What do you do with stock saddles?
 

So maybe I'm wrong in making this assumption, but I am thinking most people replace the stock saddle on a new bike within the first 100 miles. What do you do with that saddle? Do they have any value? Do you keep them for nostalgia purposes? Do you throw them in the garbage? Are these just cheap versions of decent saddles because the manufacturer knows that we are going to toss them anyway and they are trying to keep the overall bike price lower?

The saddle I removed yesterday was listed on the bike's specs as a Bontrager Arvada. However, upon scrolling through the saddle section of Trek's website I am unable to find anything that resembles it.

I toss mine in the spare parts bin, in the event I trade or sell the bike in the future.

I keep mine for if I ever need to sell a bike.
It is a selling point. "New Saddle!!! Never been used."

If you really don't want to keep it - Donate it to a co-op, if there's one nearby.

My last two stock saddles (WTB Silverado and Volt) ended up becoming favorites of mine. Even ended up buying another Volt to replace the old saddle on my MTB.

I ride on it until/unless it proves to be unusable for me. Hasn't happened yet. I've ridden thousands of miles on each of at least 6 different saddles from several different brands (3x SI, 1x Avocet, 1x Brooks, 1x no-name stock), none has been so bad that I had to toss it. Two were stock with the bike (Avocet, no-name). They worked fine. The other 4 I bought myself either as selected with the bike build (2x SI, one Flite, one SLR, I think), or to replace a worn out saddle (SI Prolink), or to satisfy my curiosity (Brooks B17N).

Usually throw them in a box. But my brand new CAAD 12 came with a Selle Royal SL that looks like it would kill me. Instead it works really well so it stays.

I figured most people likely give the stock saddle a chance, which is why I stated I believe that most get swapped out in the first 100 miles. I can confirm that I did give one saddle a fair chance and found it to be just terrible regardless of how I adjusted it. As for the Bontrager that i swapped yesterday, it is possible that I didn't give it a fair shot. Initially, I found it uncomfortable and I had numbness issues. I was able to address the numbness, but I still found it to be quite uncomfortable after about an hour of riding. I could have continued with minor adjustments, but I know that I have had good luck with a certain saddle on other bikes, so I just swapped it.

I supposed I could keep them. I sold a 26" MTB about a month ago and changed out the tires & grips before I listed it for sale. I had never considered this option until it was mentioned above. I just don't like the idea of stuff that I don't use taking up space.

I put stock saddles in a bag and store them in the attic. I keep thinking I'll need the saddle for sometime in the future, but so far, not at all.

I ought to give them away like @mixteup mentioned.

Out-of-the-box brand new saddles get thrown into the spare parts bin(s). I always keep one or two for unforeseen flips or repairs, or for when I decide to thin my own riding herd but retain a favorite saddle. On goes a spare before listing the bike for sale.

Periodically, I go through the parts bins and cull out donations. Earlier this year, I took a haul of parts to the co-op to donate, including four saddles.

Trading fodder for swap meets or donate to someone who’s in need.

I keep them for the same reasons as others, if I ever try to sell a bike second hand I put a new fresh saddle on it. I have no idea if it really helps but it looks good with a new saddle on a used bike.


If you just want to get rid of them please donate it to a CO-OP if you have one, they depend on free stuff to survive!

My Cervelo came with an absolutely horrific Fizik saddle, which I knew I hated within the first 30 seconds of the test ride. Insult to injury, it was white. It went for almost $70 on eBay.

The wife's stock saddle also sold on eBay. I built my other two bikes from the frame up, so no saddles to deal with.

In the Bike shop those "Take Offs" get resold, discounted..

customer asked if they want it after buying a different saddle..

It's not a shop selling high end race bikes .. some on tour cyclists find the take offs

worth exchanging for some ones from the discount box .. or off the wall display with a bit higher cost..


to test ride on them.. I've even scooped up some , used bike re sale .. took off saddle (usually for softer and wider)


want to buy some?






....

I like the stock saddle that came on one of my bikes.

I went out and bought a new one of the same model to put on my other bike.

Put 'em aside. When it's time to sell a bike, I throw one on that seems to look appropriate.


-Kedosto

give away to the person nearest the door at the lbs

I have an Arvada Comp on my one month old Trek and it's uncomfortable.

So it'll likely go into the attic when I replace it with something. I just don't know what.

Most likely some of both. Not everyone has the same size / shape backside. Bike mfgrs know this, so they fit a saddle that should work for most of the typical riders (at that price point) Big mfgrs like Trek and Giant have their own 'house brands' so you see a lot of that at the low to mid-ranges.
For most riders, it's just fine. There are some people who's physiology just requires a certain width / shape to be comfortable, and some riders who just have a very specific preference for a particular saddle (Brooks owners?)


I usually fit my personal bikes with Specialized Body Geometry saddles (the Romin and the original Comp MTB). I've never had a bike that came with a $150 saddle as stock, so most of my take-offs are just generic house brand saddles without much resale. I keep them in my spares stash for flips or trades for other equally low-value components for projects.


On a similar note: What is it with Fizik saddles? I see used Spesh' (Romin / Henge) at ~50% of cost, but take-off Fizik's at near retail?:foo:

Ooh another 'which saddle' thread, in disguise.
 

Sung to the tune of, 'What do you do with the Drunken Sailor , early in the Morning ? ' :innocent:








:lol:

..

Nah they just want the empty cans with a 10 cent deposit to cash in..

I am blessed. I like my stock saddle. It came with my 2017 Giant ATX lite. But I did hold on to my stock handle bars.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0e19740689.jpg

Have you considered bike taxidermy? https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...76aea3f58f.jpg

You just added a little mystery to this - not that it really matters. That is the saddle in the photos of my bike on Trek's website, but that is not the saddle that was on my bike when I picked it up. Regardless, I have a small and growing collection of saddles that I will never use. I honestly believe that it will not grow any more, but we all know how that goes. I take a look online & see if there is somewhere I can donate them to.