (ie: younger riders vs older ones)it shouldn't be an issue at all.
I understand there are issues with folks who have braze on FD and folks running 9spd cassettes..
Like I said: A Company run by an entrepreneur with no experience in bicycling or the mechanics involved.

My issue was ergonomics plain and simple.. a crankset made too compact which placed my knees in at an angle they couldn't take.


What does this mean?

He started CLC, but the guy who has since bought it has gone a long way on his own path. Both have a good reputation in the boat building arena. While he is doubtless an entrepreneur to do two start ups, he had the technical competence to design the boats, and write various books on the whole process. Can't comment on his biking expertise, though it is far less rocket science than boat building.

Don't know anything about the complaints on his/their tortured kits. Tortured boat building is not for whiners and the technically light headed. It is probably best entered into by those who are into an adventure. It would not be my choice as a product to sell in the environment of 100% satisfaction guaranteed, please-hold-my-handers. Getting the kits right with a CNC cutter and using 1088 plywood should be a no-brainer, but what Joe Sticky Fingers does with them next, and who he blames for it, is another mater.

The VO Grand Cru setback seat post addresses the short saddle rail issue. I use one and it is beautifully designed and very well made. Don't know if it will work in the Trek though...only comes in 27.2....for real bikes (smiley face here)

The VO setback posts have inconsistent--and undersized--diameter shafts, which makes them prone to slipping. The head/clamp design also prevents obtaining a level saddle on some frames (depending on STA). The Kalloy Uno 'post that Wallbike sells has the same amount of offset, and costs much less (albeit with a one-bolt clamp).

What does this mean?

I'm completely guessing, but maybe the Q factor is too narrow?

That's what I was thinking, though isn't that quite a trick, I thought the risk was more the reverse.