Bike Seat Covers Review

Bike seat covers are a riding component that help bike saddles feel more comfortable and allow riders to go a longer distance. Most saddle designs are manufactured from hard plastic or molded leather. To increase comfort many riders prefer to use a custom seat cover over the original material of the saddle. With new saddle designs offering saddles for men and women, covers are also designed to fit over anatomic bike saddles and seatposts. Schwinn seats offer a variety of seats so choosing the correct cover becomes not as easy as one might think.

Seat cover materials are made from leather, synthetic blend, vinyl, or sometimes Kevlar. Leather is the most breathable of the materials because leather is naturally porous. Leather will also break down with continued use and start to fit the shape of the rider.

Synthetic materials, such as polyester and spandex, are a popular choice for seat covers. Many of these covers such as a Velo cover offer gel inserts or use gel technology to provide extra padding and softness. The gel provides a barrier between the rider’s sitting points and the hardness of the saddle. This helps reduce pelvic discomfort during long distance rides.

Saddles that are designed with middle cut outs are meant to provide reduced stress on the sitting points and soft tissue areas of the body. Seat covers like the Planet seat covers, designed to work with these saddles usually have a deep indentation in the middle of the cover. Some will even have the middle of the cover removed so that that the open space is still available to the rider.

Seat covers attach to the bike saddle by slipping over it. Some covers that include the Bell cover have gripping rubber on the bottom to attach more firmly to the seat and prevent sliding. This is especially beneficial during wet weather rides or when the weather is hot and the cover soaks up perspiration. Drawstrings wrap around the bottom of the seat post to tighten the cover to the seat. This makes them easy to remove for cleaning or to switch from bike to bike.

Not all riders buy seat covers for comfort. Some riders prefer to choose designer seat covers to give the bike a unique look. There are seat covers in different colors, with geometric designs, and graphics designed specifically for men and women. Bike manufacturers will package designer seat covers individually or in packs of multiples. There are also seat covers designed to be waterproof and protect the bike saddle. These covers are ideal for riders who transport bikes on top of vehicles and need weather protection.

Models

Average Pricing

Seat covers are an affordable aspect of riding, with most seat covers ranging between $15 and $30.