The seat is a cambium, the only problem I have sometimes is warming the seat up on the way to work and having snow melt on it and then refreeze in a nice hard layer. But (t) that goes for any saddle. The bar is stock with rubber grips. I have had some leather saddles and cork grips in the past but wont put them on my commuter bikes anymore, too much to look after. I used to carry the grocery bags and would even get alerts from others in my office if it started to rain unexpectedly onmy brooks, but after getting it wet anyway and having to ride it home a few times I gave up. No idea how the british manage it unless the bag goes on every day.