When I first heard about Freedom Coasts’ 90 Degree Pod Clamps a couple of weeks ago, I probably got more excited than I should have. But as someone who has whined about the ergonomics of the AXS Pod Controllers for the past couple of years, this simple but novel design was music to my ears.
I promptly placed an order. It arrived just a couple of days later, and it immediately replaced the stock Matchmaker Pod Clamp on the Yeti LTe eMTB that I’ve been riding. Since then, I’ve taken a few rides with it and am very happy to report that it is a significant improvement — for me. I wouldn’t call it perfect, but, in my opinion, it is much better than what SRAM is currently providing.
Cry Me a River
I’ve been complaining about SRAM’s AXS Pod Controllers for the past couple of years. I’ve recently come to realize that it isn’t the Pod itself that I dislike. Instead, it’s the clamp that causes me problems. The length, angle, and limited adjustability just don’t work for me. No matter how much I’ve tried, I have never found a perfect position for the Pod using SRAM’s stock clamps.
It results in the upper button on the pod being too close to the grip and awkward to reach with my thumb while riding. And while I can reach it and shift gears, it just strikes me as a poor design. For what complete SRAM Transmission drivetrains cost, I feel like I shouldn’t have to settle for subpar ergonomics. I know quite a few other folks who aren’t in love with the AXS Pods for the same reason.
At the same time, this doesn’t seem to be an issue for everyone. I know just as many people who have no issues with the ergonomics of the Pods, which I find hard to believe given how much I dislike them. But hey, different strokes for different folks. Maybe their setups are just more dialed than mine? Blips are also an option that some riders seem to enjoy.
Regardless, that’s why I was so pumped to see Freedom Coast’s 90 Degree Pod Clamp. This simple little component flips the Pod on its side, orienting the buttons side-by-side rather than top and bottom. This puts them at the same height relative to the thumb, so you don’t have to reach the thumb up or down to shift.
A Big Improvement
Being able to reverse the orientation of the clamp, rotate it on the bar, and rotate the Pod (on its vertical axis) in the clamp allows for a huge range of adjustments to dial it in to your preferences. I had no issues getting it into a position that made it much easier and more comfortable to reach both buttons. Instead of an awkward reach up to the upper button with my thumb, they are right next to each other and equally accessible. It’s worth noting that it does take a ride or two to retrain your brain to shift with the buttons in this new orientation, but I got used to it pretty quickly.
Is it life-changing? Well, no, not really, but the 90 Degree Pod Clamp works way better for me. While relatively minor in the grand scheme of things, I shift quite often while I ride, and now every single one of my upshifts is slightly easier and more comfortable to make. Even minor changes like this can have a big impact on my ride experience, and this is a significant improvement.
Could it Be Better?
Is it perfect? I think it’s much better, but I still wouldn’t call it perfect. While there is a lot of adjustability, I wouldn’t complain if I could adjust it even more. As it stands, the 90-degree angle is fixed, obviously, and you also can’t rotate the part of the clamp that holds the pod on its horizontal axis. Being able to adjust the clamp’s angle and/or rotate it on its horizontal axis would be truly game-changing. A Pod Clamp with a ball joint is what I’m imagining, so you could have almost unlimited angle and rotational adjustability. If anyone needs my armchair design services, feel free to contact me…
I suppose it would also be nice if they made a MatchMaker-compatible version. Clean cockpits sure are nice, but I also recognize that designing a clamp around MatchMaker may also put limitations on its adjustability compared to the bar clamp. And, at $54, it’s a spendy little piece of metal.
My Takeaway
For my preferences, the Freedom Coast 90 Degree Pod Clamp is a dramatic improvement over the stock clamps provided by SRAM. It’s super lightweight, it’s easy to install, and it also looks darn good. More importantly, it has improved the Pod’s ergonomics and my overall shifting experience. No, it’s not perfect, but it’s a big step in the right direction that has already done wonders for my relationship with the AXS Pod Controller.
I guess now I’ll need to find something else to complain about.
