when

So the Aardvark Saddle Cover that everyone raves about (myself included until now), is a leaky POS. When the bike is left out in the rain, the cover doesn't protect my nice Brooks Flyer from rain at all, it leaks right through - albeit slowly. Had to forego a commute and drive instead due to the saddle being soaked and I didn't want to ruin it.

Plastic bags and shower caps disintegrate when ridden on.

What's a durable and waterproof cover that's actually waterproof?

I see the Jandd one is out there but haven't tried it.

I know the official Brooks one isn't waterproof either.

When I mean "waterproof", I mean downpour for 12 hours sitting outside and the seat is dry.

surfjimc

It seems a dry bag trimmed a bit to fit so it isn't so long would work. I can't say that it would be the most comfortable thing to ride on, but your seat would never get wet. Not sure about the durability over the long haul either.

njkayaker

The durability over the short haul would be poor.

njkayaker

I'd suggest two covers: one to use when riding and one to use when leaving the bike out for 12 hours outside in the rain. Anything you use for riding isn't likely to hold up very well.

Jim Kukula

I keep meaning to order a few of these:

https://www.wallbike.com/saddle-acces...p-saddle-cover

not good for riding... but I figure, I'm on the bike then, so I am the saddle cover.

wahoonc

I cover my Brooks saddles with my arse while riding, use a Target bag or shower cap for when it is parked.

Aaron

rekmeyata

I use Aardvark cover on my Brooks and haven't had any issues with it. I did have a Brooks cover I bought with the B17 but it fitted like a bag and was constantly shifting on it so I sent it back. How old is the Aardvark? Mine is about 13 years old, maybe their not making them as good as they use to?

fietsbob

I recycle the Bladder bags out of 5L boxes of Vin Proletariat,
it is double layer .
work all 9 months of winter , Cut out the spigot, and run a diagonal cut,
just long enough to have the saddle nose in a corner..

Aushiker

Me to. Really don't understand the need for the cover whilst riding. Am I missing something here?

Andrew

rogerstg

With a long ride in a steady rain, the rain goes down my back and follows my contours to the saddle.
I suppose a poncho or rain coat might help.

Regardless, I've found that the plastic shopping bags last quite a few miles before needing to be replaced. Replacements are free and easily available in most areas.

djb

thats always been my take on it. Ive only ridden in big downpours using plastic bags from stores, but as noted, if its really raining, Ive never wanted to see exactly how much water goes down my pants to the seat, or obviously if I stand or take my bum off the saddle at a stop. If you guys are fine with that, great, Ive just never wanted my seat to get actually wet while Im out on a ride and would therefore be riding on a (somewhat, how much who knows) wet leather saddle, which will stretch it out more. I know when we sweat a lot on a hot day, the leather certainly becomes damp, but I dont want to take the chance of having it more wet than that and risk putting in who knows how many months or years of "dry riding stretch" into it in one afternoon if it gets good and wet.
and/or I sure as heck dont want to have to wait for it to dry out if it does get good and wet, which in many cases could not be a possibility if you have to ride.

You read of people riding on soaked Brooks and doing them in, so thats why Ive never wanted to test this out for myself and waste the time Ive spent making my saddles just the right shape for me. Seems like a risk not worth taking. You guys who just ride with you on them in the rain probably arent instantly ruining your saddles, but perhaps you are being super careful of always being seated, and or your rain gear goes down over the back of your seat etc, so "runoff" isnt an issue, who knows? For me I prefer to not have to think about the seat being rained on, so a plastic bag or my cover takes that issue out of the equation and I can just ignore it.

the plastic bags Ive used also tend to last without problems riding, and can be found easily if need be usually. I got a Brooks cover last year (I think its a Brooks) doesnt have the name on it, and havent had to have it on for too too long, so cant speak for its rainproofness. I tend to use a plastic bag if the bike will be out for a long time in rain (like when its on the bike rack on the car) and thats worked well. I figure tied on plastic bags are the best for a long overnight downpour as it covers the bottom completely too.

simplygib

fietsbob

.. probably rainfall .



you are talking Perth, not Darwin, Australia..

Aushiker

I wear a rain coat, a Showers Pass Elite 2.0 so maybe wearing a coat makes a difference as you suggest. Have ridden all day in rain without any noticeable issues.

Andrew

Aushiker

It does rain here you know ... pretty serious rain falls and storms at times.

Andrew

djb

Andrew, I think my new rain jacket might be pretty good for seat protection, will have to check it out- but if you stand while pedalling, the seat is exposed. Granted I tend not to stand if I have loaded bags on the bike on a trip (but still do sojmetimes just to move around differently for a short time. One also always scoots forward when coming to a stop or pause, exposing the seat. The majority of time I commute, so am stopping at lights, standing to get going or sprinting, or standing at some point on any manner of hills to change up muscle use- basically my point is that I don't have to worry about the brooks getting rained on.

This aspect of a leather saddle certainly is another reason why they aren't for everyone, fit notwithstanding, as you do have to keep rain in mind for your parked bike as well.
Cheers

Bekologist

The AARDVARK saddle cover (small size for Swift/Swallow up to Flyer width) is the best saddle cover on the market at present time.

I'm not sure what the OP is upset about? To park a bike out in the rain, you cover the saddle & aardvark with a plastic bag. QED.

The aardvarks are great for riding all day in a downpour.

Tourist in MSN

I use a cheap lycra cover that is not waterproof over a cheap disposable plastic shopping bag. Not very durable but works great. The cover is basically used to protect and hold the plastic bag in place. I know you want durability, but the supply of free disposable shopping bags is endless.

I was on a group tour a few weeks ago. One rider was checking his tires for debris in the evening and left his LHT with Brooks saddle upside down overnight. He did not anticipate the downpour that occurred around 4am and did not realize his bike was in a slight depression. His Brooks had sat in a puddle for quite some time.

djb

msn galavanter, leaving your bike upside down is kinda a goofy thing to do (especially with a Brooks), wonder why he did it? My upside down bikes tend to fall over so would never consider leaving it like that.

was there a bottle of wine involved? Ive left all manner of stuff out after sharing a bottle with a touring partner at supper....(not really from over drinking, more being tired at end of day plus some wine--bingo, sleepy time)

fietsbob

Re WAu, will grant you that , I noted the flooding in Brisbane, a couple years past.

US SW, & SoCal has desert storms too, Gully Washers .. sometimes the flooding
is a long ways from the storm itself.. that catches people camping
along stream beds every once in a while.

WOr is wet, more or less, 3/4 of the year..

Anyhow 'choose yer poison'. maybe real African Aardvark hide
can be tanned in such a way to be more water-resistant..

becnal

Exactly. Why would it be necessary or desirable to ride on a saddle cover? Just stick a plastic bag on it when not riding.

djb

see my post #11 for what I think are my reasonable concerns about longevity etc, but of course do you what you please.
chus

OldZephyr

I did that.

pdlamb

The Aardvark does have a lifetime (unfortunately), and it seems to get shorter the more you ride on it. It's about a year or a long tour for me until the cover starts to leak. OK, I've added saddle covers to chains and tires as consumables, and try to keep a spare handy (at least at home). Until it gets really, really old, the Aardvark is still better than nothing during the ride, since it's a slow set of leaks. Even the very oldest is still usefull, as it'll keep a plastic bag snugly covered when parked or on a car rack.

On the need for it while riding, on most of my rainy rides I don't need a jacket -- and if I wear one, I'll sweat so much the sweat is worse than the rain.

when

It sounds like pretty much everything sucks for one reason or another and that there is no cover out there that can be ridden on and is waterproof.

I think what I'm going to do is just put a plastic bag under it.