Need a cheap saddle for a high-crime area

[soprano]

Next fall I will start commuting into a university campus with a very high property crime rate. I picked up an old 10-speed today (calling it a "beater" feels wrong, it's a nice old Raleigh) so I won't need to worry about leaving my Surly locked up on campus all day.

I have a Brooks Imperial on the Surly. It works well for me, but I'm not dropping $150 on a saddle that I plan to leave in the middle of campus all day, every day. (No, removing the seatpost and carrying it around is not an option. I have enough crap to schlep around all day, thanks.)

The commute is 4 miles each way. No long rides planned for this bike. I absolutely need a saddle with a cut out that is at least 155 mm wide. Other than that, it would be nice to find something that doesn't look too awkward on a vintage road bike. My budget is $50 or less. Suggestions?

[emily_in_nc]

I had this saddle on an entry-level mountain bike I sold a couple years ago. It was actually quite comfy -- and cheap! 159mm in width.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...contour+saddle

[Biciclista]

If you trust your bike, why not the saddle too? Get a lock that will keep the saddle locked well to the bike! I would HATE to have to ride a crappy saddle because of fear...

oh sorry, you're replacing the SURLY with a beater bike. GOod luck!

[soprano]

I had this saddle on an entry-level mountain bike I sold a couple years ago. It was actually quite comfy -- and cheap! 159mm in width.

http://www.performancebike.com/bikes...contour+saddle

Hey, that looks just right! (At least, on paper.) I'll have to run by Performance and see if I can pick one up.

Outright theft is not the only thing I'm concerned about here. The campus bike racks are super crowded; anything I put there is going to get banged up a bit for sure, and probably vandalized at some point. Everything I put on this bike needs to be cheap and durable. I found the perfect bike for this situation: a vintage Raleigh 10-speed (from Nottingham) in decent shape with a horrific paint job. Now I'm setting it up with a saddle, rack, fenders, lights, etc.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Whether your bike or your saddle are cheap or expensive, they both likely be stolen if you don't lock them up VERY SECURELY while left on campus outside all day. The question becomes: do you want to spend the big money on really good locking system, or is it cheaper to just replace the bike (and the saddle) periodically?

[Kerry1976]

What if you still use your Brooks but cover it with a cheap plastic baggie (obviously one with color, like grey) or a cheapie shower cap or something?

[soprano]

Thanks for the suggestions! It's nice to have options.

[radacrider]

A "cheapy" saddle may make the commute awful. Some use the trick of using an old section of bike chain to loop through the seat then through the seat stays. To protect from paint chipping and noise, you can use an old inner tube around the length of chain.

[OakLeaf]

Spec' Dolce is $55 and comes in 155 and 175 mm - too squishy for me, but I have a friend who rides thousands of miles a year on hers.