Bicycle Mechanics - Bike seat back on the bike?

Long story short-

I fell. Hard. My bike seat fell off, and I can't wrestle it back on.

I have a Specialized Sirrus A1 Sport with the original seat. I need to get it fixed now so I can get to work this afternoon! Is there anyone out there familiar with this seat that can tell me how to put this back on the bike?

I am really p*ssed off about this- it was a stupid accident after a good ride today too....

Shoot. My back hurts now too... :mad:


Koffee

Ok, forget it.

I spoke to the Specialized dealer- they said it cannot be fixed- I will have to go out and buy a new seat.

This sucks.

Bike seats mount in one of two ways:

First, some attach to a straight pole-style seatpost. Most inexpensive bikes are like this. You will need to loosen the bolt under the seat enough to slip this type mount back on the post, then tighten it.

Second type: setback seatpost. This type, common on most better road bikes and mountain bikes, requires you use an allen wrench. It has an sort of a nut-seat thing on the end, a clamp for the rails, and an adjustable rachet mechanism under the rails. This type just rquires you to screw the bits on in the correct order, adjust, and tighten.

If you have any recently made bike repair manual, I'm sure both will be covered.

Dave.......it sounds like Koffee's saddle actually broke off, possibly meaning the saddle and rail separation???

Saddle and rail separation... yep, that's what happened.

I'm not sure what to do now. There's a guy who fixes the messengers' bikes, and I am going to see him tomorrow. I was so unimpressed with the big LBS where I got my bike, that I just decided to cut them off entirely. They were not helpful and not sympathetic at all.

What I did for now was just duct tape the saddle back to the rail. It works, just barely, but it will have to do for now. :(

Nope. You are S.O.L. with that saddle. I wouldn't blame the bike shop for not being sympathetic, considering the way people try to scam them for replacements. Besides, all they'd be able to do would be to duck tape it, too, so how helpful could they be?

If you broke a saddle, go buy a new one. You can't fix broken saddles. Not like that, anyway. You can duck tape it together, but it will never hold.

I wasn't trying to scam them- never thought I'd try to get them to replace the saddle.

However, I get tired of their "we don't give a f*ck" attitude when I call or stop in with a problem with my bike. It's just not cool. Their customer service is severely lacking.

I AM going to get a new saddle- just taking it to this other guy and seeing what he can do for my bike. I've decided not to return to the big store anymore. Since it was too late for me to bring it to the guy (had to go to work, didn't get home until after he closed), I will have to bring it over in the morning and let him do it then. I'm just hoping he has a saddle that can work for me, like a Terry saddle or something. I really want a comfortable seat I can do some long distance riding in. I am mindful of the fact that I have that century coming up on Saturday with my friend. Plus 30 miles on Friday morning. In the meantime, I still gotta get from point A to point B to teach my classes until the shop opens in the morning, so it will have to be duct tape until I get to this guy's shop.

what shop are you talking about? yojimbo's garage?

Damn, that's where I want to go. Jimbo's!

Can you tell me what time he opens in the morning?

You got a phone number on the guy?

I heard he's incredible. What can you tell me about him?

I went to Yojimbos this morning. They were awesome! The guy took time to listen to my concerns. At first, he showed me an expensive saddle, but then he showed me a cheaper alternative. I took it around the block for a few minutes, and the saddle feels nice! So I bought it off the bat, along with new inner tire tubes and a bunch of allen wrenches.

I'll be back....

Koffee

:) Glad you got your seat taken care of, Koffee! Bet it makes you smile! ;)

Well, as I can find satisfaction in normal ways, I don't have to base my saddle choices on THAT. However, it is the best saddle out there for me, I think.

I have a quick 30 miler planned for dawn tomorrow. That'll be the true test. If it works well, I'm in business! If not, I can bring it back and exchange it.

Glad I was able to take care of this before my century on Saturday!

Originally posted by Koffee Brown
Well, as I can find satisfaction in normal ways, I don't have to base my saddle choices on THAT. However, it is the best saddle out there for me, I think.

I have a quick 30 miler planned for dawn tomorrow. That'll be the true test. If it works well, I'm in business! If not, I can bring it back and exchange it.

Glad I was able to take care of this before my century on Saturday!

LOL, I was teasing about the smile...but I am happy you made the right choice!

Good luck Saturday! :)

Quickie update-

The saddle felt so dang comfortable I ended up doing an additional 13 miles beyond my morning 30. It feels extremely comfortable. I'm just feeling lucky that I went to jojimbo's and he talked me through the different bike seats until I found one that worked for me.

Tomorrow I have a minimum of 100 miles, but I'm meeting with one of my students from my cycling classes at the Botanic Gardens for lunch, then he wants to ride with us for a bit, so we may go an additional 18 miles back into the Great Lakes Naval Base.

It should be a fun day tomorrow! Riding companions, lunch, and hopefully, a ride through the naval base! All in perfect weather- a high predicted of 82 C.

Koffee

Holy cow 82c = 179.9 F. Wow is that going to be hot :)

It's a doozie!

Ha ha... you know what I meant! ;)

82F.... thanks for the most public correction! :lol:

Koffee, do you mind sharing what type of saddle you got? Sounds great!!

I'll have to look at it tomorrow and let you know. I don't remember now. Remind me...

Koffee, good luck and congrats on your century tomorrow, and though it's assumed you are fine after your mishap, I'll say it anyway: I hope you're okay! Falls are weird; they can catch up with you days later. Stretch well before your ride, make sure all the parts swivel and pivot correctly. Good advice for the bike too.

Again, have a great ride! :)

I guess Rob was right- I went out and did my first 30 miles this morning- my knee was hurting- it had been swollen since my fall, but nothing big. Last night, it started to hurt, so I just put ben gay on it, then went off this morning and started riding. By the time I hit the 31st mile, the knee was sore.

So now I'm sitting at home with a little ice on the knee, hoping I'll be ok for tomorrow- I have 45 miles planned in that case. Monday I'll take it easy and do just 30, and then on Tuesday, I'll pour on some big mileage, and hopefully, my knee will feel better by then. :(

P.S. I also noticed the front der. is messed up too- it keeps knocking the chain out of the highest cog, so I will need to look at that now too and see what's up. :(