Fifty Plus (50+) - GF's n+1

I found a bike on Craigslist that my GF loves and she bought it immediately. She's been wanting an errand bike and this fits the bill. Only been ridden about a dozen times by the original owner. It's a Giant Suede '08 7 speed.

Quick question: it comes with a QR saddle. (It's a one-size fits all bike.) She's concerned about the saddle being stolen when the bike is locked up somewhere. I'm not able to physically see the bike at the moment, so I thought I'd ask -- is there a way to secure the saddle when locking up the bike, or does she have to take the saddle with her for complete confidence it will be there to ride home? She bought a lock for the bike.

All in all, a good deal. She saved about $100 over new, and it's really in pristine condition.

Wow - for a moment there I was concerned that N+1 was not referring to bikes.

Have her stop by her local bike shop and do away with that quick release. Easy and cheap... they will replace it with bolt and nut.

It is good to hear that you and your GF are still on Future Recumbent Road. The Suede is a crank forward / semi-recumbent. Comfortable rider, IMHO. As Wanderer said, it is a pretty easy conversion. But I would be surprised if anyone swiped a saddle off of a Suede. Big, heavy saddle that has an upturn at the rear in order to enable the crank forward rider to push all of their lower back a bit. Wouldn't work well on most other bikes ... of course the thief wouldn't know that.

If you ever replace it, the replacement shouldn't be a traditional flat saddle, as it would rob the rider of that leverage.

Wow - for a moment there I was concerned that N+1 was not referring to bikes.

Excellent point!

And DG would be particularly bold to advertise it here.

If you want to keep the quick release (some folks like being able to quickly adjust their seats mid ride without the need to carry tools) consider a seat leash. They obviously can be cut if someone is really interested in the seat, but deter the casual thief. Here's and example: http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bicycle-Security-24-Inches/dp/B000RY61F2

How about one of the thinner cheap cable locks through the saddle rails and some point in the frame. It won't deter a hardcore thief, but then again saddle sniffers....oops swipers aren't really hardcore.

Have her stop by her local bike shop and do away with that quick release. Easy and cheap... they will replace it with bolt and nut.

That would be my solution even if I wasn't concerned about theft potential. I don't like seatpost quick releases because I'm picky about having my saddle at the exact right height.

If you want to keep the quick release (some folks like being able to quickly adjust their seats mid ride without the need to carry tools) consider a seat leash. They obviously can be cut if someone is really interested in the seat, but deter the casual thief. Here's and example: http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Bike-Bicycle-Security-24-Inches/dp/B000RY61F2

The hipster solution is to use a section of old bike chain to run from the saddle rail to one of the seat stays. I guess if you wanted to be fancy you could thread the bike chain through a length of plastic tubeing.

I would be more worried about what other non-consequential fears she has.