This Saved My Butt Countless Times
Written: Sep 08 '04 (Updated Apr 20 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The extra padding and shock absorption is necessary for rides on my road/hybrid bike
Cons: High price, slips occasionally
The Bottom Line: A quality, essential accessory. Worth buying.
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| Saxguy's Full Review: Bell Double Gel Seat Cover |
I've been using the Bell Double Gel road seat cover for a couple of years now, after my previous one wore out. It works well and is an essential road bike accessory for me.
I find I need the extra padding. You see, when a road bike hits a bump, the shock is absorbed through the hands (padded gloves being very necessary) and the groin. The typical road saddle fits between the riders legs and (ahem) holds up the groin.
The Bell cover has extra gel, distributed throughout the top of the pad. The cover fits over a typical road saddle, not unlike a shower cap, but more fitted. There is a drawstring and a clasp which is fastened tightly to keep the cover over the seat.
I've found this cover sets up well and really does the job. One drawback is that, even with the drawstring fully tightened, the pad will occasionally slip off during one of my longer rides of 25 to 35 miles. This is noting more than a minor bother.
It's designed for the typical saddle on a "road" bike. If you have a mountain bike or comfort bike, the cover might not fit. In that case, I suggest that you work with a store to find the right cover.
This cover is readily available in stores and online. I paid $19.95 plus tax at a Sports Authority store in Chicago. You might be able to get a competing brand less expensively through a mail order house like Nashbar.com or Performancebike.com.
To sum up, this is a great accessory, and I would not leave home on my road bike without it. However, I find the seat cover to be a necessary accessory, but not sufficient to protect my posterior alone. Other items and riding practices are also components of comfort and protection.
In order to cope with the bumps of riding and the inherent discomfort for a standard road bike, the rider can do a number of things, all of which I find necessary for me:
Ride a lot There is no substitute for developing the muscles and getting legs into shape
Buy a comfortable seat There are plenty of seat designs available to try. I ended up keeping the seat that came with my road bike, a 1998 Specialized Cross-Roads, because it had gel. Even so, the seat alone was not enough.
wear padded shorts Most bicycle shorts have padded "chamois" over the entire area that sits on the bike. I’ve found that standard padding works the best for me. I do have a pair of Nashbar Gel shorts (gel padding, instead of chamois), but they really aren't any more comfortable than standard shorts and they cost considerably more.
use a gel seat cover, like the Bell Double Gel The gel padding is comfortable and is another means of absorbing the various bumps along the road.
And, most importantly,
Ride carefully This includes being cautious on roads or trails that you haven’t ridden on before, slowing down and rising out of the saddle a little on bumpy roads and being generally vigilant for cars, runners, walkers or any other potential challenge or obstruction when you ride.
For me, even if I do ALL of these things, I really feel sore and walk around bowlegged after a long ride early in the season, when my legs aren’t yet in mid-summer shape. Now that I have a recumbent bike, it’s a little easier to handle because I vary my rides. The recumbent doesn’t have any of the comfort issues with seats that the road bikes do.
So, hit the road and ride carefully!
Thanks for reading. God bless!
You might be interested in my epinions of bicycle gear and accessories:
Cateye Astrale 8 Cadence Bicycle Computer
Cycle Genius ALX 20 Squared Recumbent Bicycle
2004 Jamis Coda Comp Road Bike
Performancebike.com Online Store
Nashbar.com Online Store
Jandd Mini Mountain Wedge
Nashbar Neck Gaitor
Performance Pro Balaclava
Topeak Joe Blow Sprint Floor Pump
How to commute by bicycle
Cateye Astrale 8 bicycle computer
Nashbar Cold Weather Gloves
Nashbar Crochet Bicycle Gloves
Nashbar Gel Gloves
Bell Solair Pro Helmet
Nashbar Millenium Shorts with Liquicell
Recommended:
Yes
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