Karson said:
I got in on the first SC batch before they had the firm foam, but I think the soft foam is ideal for me. Question though, D, since you've got the SC seat and have used the sheep skin cover on the OEM seat.
Would you think for what deficiencies the SC seat has for me once I get above 300 miles and the first tank or two of gas and my arse starting to get "that feeling", would a sheep skin pad from Alaska Leather, or someone similar, augment the huge improvement SC already brings to the plate?
Never used any pad at all before, so just wondering if it'd be a wise investment for those days when long slab is required to get from point A to B. Seats are as subjective for folks as windshields, but your thoughts would be a good starting point.
Gracias -K
To be honest, Karson...
I haven't used my sheepskin pad (oddly enough, from Alaska Leather, and that I've had since I had my '02 BMW R1150R) with the Seat Concepts saddle. I did use it a couple of times with the Cee Baileys but found it unnecessary with it. I've gone 450 miles in a day on the Seat Concepts so far with no discomfort whatsoever...
Of course, I've gone over 600 miles in a day with the Cee Baileys and no issues, either. I went 900 in a day on the stock seat once, but I'd never say there was "no discomfort" on that jaunt!!!
With the stock seat I found the sheepskin pad added about 200 to 250 miles in a day to my trip mileage before any real issues cropped up, but so far both the Cee Baileys and the Seat Concepts have been good enough I haven't felt the need to bring the sheepskin along. That said, the biggest improvement I've found the past couple of years in seat time/mileage improvement has been chucking cotton shorts and going with dedicated synthetic riding shorts or padded synthetic bicycle shorts. You may not believe this, but my current favorite right now are from "Cycle Gear", and they're called "Heat Out" base layer riding shorts (
http://www.cyclegear.com/CycleGear/Street/Base-Layers/Bottoms/brand/HEAT-OUT/Base-Layer-Riding-Shorts/p/41710_59409_199). They're extremely cool in hot weather and warm enough in chilly weather, and they simply eliminate any chaffing or hot spots from sitting for mile after mile. I have 3 or 4 pair, and so far they've held up great for two riding seasons, but the best thing is they are so cheap that if you need to replace it doesn't sting your wallet! Another bonus is that they dry in literally minutes, so on trips you can wash 'em, hang 'em up, and they're dry and ready to go in just an hour or so.
Dedicated riding shorts have been a much greater improvement for me than the sheepskin. That said, I will try to make a point to use the sheepskin pad my next ride with the Seat Concepts saddle and get you some feedback.
On another note, I know some folks swear by 'em, but I have tried Airhawk's over the years and have never cared for them. I'm sure it's just me, but in my experience they give me a very *disconnected* feel on the bike, and that's something I just don't like. Even when I tried them aired way down I got that feeling. I liked to feel *connected* to the bike, even through the seat-of-my-pants. Again, just my two centavos... No more.
Dallara
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