Toroec

Hi everyone!!

I am currently doing a research study for a user driven innovation class and I would like to address you experts the following question:

What are your solutions or suggestions of solutions for wet bike seats?(When it has been raining and you have to sit on a wet seat)

Hope you can help me, all ideas are valid and important

Thank you in advance

Gee3

Towel it off or use a plastic bag to cover it if your seat is soggy.

Or be pro-active and use a plastic bag, shower cap, anything to keep water from getting on your seat until you are ready to go.

caloso

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

This is the reuse.

Juggler2

+1

Rob_E

I use a shower cap. Elastic edges hold it on in the wind, unlike the plastic bag. One of my seats is some kind of vinyl, and it towels off okay (provided I can find something dry to wipe it off), but the other is cloth and spongy, and it is not good to sit on that after it's been raining. Although if it's warm and it's still raining, then there's no point in doing anything as I will get wet anyway and won't be too uncomfortable.

tekknoschtev

I use a plastic bag, but mostly because that's what I always happen to have around. One of these days I'll remember to pick up a shower cap and stuff it between the rails in the seat but for now I just fold up a plastic bag and stick it there, and when I need to ride and it has rained I'll pull it out, and tie it around the seat.

So far its worked well. I think I have a Meijer bag in the seat of each of my bikes

xenologer

Yet Another student asking for 'innovative designs'
WTF?
Are you all in the same class? Did the proffessor assign the project topic to be bike related or something?


Anyway I like the grocery bag idea, very practical.
But since you're doing innovation here, could you innovate me a high tech bike seat that repels water using an electrostatic charge or something? So, bike seat is wet from the rain, press a button and like magic all the water droplets bead and roll off?

bobn

Design a quick release clamp that will not change the seat adjustments and take the seat with you. This will also deter someone from stealing the bike and riding off with it

mawtangent

Similar to the shower cap...I also thought of those saran-wrap thingys with the rubber-band-lined opening (made to put over bowls of left-overs).

xenologer

Can't you do that already by taking a second seat post clamp ring (the kind that is not attached to the frame) and putting it onto your seat post right above the normal one?
Then it would act as a stopper to mark your seat height when you undo the main one for removal.




Seems like there are plenty of solutions that already exist.

Same as those other threads asking for 'innovative designs'; but are really just trying to invent problems to solve...
Seriously, you all in the same design class or something?

BA Commuter

I believe in practicing safe seats, so I cover it with a shower cap if there's any kind of threat of rain. The couple of times I forgot, it gave me an excuse to walk outside and cover it before it got too wet. My co-workers even give me a heads up if they see it raining or the smokers let me know if they felt some drops...

Nermal

(reply to xenologer)

Sure, if you couldn't afford a piece of black electrical tape.

Actually, I didn't know the made such a clamp. I used to have trouble with the seat post working its way further into the seat tube, and would have bought one in a heartbeat.

bobn

I was thinking more along the lines of a quick release clamp that would not involve tools. Should have stated it more clearly.

Condorita

Scratches?

caloso

Thank you! I was wondering the same thing.

StephenH

Keep the bike inside where it doesn't rain. Only time my seat gets wet is if I'm really really sweaty...or is that TMI?

Alpha52

It depends on whether it's a male or female bike seat.

zoltani

I love these "research" posts that are ALWAYS a solution looking for a problem. Just cover the seat with a plastic bag!

Booger1

I can't afford a plastic bag so I NEVER get off the seat when it rains,problem solved.

Toroec

Hi everyone, thank you for all your messages it will help a lot, if you have any extra thoughts please keep posting them.

x136 

The saddle is usually the driest part of the bike, what with it being shielded by my ass and all.

wahoonc

On my leather saddles...use fenders and keep covered with my bum. If the bike is parked, shower cap or covered storage. Plastic saddles...let em get wet, wipe them off with a jacket sleeve.

Aaron

Zan

i don't care if my seat is wet. water doesn't damage them... so i just wipe off the saddle with the sleeve of my shirt (if it has stopped raining), or just hop on it while it's wet (if it still is raining). if it's still raining, a seat with a few drops on it isn't what is going to make me wet.

if you're concerned with biking in the rain, and you're trying to design something that'll "help," perhaps something that dries your rims while you ride, without slowing you down. with wet rims it takes a cycle or two to clear to have effective braking. can be considered dangerous, esp. if you're a noob. a dry rim just before the brake pads would provide a safer braking experience.

SweetLou

A piece of plastic and some tent poles. If I am close to a building, I build a type of awning to cover the bike. If that is not possible, then I make a leanto and place the bike in it. This typically keeps the bike/saddle dry.

If those two options are impracticable, then I just don't worry about my saddle getting wet, I don't ride the leather saddles when there is inclement weather. So, I just hop on and ride.

BarracksSi

Or a taillight mount..

Knee-jerk response: Disc brakes. Have 'em on my rain bike.

Relevant response: Hmm, interesting problem. Some pads (Kool Stop, for example) have a tip that's meant to squeegee stuff off the rim. It'll wear down eventually, and doesn't do anything until you're actually applying the brakes -- but it still mostly pushes gunk out of the way before the rest of the pad really presses down. As far as an add-on piece of some kind, I'm not sure what would work without also being difficult to install and adjust.

(on topic)

Oh yeah, about seats -- if it's synthetic and non-absorbent like all of mine are, just wipe it off. If it'll soak up water or is leather, use a shower cap or plastic bag. Anything more than that is going to be more expensive and, thus, more difficult to sell.