TRIED AND TESTED
Out of the bag, the cover reminded me a bit of a fishing net. It’s a heavy-duty sprung weave construction with two Velcro straps underneath to help secure it to the saddle. Fitting it to the Vulcan’s seat was easy. Just work out which way round (fitting instructions are provided); pull it over the edges and adjust until it grips all the way round; fasten the Velcro under the seat; and slot back in place on the bike. The whole process was quick and easy. I did wonder if it would make refitting more difficult given the added material, but it wasn’t an issue.
Once on, the Cool Cover felt grippy. How would this affect moving in the saddle during a long ride? And would I stay cool on a warm (but not excessive 17 degrees C during my test period) day? Only one way to find out.
Initially it feels strange. You can feel it’s there, firm yet supportive (if you’ve ever experienced a mattress topper, it feels a bit like that), but you soon get used to it. And the air circulating under your posterior? Again it’s… peculiar to begin with, but you quickly come to appreciate the cool breeze circulating beneath. It’s relaxing and pleasant.
And yes, it is grippy, but moving about wasn’t an issue. The next big test: did it make the seat more comfortable on a long ride. I figured 50 miles was a fair test, so we set off on the route
I use for bike tests; a mix of town, urban, motorway and backroads. That mattress topper comment still applies. The Cool Cover feels firm but ‘squidgy’ at the same time. And yes, you do feel the benefit. Adding that bit of firmness counteracts any compression of the saddle material; I didn’t fidget at all during my ride.
Final test, the dry saddle. During my test spell it was dry, sunny and really rather nice. So to test, I filled the watering can and sprinkled over the seat (approximating a Summer shower). The ‘rain’ just passed through the mesh. So yes, a nice, dry bum.
Cool Covers do exactly what they claim. If you rack up miles, especially in hot weather, you will definitely get the benefit of fitting one of these. And even if your riding time is shorter, that cooling breeze as you ride is welcome.