Saddle covers - disposable plastic shopping bags
03-03-24, 07:39 PM
#1
Vegan on a bicycle
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Saddle covers - disposable plastic shopping bags
Disposable plastic shopping bags make great saddle covers, to protect our beloved saddles from rain, sun, pigeon-crap, and covetous eyes. But disposable plastic shopping bags are now unpopular, and hard to find, to put it charitably.
Wondering if anyone can suggest any alternative saddle covers, or suggest where to find disposable plastic shopping bags.
Wondering if anyone can suggest any alternative saddle covers, or suggest where to find disposable plastic shopping bags.
03-03-24, 09:17 PM
#2
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I solve the problem by not needing the things. Synthetic leather saddles shed rain, are unaffected by sun, wind, etc, and theft is thwarted by a seat post collar with a 4mm allen key bolt. YMMV.
03-03-24, 10:45 PM
#3
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If you treat the leather with Snowseal (sp) or Obenauf's Heavy Duty LP; both beeswax dressings and use lots, water will barely affect the leather. My seats bead up in the rain for months after I treat them. If you can, treat it in warm or hot weather when you won't be riding that bike for a while.
03-04-24, 02:57 AM
#4
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Small trash bags - stronger than the disposable grocery bags but similar (slightly bigger) in size. Last very long. I hold one stuffed between the saddle rails.
03-04-24, 06:22 AM
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Google (bicycle saddle cover waterproof). Lots of choices.
They're generally in the $10 - $15 range. I got two (spare so if one rips or gets lost I have a backup), been using the first one for almost 1 year, looks great so far.
They're generally in the $10 - $15 range. I got two (spare so if one rips or gets lost I have a backup), been using the first one for almost 1 year, looks great so far.
03-04-24, 09:55 AM
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I've had good luck with Aardvark saddle covers. IME disposable shopping bags are only good for sitting still -- they tear up if you put a bike on a rack and drive off, and shred pretty quickly when you ride on one. OK for camping where the bike's sitting out overnight.
03-04-24, 12:31 PM
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Go to Walmart, or Target and buy a pack of cheap shower caps. They go on quickly and easily, and are cheap. I also have the cover made by Brooks, and use it for longer periods of time, but the shower cap goes on faster, and is more compact, making it easier to put on quickly when needed.
As for treating the leather saddle with Sno Seal or the like, don't. Use Proofide. If you treat it with a water proofer like Sno Seal you will ruin it for what it is good for, breathability. My Brooks is 13 years old and has been in all kinds of weather and it is perfect. MY brother still has a Brooks on a bike he bought used in the 70s, the Brooks came with the bike. The Brooks is still good, and I know he hasn't treated the saddle, just ridden it.
As for treating the leather saddle with Sno Seal or the like, don't. Use Proofide. If you treat it with a water proofer like Sno Seal you will ruin it for what it is good for, breathability. My Brooks is 13 years old and has been in all kinds of weather and it is perfect. MY brother still has a Brooks on a bike he bought used in the 70s, the Brooks came with the bike. The Brooks is still good, and I know he hasn't treated the saddle, just ridden it.
03-04-24, 05:54 PM
#8
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I got a multi-pack of disposable shower caps from Amazon. The quantity was huge, enough for more than a lifetime. They are tiny until unfolded. I keep one in my tool bag. I should keep more than just one.
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03-06-24, 09:47 PM
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Another vote for shower caps; but I'd get better than cheap so you won't have to replace them as often and they're less likely to leak.
03-07-24, 08:38 AM
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The shower caps from Walmart were too fragile for me. I went to the camping section at Walmart and bought the $12 pack of roll top dry bags. Dry bag fits over seat and I had 2 for other things needing to stay dry.
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03-12-24, 08:31 PM
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I use a gallon-size Ziploc bag, rolled up and folded twice under the saddle when it's not raining. They can get a little ratty over the years, but still do a perfect job of protecting your saddle when it's raining. 
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03-14-24, 07:08 AM
#13
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My commuter has a weatherproof Brooks Cambium saddle, so it definitely does not need any kind of saddle cover.
03-20-24, 08:24 AM
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I have used cheap shower caps as helmet covers
I have a cpl saddle covers. mostly only cover them when the bike is outside w/o me on it, or when it rides on the car in poor weather
some are better than others. meaning some fit better, some are more water proof, some are OK to ride on. if I wanted to cover a bike saddle & keep the cover on 24/7 then I would buy a diff. saddle
this one is very good
Brooks England Nylon Saddle Rain Cover
I have a cpl saddle covers. mostly only cover them when the bike is outside w/o me on it, or when it rides on the car in poor weather
some are better than others. meaning some fit better, some are more water proof, some are OK to ride on. if I wanted to cover a bike saddle & keep the cover on 24/7 then I would buy a diff. saddle
this one is very good
Brooks England Nylon Saddle Rain Cover
Last edited by rumrunn6; 03-28-24 at 08:32 AM.
03-26-24, 04:12 PM
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Randi Jo Fabrications makes nice saddle covers, if you want to throw money at the problem.
I have one, but I rarely use it. Occasional treatments of Obenauf's LP is adequate for my use.
I have one, but I rarely use it. Occasional treatments of Obenauf's LP is adequate for my use.
03-26-24, 09:05 PM
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Buy a reusable plastic shopping bag. They last a LOT longer and don’t have holes in them.
Attach with a broccoli rubber band.
Attach with a broccoli rubber band.
03-28-24, 05:01 AM
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A short story: “way back” when I was 68 or so I returned to my car with my mtn bike after a ride. There were two women there working on some problem with one bike. I asked if I could help. “No, thanks. We’ll be fine. We don’t need some man to help us.” I smiled and proceeded to load my bike on the rack and, watching the dark skies, put my DIY rain cover on the leather seat. My DIY cover is made from a surplus tent rain fly, purple and green with a pull string to snug it up. One of the gals looked over and said “ That’s a pretty neat rain cover. Where did you get it?”
With my biggest smile, I confessed ”I made it myself and didn’t need some girl to help me.” We all laughed. Touché, in fun.
With my biggest smile, I confessed ”I made it myself and didn’t need some girl to help me.” We all laughed. Touché, in fun.
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03-29-24, 11:18 AM
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Oh, so that's what you are? Some man? 
A friend of mine stops cyclists to offer unsolicited advice. I know better than to do that. I asked her how she gets away with it. She said, "I'm a woman, five foot zero, and I have white hair. People trust people like me." I can't argue with that.
A friend of mine stops cyclists to offer unsolicited advice. I know better than to do that. I asked her how she gets away with it. She said, "I'm a woman, five foot zero, and I have white hair. People trust people like me." I can't argue with that.
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Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
