General Cycling Discussion - Protect my seat

Just bought a brand new Selle Italia to replace my old POS that the sun has turned into a spider veined, dried up hunk o crap. Any suggestions on how to keep the sun and weather off it while its on the rack? Oh, something other than a trash or grocery bag with duct tape.

A drawstring stuff sack, preferably in sun-resistant polyester. Available in any camping-supply store. Available waterproof, too, if you park in the rain.

Oh, something other than a trash or grocery bag with duct tape.

Why do you want to make it more complicated than it needs to be? Grocery bag over the saddle and tied to the seatpost with the handles. Free, effective and simple. Replacements are easy to come by. So small that it fits under the saddle.

Its got to look cool and cost too much because it's cycling specific to impress the other folks at the bus stop?

ok how are your thoughts on a shower cap? :D Id suggest just look for the cheapest waterproof/weatherproof cover you can find and use it. though id second the grocery bag for a secondary. something like this http://www.amazon.com/Outdoor-Research-5-Liter-Stuff-Black/dp/B001T407RM/ref=sr_1_7?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1321152600&sr=1-7 or http://www.amazon.com/Raleigh-Protective-Slip--Saddle-Cover/dp/B003RLCDC2/ref=sr_1_5?s=bikes-scooters&ie=UTF8&qid=1321152708&sr=1-5

edit: cost for specific doesnt have to be expensive.11 bucks to protect a 100 or more seat isnt much. heck at 11 bucks still not expensive if the seats worth 30 bucks. thats what? 2 coffees maybe 3 at starbucks? :p

edit 2: oh theres also this but its a little more expensive. 16 bucks http://www.amazon.com/Selle-Italia-Saddle-Cover-Black/dp/B002DMXBFY/ref=sr_1_4?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1321153012&sr=1-4

Why do you want to make it more complicated than it needs to be? Grocery bag over the saddle and tied to the seatpost with the handles. Free, effective and simple. Replacements are easy to come by. So small that it fits under the saddle.

+1 on this^^^

Plus a thief will never know what's under the plastic grocery bag - theft deterrent & weather protector.

+1, black plastic bag.. or sheet stuff , it is used as a building material by the hundreds of feet.

I leave a plastic bag over the saddle till the dry season,, that will be Junuary.

Why do you want to make it more complicated than it needs to be? Grocery bag over the saddle and tied to the seatpost with the handles. Free, effective and simple. Replacements are easy to come by. So small that it fits under the saddle.

+1

How about this one (http://www.amazon.com/Aardvark-Biters-Saddle-Assorted-Colors/dp/B001CZB6HS), sold by Amazon? I don't know if it's waterproof, but at least it should keep the UV off the saddle.

You used to be able to find these things at bike shops everywhere. I owned several back in the '80s. I don't know why they seem to be scarce now.

several covers on Amazon

...or sheet stuff , it is used as a building material by the hundreds of feet.

Commonly referred to in the trade as visqueen. It is a much heavier gauge than garbage bags.

How about this one (http://www.amazon.com/Aardvark-Biters-Saddle-Assorted-Colors/dp/B001CZB6HS), sold by Amazon? I don't know if it's waterproof, but at least it should keep the UV off the saddle.

You used to be able to find these things at bike shops everywhere. I owned several back in the '80s. I don't know why they seem to be scarce now.

Why? It's like putting on those cheap, chintzy clear plastic covers on sofa.

How about aluminum foil?

Consider a nice high quality shower cap. Works like a charm while looking nice.

I tried the grocery bag and duct tape but since I carry my bike on the top of my car at speeds up to 70 miles per hour it is shredded by the time I get to my ride. Lugging a role of duct tape and a stock of grocery bags is more hassle than I want. My Sella Italia saddle deserves better than a garbage bag.

I tried the grocery bag and duct tape but since I carry my bike on the top of my car at speeds up to 70 miles per hour it is shredded by the time I get to my ride. Lugging a role of duct tape and a stock of grocery bags is more hassle than I want. My Sella Italia saddle deserves better than a garbage bag.

A drawstring stuff sack will do just fine on the car, just put it over the saddle and pull the drawstring tight to the post.

+1

+1 I've just come in from a ride in the rain. The plastic bag once again protected my Brooks very well

Hey DHK I carry my bike on the top of my car too and get this. Driving west on I70 in Colorado (speed limit 75mph) I was pulled over by a cop. I asked him why I was stopped and he said littering which is a $250 fine. My plastic grocery bag taped to my bike seat was shredding along the highway. Luckily I did not get a ticket but I had to listen to a 30 minute rant about littering pieces of plastic bag that would not decompose for 200 years all over the Colorado landscape. That night I went online and found a waterproof neoprene bike saddle cover made by a company Rogue Wolf Sports. It works great, slips on and off with one movement and has never flown off my saddle even at 75mph (well maybe 80)

I might not have a Selle Italia saddle but my Terry saddle is looking good.

This sounds like a great idea but I'm not familiar with a stuff sack. Can you tell me if its waterproof?

Stuff sack is just a sack with a(usually) a string/rope cord inside the top. Kind of like a mesh hamper has or sort of like in athletic shorts the drawstring. But if you looked at the links I left for amazon theyre all waterproof saddle covers and that last one I posted is actually a Selle Italia seat cover. And all of them are under 16 bucks with shipping.

edit: Or if just want the cheapest protection you can outside of grocery bags maybe this? http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bike-Bicycle-Waterproof-Dustproof-Saddle-Cover-Sleeve-Yellow-Protective-/280769554518?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item415f2b6856

I tried the grocery bag and duct tape but since I carry my bike on the top of my car at speeds up to 70 miles per hour it is shredded by the time I get to my ride. Lugging a role of duct tape and a stock of grocery bags is more hassle than I want. My Sella Italia saddle deserves better than a garbage bag.

Grocery bags usually have handles ... you don't need duct tape.

This sounds like a great idea but I'm not familiar with a stuff sack. Can you tell me if its waterproof?

OK, here's a suggestion. How about going to your local Canadian Tire, MEC, Anaconda, Decathlon, Go Sport, or REI and having a look at all the stuff they have in their sports and camping sections.

Hey BikrBabe thanks for the info. I logged into roguewolfsports.com and the saddle covers are what I am looking for. Have you found the saddle cover to be completely waterproof? How do you clean road grunge off of it? I am thinking the wolf design for $15.00 - a few duct tape rolls cost that much. Although they do have some other cool designs. Who knows I may just go for my own DHK design.

Hmm checked out rogue too and they look nice. Nicer than the others and not much more either. Wonder how much the minimum order is for custom? Odd. trying to see how much the wolf cover would cost with shipping and everytime I do the recalculate for it I only get the in store pickup. Guess Ill email them about it.

Why not use one of those cheap gel saddle covers from Target or something?

Why you using a Selle Italia on a bike you leave outside, lol.

Because sometimes you only plan to pop in for say 5-10 minutes but end up a hour or 2? Or because the weather looks like it could storm and to just to be safe? But since he enjoys his seat, a ounce of prevention could give him another year or more of life out of it. So why not spend a little and get something that will actually protect it? And a cover designed to protect against the elements costly roughly the same if not a little cheaper than a gel saddle cover.

Why? It's like putting on those cheap, chintzy clear plastic covers on sofa.

If I hauled my sofa around on top of my car, I might use some cheap, chintzy clear plastic covers on it.

Just bought a brand new Selle Italia to replace my old POS that the sun has turned into a spider veined, dried up hunk o crap. Any suggestions on how to keep the sun and weather off it while its on the rack? Oh, something other than a trash or grocery bag with duct tape.


I tried the grocery bag and duct tape but since I carry my bike on the top of my car at speeds up to 70 miles per hour it is shredded by the time I get to my ride. Lugging a role of duct tape and a stock of grocery bags is more hassle than I want.

So you store your bike on top of your car? Or are you changing your requirements part way through the thread?

When traveling, it's usually best to leave it uncovered because if the canvas shreds it usually beats up the paint pretty badly.


My Sella Italia saddle deserves better than a garbage bag.

If you have those kind of feelings about a saddle, it probably doesn't deserve to be covered with your sweaty ass either. :D

How about aluminum foil?

I think you have something there. Reflective, light. Now all you gotta do is to get those same guys who make the windshield sun shades to finalize the design.

roots4x please try and read the thread before posting. We have been discussing transporting a bike on a rack to the ride and how to protect the saddle during those times

Lol, ok I'll stay on topic. I was just asking since I didn't read the part about the car rack. Rogerstg is the one trolling... Geez.

Anyway, if you want something clean and relatively stable the cheap gel covers seems good. Serves me right for trying to help, I guess...

DHK if youre going to buy a Rogue Wolf Sports cover I just got a email back from them because of the error on shipping choices and Director of Logistics :D said they are having free shipping until December 24th.

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/sa002.jpg
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/saddles.html

Hey BikrBabe thanks for the info. I logged into roguewolfsports.com and the saddle covers are what I am looking for. Have you found the saddle cover to be completely waterproof? How do you clean road grunge off of it? I am thinking the wolf design for $15.00 - a few duct tape rolls cost that much. Although they do have some other cool designs. Who knows I may just go for my own DHK design.

My saddle has always stayed completely dry even after hours of driving in the rain. We do a lot of out of town rides so its nice not to have a soaked saddle when we reach the trail. I have washed mine a few times. Just throw it in the washer with a cold load. Comes out great.

Reading the on the roof rack at 70mph part.
there is the 'bike bra' clips over the HB keep the bugs off the brifters
and behind the saddle.
stretch fabric, must flap a bit, but within limits..

2-gallon Ziploc bags (1-gal is a tight fit on my B17S) or just take the saddle off when you're going to be driving around in rain...

- Scott

Just bought a brand new Selle Italia to replace my old POS that the sun has turned into a spider veined, dried up hunk o crap. Any suggestions on how to keep the sun and weather off it while its on the rack? Oh, something other than a trash or grocery bag with duct tape.


roots4x please try and read the thread before posting. We have been discussing transporting a bike on a rack to the ride and how to protect the saddle during those times

No, we haven't been discussing transporting a bike ... we've been discussing a bicycle on a rack (as mentioned in the original post), like a rack outside your office.

We don't transport our bicycles on a rack where they would be exposed to sun and weather. :)


If you want to add further information to explain what you're talking about, you can edit your first post ... just don't count on anyone reading any of the responses. Few of us have the time or desire to read an entire thread. We'd rather be out cycling. :D

I don't see why seats need covers and stuff... Just buy a cheap seat and be done, riding isn't meant to be a comfortable sport.

riding isn't meant to be a comfortable sport.

It isn't??

Check to see if a brooks saddle cover will fit - nice protection, look good and easy to use, plus won't fly off your car at 120 kph.

Lol, ok I'll stay on topic. I was just asking since I didn't read the part about the car rack. Rogerstg is the one trolling... Geez.

You should work on your comprehension skills, or maybe read things more than once, before insulting people.

The OP is all over the place - in the first post he wants to avoid cracking of the material. That happens from long term outdoor exposure - NOT from transporting the bike to a ride. Now he wants to discuss covers for transport, where none is required.

Thanks pg13 I just placed an order at that roguewolfsports.com I honestly didn't believe that the shipping was free but it says it right on the store and it's an option for free ground delivery. I was already prepared to buy one with shipping cost but since it was free I just went ahead and got the moab one. It's funny because I drive to moab from CO all the time and I swear the picture thats on the cover is the same scene I see on the trails I ride there.

This sounds like a great idea but I'm not familiar with a stuff sack. Can you tell me if its waterproof?

Wow, missed some pathetic flaming in this thread, must be cabin fever setting in among the fair-weather riders or something...

Anyway, a stuff sack is just a small drawstring bag, usually made out of nylon or polyester, available in most camping supply stores for $5 or so. Like the bag many compact rain jackets come with, so you can stuff them in a sack to carry them when you aren't wearing them.

Usually waterproof, and they have a few advantages over form-fitting saddle covers in my experience. They fit multiple sizes of saddles, in case you have different saddles on different bikes. They're inexpensive, and quite durable. And they look ugly and low-class in use, which decreases the theft attractiveness quotient of your bike. And they can be used to carry things when you haven't thought to bring something else, like when you're riding along on tour and happen to pass a vine of luscious berries or grapes and want to carry a quart of them with you while you snack.

I've been using them on my Brooks and Persons leather saddles for more than 20 years, no complaints.

Why not simply take it off the bike and put it in the vehicle? Cap off/ cover the hole in the frame during transport. That way it never sees the sun and it also can't be stolen.
Simply mark the seat post for height before removing.