[MNSparky]

I just bought a fat bike for winter riding and it came with a Selle Italia Boost EVO Superflow 145mm wide saddle. The saddle is really comfortable but it is rubbery. I mean it grips my butt and does NOT allow it to slide around. It's so rubbery that when I pedal the horn grips the inside of my pant legs and provides resistance to me moving my leg. It drive me nuts and effects my ride so this saddle is going to go. Is this type of fabric on a saddle desirable for some reason? All the saddles I've ever owned, which has been quite a few, have been smooth and non-grippy.

Has anyone experimented with vinyl paint on a saddle? I saw Seth from Seth's Bike Hacks do it on a saddle he was selling but wondering how it would hold up over time. I really like the saddle other than the grippy coating. It seems to fit me well and it's comfortable. I'm wondering if I can just take the grip away with some paint.... It's probably a really bad idea and I should just buy a new saddle or throw on an old one!

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-248922-Fabric-Vinyl-11-Ounce/dp/B003CT4AT8/ref=asc_df_B003CT4AT8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193168541182&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13781494582457317782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019570&hvtargid=pla-308556910691&th=1

 

[Liulianggui]

 

[wschruba]

I just bought a fat bike for winter riding and it came with a Selle Italia Boost EVO Superflow 145mm wide saddle. The saddle is really comfortable but it is rubbery. I mean it grips my butt and does NOT allow it to slide around. It's so rubbery that when I pedal the horn grips the inside of my pant legs and provides resistance to me moving my leg. It drive me nuts and effects my ride so this saddle is going to go. Is this type of fabric on a saddle desirable for some reason? All the saddles I've ever owned, which has been quite a few, have been smooth and non-grippy.

Has anyone experimented with vinyl paint on a saddle? I saw Seth from Seth's Bike Hacks do it on a saddle he was selling but wondering how it would hold up over time. I really like the saddle other than the grippy coating. It seems to fit me well and it's comfortable. I'm wondering if I can just take the grip away with some paint.... It's probably a really bad idea and I should just buy a new saddle or throw on an old one!

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-248922-Fabric-Vinyl-11-Ounce/dp/B003CT4AT8/ref=asc_df_B003CT4AT8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193168541182&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13781494582457317782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019570&hvtargid=pla-308556910691&th=1

I saw one on a new Orbea. It's weird, but doesn't seem uncomfortable. The material seems like the gel layer of [medical] electrodes. If so, after a few weeks of sweating on it, it should be practically non-stick.

Personally, I would just replace it.

 

[noapathy]

Changing the surface grip of a saddle by adding something to it can be and interesting experiment. It doesn't always go to plan. I once used Armor All protectant on mine and it was the exact opposite of what you describe. Picture a slip n slide and then make it more slippy and slidey. I had to wash it with soap and water to try to get the stuff off since it was nearly impossible to sit down without sliding off, which was mostly effective enough. I can only imagine what was going through the heads of the people who saw me struggle with the thing. Thankfully this was before it was a youtube/video everything world.

 

[NoCanSurf]

I new a motorcycle racer that put talc on his race bike saddle. His leather would otherwise 'stick' to saddle, but he liked to move around. The talc need reapplied every race, but it didn't have any long term effects. might be worth a try before getting creative with the paints.

Might want to look into a saddle cover...

 

[MNSparky]

I might just try to paint it. It would be a fun experiment and the only thing I'd be out is a saddle I would never use again anyway and a can of paint. If it works, I'll have a comfortable saddle and I can save the money I'd otherwise spend on a new saddle.

 

[mtnbkrmike]

Thankfully we just happen to have two resident subject matter experts. Paging @richj8990 and @Sparticus. When you are thinking home built/heavily modified saddles, these are your guys 🤘👊👍

 

[MNSparky]

Sweet, I'll wait for their input before I screw up this saddle! Thanks!

 

[noapathy]

Sweet, I'll wait for their input before I screw up this saddle! Thanks!

You're missing a key bit of info from mtnbkrmike's statement. Check this out for a quick giggle.

 

[mtnbkrmike]

You're missing a key bit of info from mtnbkrmike's statement. Check this out for a quick giggle.

I would add this one as well (to be read in sequence, after the one posted by @noapathy): Building another singlespeed

 

[Sparticus]

Here's the look you're after. This one is Rich J's:

I can't say mine came out quite as nice as his:

=sParty

 

[MNSparky]

Cardboard and duct tape! I can't believe I didn't think of that!!

Maybe I don't want his input after all...

 

[richj8990]

The saddle is really comfortable but it is rubbery. All the saddles I've ever owned, which has been quite a few, have been smooth and non-grippy.

Has anyone experimented with vinyl paint on a saddle?

Why can't you just buy a saddle you previously rode on? Are they not sold separately?

So many easy solutions besides painting. Seat covers, or an aftermarket saddle that looks good for you and has a 30-day return policy. This is a really easy issue to fix.

And if you don't mind me asking, I promise I'm not asking this sarcastically, is there an aversion to getting rid of one or more components on a bike, like kind of an OCD thing going on here? As in "I spent a lot of money on the bike, if one part is a failure, then I feel like I made the wrong decision buying this bike, so I'm trying to do whatever I can to salvage the one component and not have it come off the bike." Is that maybe it? If so, have a seat on the couch, take a deep breath, let it all out verbally. 45 minutes from now, you'll be feeling fine to change up components on your bike.[/QUOTE]

 

[richj8990]

I just bought a fat bike for winter riding and it came with a Selle Italia Boost EVO Superflow 145mm wide saddle. The saddle is really comfortable but it is rubbery. I mean it grips my butt and does NOT allow it to slide around. It's so rubbery that when I pedal the horn grips the inside of my pant legs and provides resistance to me moving my leg. It drive me nuts and effects my ride so this saddle is going to go. Is this type of fabric on a saddle desirable for some reason? All the saddles I've ever owned, which has been quite a few, have been smooth and non-grippy.

Has anyone experimented with vinyl paint on a saddle? I saw Seth from Seth's Bike Hacks do it on a saddle he was selling but wondering how it would hold up over time. I really like the saddle other than the grippy coating. It seems to fit me well and it's comfortable. I'm wondering if I can just take the grip away with some paint.... It's probably a really bad idea and I should just buy a new saddle or throw on an old one!

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-248922-Fabric-Vinyl-11-Ounce/dp/B003CT4AT8/ref=asc_df_B003CT4AT8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193168541182&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13781494582457317782&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9019570&hvtargid=pla-308556910691&th=1

Here's the look you're after. This one is Rich J's:
View attachment 1961676
I can't say mine came out quite as nice as his:
View attachment 1961675
=sParty

Believe it or not, Sparticus reminded me to do something on the next group ride: put on a 0.5 lb seat cover. So that the OCD types don't get too distracted by my seat appearance if I step off the bike. That did happen earlier this year. The dude that gawked at the seat is still a friend kinda/sorta, we give each other crap on Strava about different things, we give each other kudos on rides, but yeah in person he did ask what the hell did I do to it. I said I'm a weight weenie and I don't care how the saddle looks.

If I'm in a group ride, it's slower anyway and 0.5 lbs doesn't do anything when I can't really ride fast with so many of them in front. So thank you for reminding me to keep a seat cover ready for group rides, just to placate the OCD types. I certainly would not want to ruin THEIR day with MY bike.

Several months from now, probably late Spring, I'll post my hardtail downhill segment data and you'll see that weight reduction (to a certain point) really can help an average rider with an average bike outperform on segment times. That's combined with the right fork compression and right tire combination too, not just weight reduction. I don't think the Enduro Bros will be too impressed but the XC/downcountry types may actually take some notice. I don't have enough data yet. There are some trends, but the new XC build needs dozens of runs to contribute any meaningful data. As Orson Wells once said about a wine he was promoting "We sell no wine before its time!"

 

[slapheadmofo]

I don't think the Enduro Bros will be too impressed but the XC/downcountry types may actually take some notice.

Welcome to mountain biking today.

Kill me now.

 

[Sparticus]

Put on your lycra skinsuit first.

 

[slapheadmofo]

Why can't you just buy a saddle you previously rode on?

Seriously though, this.
Buy a saddle you like. Grab some favorite grips and pedals while you're at it.
That's pretty typical with a new bike isn't it?

 

[noapathy]

Why can't you just buy a saddle you previously rode on?

That'd mean he bought his own saddle. Seems silly to me, but to each his own.

 

[Sparticus]

That'd mean he bought his own saddle. Seems silly to me, but to each his own.

Wondered the same thing.
I mean, why not buy a new one?
Better yet, make your own saddle out of foam & tape & stuff and then spray the whole mess black.
=sParty

 

[Norts60]