Bicycle Seat Replacement near me

Best Bicycle Seat Replacement Service and Cost In Iowa City
Mobile Mechanics of Iowa City Iowa City

Bicycle Seat Replacement Service near Iowa City IA: Are you looking for the BestBicycle Seat Replacement Service near Iowa City IA ? Mobile Mechanics of Iowa City Iowa City, it is important to make sure you have the best possible seat set-up for you, whether you are racing in the Olympics or just racing to class. Cost? Free estimates! Send us a message or call us today. Best Bicycle Seat Replacement Service around Iowa City IA. We serve Iowa City IAand other areas. Get a Free Quote Now!

BEST BICYCLE SEAT REPLACEMENT SERVICE IN IOWA CITY IA

IOWA CITYBICYCLE SEAT REPLACEMENT

Bicycle Seat Replacement in Mobile Mechanics of Iowa City Iowa City

Bicycle Seat Replacement Service near Iowa City IA: Replace your bicycle’s seat (officially known as a saddle) and upgrade your bike riding experience with this simple tutorial. Whether your seat has been mangled by a squirrel, is making your ride uncomfortable, or if you are just ready for a change, this guide will walk you through how to replace and position your new seat for maximum comfort. Mobile Mechanics of Iowa City Iowa City, You can purchase a new bike seat from your local bike shop or online retailer.

A good bike seat in the correct position will not only provide a more comfortable ride, but also encourages good posture while minimizing unhealthy strain.Mobile Mechanics of Iowa City Iowa City, it is important to make sure you have the best possible seat set-up for you, whether you are racing in the Olympics or just racing to class.

The Importance Of A Good Saddle Seat And Why You Have To Change It

Pain from your bicycle seat doesn’t have to come with the territory. Pain in the saddle can be an indication of many things, including an incorrectly sized seat, inadequate padding and poor positioning. Diagnosing your saddle pain and correcting it can help you enjoy your ride without worrying about potentially damaging any sensitive tissue. A correction to your saddle position could also improve your pedaling efficiency, giving you more power on those tough hills.

Sizing Up Your Seat

Eliminating saddle pain starts with a correctly sized seat that properly distributes your weight. More padding isn’t the solution; you want your contact point with the saddle to be directly on your sit bones, which jut out from your pelvis underneath the flesh of your buttocks. To find your sit bones, try sitting on a table or other flat surface. The two points that contact this surface most firmly are your sit bones. Find a saddle with a width that matches these contact points. Most bike shops have an accredited bike fitter on staff that can assist you in finding the exact measurement.

Less Is More

With too much cushioning, you may be distributing your weight between your legs, where pressure and vibration can damage sensitive tissue. A good bicycle seat uses high-density foam that matches your sit bones and provides good cushioning without improperly cradling your weight. A channel down the center of some bike seats eliminates contact altogether, which can relieve saddle-related pain or numbness. Finding the right balance between cushion and support is key to eliminating your pain, so don’t be afraid to ask to try a few saddles at your local bike shop.

Sitting Pretty

The proper position in your bicycle seat can make a big difference in your comfort. With your bike leaned up against a wall, mount your seat and rotate the pedals so that one crank is pointed straight to the floor. While seated, your knee should be just slightly bent and you shouldn’t be straining to reach the pedals. Now that your seat is correct, lean forward, grab the handlebars and adjust your stem height until the position is natural and your neck isn’t craning. If you can’t get your positioning right, check that your bike frame is the correct size by matching your inseam to the manufacturer’s sizing chart. If it isn’t correct and you do a lot of cycling, it’s worth your time to try and get a properly sized bike.

Finding a Short Solution

A pair of cycling shorts is a necessity for rides further than a few miles. All professional cyclists use them, and they come in a wide variety of price ranges, styles and materials. Cycling shorts have a chamois pad built in that provides extra cushion when you’re in the saddle and can relieve a lot of issues associated with cycling such as soreness, chafing and numbness. If you want to get the most out of your ride, coupling your seat with a pair of cycling shorts is the safest and most comfortable way to ride.

How to Choose a Bike Seat

Bicycle Seat Replacement Service near Iowa City IA: If you’re considering a new bike seat (more properly known as a saddle), it’s likely because the one you’re currently riding on is uncomfortable. Comfort is a common issue, especially among new cyclists, and one solution is to get a new saddle that’s better suited to the type of riding you do and your body mechanics.

Choosing a new seat can be a daunting task, though. There are lots of options and comfort is often very subjective, which means the saddle that works for your friend won’t necessarily work for you. This article will help you understand how things like bike seat materials, cushioning, design and size, as well as the type of riding you do, can influence your choice of bike seat. If you’re headed to a bike shop, see if you can test ride a seat to check the comfort. Many stores, even if they don’t have the exact one you want to test, will have something comparable that you can try. While you’re riding, vary your position, ride quickly and more slowly and hit some bumps.

Consider the Type of Riding You Do

Bike seats are frequently placed into one of these five categories:

  • Recreational cycling: If you sit upright while pedaling a cruiser, urban or commuter bike and prefer short rides, try a saddle designed for recreational cycling. The saddles are often wide with plush padding and/or springs, and sometimes sport a short nose.
  • Road cycling: Are you racing or clocking significant road miles? Road cycling saddles tend to be long and narrow and have minimal padding for the best power transfer while pedaling.
  • Mountain biking: On mountain trails, you alternately stand up on the pedals, perch way back (sometimes just hovering over or even off your saddle) or crouch down in a tucked position. Because of these varied positions, you’ll want a mountain-specific saddle with padding for your sit bones, a durable cover and a streamlined shape that will aid your movement.
  • Bike touring: For long-distance riding, you’ll want a saddle that falls between a road and mountain saddle. Saddles for bike touring typically provide cushioning for your sit bones and a fairly long, narrow nose.
  • Bike commuting: A lot like saddles for road cycling and bike touring, saddles that are good for commuting have some padding, but generally not too much. Bike commuters who ride rain or shine may want to consider the weather resistance of the cover materials.

Decide What Type of Cushioning You Want

There are two broad categories for bike saddles: performance saddles which have minimal cushioning and cushioning saddles which tend to be plush.

Performance saddles are typically long and narrow and have minimal padding to create maximum power transfer and minimal chafing while pedaling. They are commonly found on road bikes, mountain bikes and touring bikes.

An illustration of a cushioning bike saddle

Cushioning saddles tend to be wide with plush padding and/or springs to absorb bumps in the road. They often have a short nose. They are typically found on bikes designed for recreational cycling and cruising.

The two most common types of cushioning are gel and foam.

Gel cushioning molds to your body and provides the plushest comfort. Most recreational riders prefer this for its superior comfort on casual rides. Its downside is that gel tends to get compacted more quickly than foam.

Foam cushioning offers a pliable feel that springs back to shape. Road riders favor foam as it provides more support than gel while still delivering comfort. For longer rides, riders over 200 lbs. or riders with well-conditioned sit bones, firmer foam is preferred as it doesn’t compact as quickly as softer foam or gel.

No cushioning: Some bike saddles have zero cushioning. These saddles often have leather or cotton covers. Although a no-cushioning saddle may be uncomfortable for some riders when it is brand new, it will break in with frequent riding and eventually mold to your weight and shape. Some riders say that the “custom fit” you can get from leather or cotton saddles makes them more comfortable despite them not having any cushioning. Another plus of saddles with no cushioning is that they tend to stay cooler, a definite advantage on long, hot rides. Choose this option if a saddle with cushioning hasn’t worked well for you and if you’re drawn to the classic look of a leather or cotton saddle.

A saddle pad is an optional add-on that can be placed over any saddle for additional cushioning. Though plush and comfortable, its padding is not as contained as is a saddle that’s already padded, so it may migrate where you don’t need or want it. This is not an issue for recreational rides, but it could be for fast rides or for longer distances. If that’s your riding style, a pair of padded bike shorts or underwear may be a better investment.

Decide Which Saddle Materials You Prefer

Bicycle Seat Replacement Service near Iowa City IA: Saddles are made with a variety of materials that can affect things like weight, flex, break-in time, weatherproof ness and cost. The two main parts of a saddle to pay attention to are the cover and the rails.

  • Synthetic: Most saddles are made entirely of synthetic materials, from the molded shell to the foam or gel padding and saddle cover. They are lightweight and low maintenance, and require no break-in time, making them a popular choice for most riders.
  • Leather: Some saddles substitute a thin leather covering for a synthetic one but are otherwise very similar in materials used. Other leather saddles, however, are made solely from a leather cover that’s stretched and suspended between the rails of a metal frame. After a break-in period of about 200 miles, the leather molds to your weight and shape. Like an old baseball glove or a trusty pair of leather hiking boots, the initial period of use may include some discomfort, but the end result “fits like a glove.”

One downside of leather is that it is not waterproof, which means you may need to treat it with a leather conditioner on occasion. This can protect against moisture and against drying of the leather through UV exposure. Note: Check the manufacturer’s care instructions before using a conditioner or waterproofer on a leather saddle, as some manufacturers recommend against it.

  • Cotton: A handful of saddles feature cotton as the cover material. Cotton covers are designed to stretch and move just a little while you ride, offering excellent comfort and control while pedaling. Another plus is that cotton requires a much shorter break-in period than leather.

Saddle Rails

The rails on a bike saddle are the connection points to the bike. Most saddles have two parallel rails that run from the nose of the saddle to the back of the saddle. A bike seat post clamps to the rails. Differences in rail material affect things like cost, weight, strength and flexibility.

  • Steel: Steel is strong and reliable, but quite heavy, so if weight is a concern, consider other options. Most saddles REI sells have steel rails.
  • Alloy: Alloys, like chromoly, are used in rails for their strength. They tend to be lighter than steel.
  • Titanium: Titanium is very light and strong, and it does a good job of absorbing vibrations, but it’s expensive.
  • Carbon: Like titanium, carbon has a very low weight and can be designed to absorb some vibrations, but it’s generally only available on very expensive saddles.

Make Sure Your Saddle Is Properly Adjusted

Bicycle Seat Replacement Service near Iowa City IA: Before you buy a new saddle, consider whether your current saddle simply needs an adjustment. (Or, when you get your new one, avoid introducing unnecessary problems).

  • Saddle height: If your saddle is too high, it can cause you to shift your weight from side to side, which often results in irritation to your sensitive perineal area. For road bikes and hybrid bikes, the right saddle height will result in your leg having just a slight bend (roughly 80–90 % of full extension) when your foot is at the bottom of the pedal stroke. To check this, have a friend hold your bike upright while you hop on the saddle and position the pedals. Mountain bikers may choose this position for flat, smooth trails, but if there are obstacles in the way or long descents, then a lower position is often preferred. An adjustable seat post that allows you to make quick adjustments with the press of button can be a good investment for mountain biking.
  • Saddle fore/aft position: When your right foot is at the 3 o’clock position of the pedal stroke, your knee should be aligned over your forefoot. If your knee is too far forward or back, then you need to adjust the fore/aft position. Simply loosen the saddle binder bolt at the top of your seat post and underneath your saddle and slide the saddle forward or backward as needed.
  • Saddle tilt: In most cases, it’s best to position your saddles so it’s parallel to the ground. To make saddle tilt adjustments, simply loosen the saddle binder bolt and adjust as needed.

Tips to Improve Your Comfort in the Saddle

Even with the right saddle, lots of bumps or long days in the saddle can lead to perineum compression. So, finding the most comfortable bike seat may require you to adjust your riding style. Here are some things you can try:

  • Stand up briefly on your pedals every 10 minutes or so.
  • Stand slightly over bumps, using your legs as shock absorbers.
  • Get a full-suspension bike (best for mountain biking) or a suspension seat post (found on some recreational and commuting bikes).
  • Wear padded bike shorts. They can help minimize friction, wick moisture and cushion bumps.

TIPS

Bicycle Seat Replacement Service near Iowa City IA: Once you’ve got your bike dialed in, you’ll want to spend a lot of time in the saddle. Improving your comfort and efficiency with a properly fitted and positioned saddle is an essential step to getting the best possible experience from your cycling workout. Sizing a saddle to your proportions can be done by yourself or by a professional bike fitter, and it’s important to try several saddles until you find one that matches you just right.

Hunting for Sit Bones

The ideal contact point between you and your saddle is underneath your pelvic bones or sit bones, which are located underneath the flesh of your buttocks. You can feel your sit bones if you sit on a flat surface such as a table. The two firmest points underneath you are your sit bones, and the distance between them determines the best size for your saddle. You can measure this distance yourself, or you can go to a professional bike fitter to have the distance determined. Most saddles come pre-measured for different proportions. If you’re a woman, women-specific saddles with a wider base usually match your proportions best.

Eliminating the Chafe

If you’re experiencing chafing from pedaling in your saddle, you’ll want a narrower nose. Saddles with a variety of measurements in the front are available without a reduction in the width where you contact with your sit bones. Because you’ll be shifting forward and backward slightly in your saddle during your ride, this particular measurement can be key in reducing the inevitable soreness from chafing. A pair of cycling shorts made of smooth material such as Lycra can also reduce your chafe by providing a smooth contact point with your saddle.

Picture-Perfect Posture

Setting your seat to the right height is a key measurement for a good riding position. Lean your bike against a wall so you can mount it without tipping over, and drop your pedal to the lowest position in your cycling stroke, so the crank is pointed down at the floor. In this position, your knee should be just slightly bent and you shouldn’t be reaching to place your foot on the pedal. Getting this position set will improve your cycling efficiency and eliminate pain in your knees and back during your ride.

Finding Your Tilt

The tilt of your seat is important for sizing up a good riding position. A seat that’s tilted too far forward won’t provide enough support, increasing pressure on your hands and wrists. If your saddle is tilted too far back, you’ll experience pressure on the soft tissue between your legs from the nose of the saddle. Try and level your saddle perfectly with the ground. You can tilt it just slightly forward if your bicycle position is more aggressive, or if you commonly use aerobars for better aerodynamics during a race.

COST

Bicycle Seat Replacement Cost

Basic Tune-Up-$99

Single Speed Bicycle – $60

  • Adjustment of shifting and braking systems
  • Truing/aligning wheels (re-tensioning spokes)
  • Tightening and adjustment of bearing points, including cranks, pedals, hubs, headset, and bottom brackets
  • Lubrication of drive train
  • Lubrication of cables, as needed
  • Inflation of tires
  • Wipe-down of bicycle

Full Service Tune-Up-$179

Single Speed Bicycle – $100

  • Installation and adjustment of removed parts
  • New derailleur cables and housing
  • Lubrication of cables, as needed
  • Inflation of tires
  • Wipe-down of bicycle frame and parts
  • Free readjustment after 30 days to accommodate cable stretch

Complete Overhaul-$349

Single Speed Bicycle – $190

  • Removal of chain, cassette, derailleurs, and cranks (cleaned in our water-based bio-solvent machine to remove grime)
  • Removal and overhaul of hubs, headset and bottom bracket (includes new ball bearings and grease)
  • New brake/shift cables and housing
  • Lubrication of drivetrain and cables
  • Cleaning and detailing of frame and parts
  • Free adjustment after 30 days to accommodate new cable stretch

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How often should I service my bike?

It all depends on how often your bike gets used, and how you use it.  We recommend having your bike serviced on a yearly basis to ensure the best riding experience.  Of course, if you’re really packing on the miles or spending a lot of time on the trail, you may need multiple services.  Remember, it’s better to practice good preventative maintenance rather than run into a ride-ruining failure on the trail that will lead to a costly repair.

How long does it take to get my bike tuned up?

We strive to provide the highest possible quality of service while keeping our turn-around times as short as possible.  We’ve realized that many of you don’t mind leaving the bike with us for a couple of days, and others would like to get the bike back ASAP!  For this reason we’ve decided to offer FREE 24 HOUR TURNAROUND, all you have to do is ask at check-in.  We will do our best to get your work done by the same time the next day, barring any need to order parts (although we have in stock the parts necessary to complete at least 90% of work orders.)

Do I need a tune-up?  How do I know what to have done to my bike?

Any time a customer brings in a bicycle for service, a highly trained service professional will put your bike on the stand and go over it with you.  We will ask you if you are having any specific issues with the bike, as well as other questions such as, “Where do you do most of your riding?” so we can get a better idea of how the bike is going to be used.  This helps us make recommendations for you so you get the most out of that new tire, chain or other component.

How much will it cost?

Well that depends on what type of service you need!  One thing that we can tell you is that whenever you bring your bike in, we will walk you through the entire check-in process.  We will tell you what your bike needs right now, and what may give you problems in the future.  We will then present you with a written quote for the service we recommend.  We can always re-write the quote if there are any reservations, and rest assured, when we give you a quote, we will not charge you differently without your consent (this is why it’s so important for you to leave us an email address and/or phone number to contact you in the event of an issue coming up)

Do I need an appointment?

You never need an appointment to bring your bike into Bicycles East.  You will still be able to get the same great service you expect, including 24 hour turnaround upon request.  However, if 24 hours still sounds like a long time, you can call ahead and make an appointment.  This allows us to reserve time just for you, so you can arrange to drop your bike off for just a few hours and pick it back up that same day!

Really? Free 24 hour turnaround upon request?

That’s right!  We have in stock the parts to complete more than 95% of all repairs and our service staff is prepared to accommodate even the busiest of days.  If you really need that repair back quick, just ask!  As long as we have the parts in stock, we will gladly make sure that you can pick your bike up the next day, at no additional charge!

What about getting a tire/flat fixed?

Typically we can fix a flat or replace a tire on the spot for you.  The process usually only takes 5-15 minutes depending on the tire, however in the midst of a busy day during the season, we may ask if you would like to run a quick errand (we’re right in the center of Glastonbury and usually close to where you need to do your shopping).  Although you’re always welcome to stay and browse the shop, we’re constantly getting in new merchandise that is sure to interest every type of enthusiast. 

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BEST BICYCLE SEAT REPLACEMENT SERVICE IN IOWA CITY

Mobile Mechanics of Iowa City

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