A Brief Intro:

I’ve been a passionate proponent of the idea of a Saddle Library for some time now. It’s theoretically the best tool to get someone seeking a different perch onto the right saddle for them, or at least – in the absence of access to every saddle on the market in every size – giving them an educated idea of what could work for them without having to make a massive investment in trying different options. 

The prime barrier, as I see it, is how to administer such a program without it simply, and maybe cynically, becoming just another vehicle to sell seats. Clearly, there’s a potential outcome where someone finds their perfect perch and buys one from their preferred vendor. However, it’s also completely possible that a rider could try every saddle on the shelf and have none work better for them than the one that’s already on their bike. And, assuming said saddle is comfortable, that should be a solid result.

The MEATengines Saddle Library:

Thanks to the generous saddle donations of a few of my friends, and the participation of Jac & #NiceGuyGeoff from Essential Cycles, I’m running an, admittedly limited, test version of a Saddle Library.

{If you’d like to borrow a saddle, buy a library card (below), check out the inventory, and send me an e-mail.}

Folks who want to install their own saddles – great. Folks who’d like a hand getting things set up – we have you covered too. Folks who aren’t North Vancouver adjacent, well, sorry. I’ll be writing about the experience/experiment and maybe it’s something your preferred local bicycle shop will want to take up in the future?

Yes, the saddles may go ‘missing’ or the saddles may get damaged, and the whole thing might be a fantastic failure in terms of interest (it has been thus far). But, if there proves to be enough riders who are keen, I’m committed to using the old BBS method (beg, borrow, and steal) to expand the saddle brands, models, and sizes on hand and we can work together to see where this goes. 

At this time we’re committing to running from March to September 2024. Saddle loans will be for two weeks at a time. 

How To Buy A (Saddle) Library Card:

The MEATengines Saddle Library is an experiment I’d love to see succeed and to maximize interest, I’m making no effort to monetize it even to the point of cost-recovery. All the energy going into it is being provided by myself and my friends at Essential. The saddle collection is being seeded by myself and some friends who have a few more pews than they need to celebrate rolling mass. 

But, after talking to a few friends, we’ve decided that to participate you have to put a little bit of skin in the game. As we all know, it’s hard times for too many people right now, who have much bigger worries than what bike seat is the most comfortable, and we have a fantastic local organization called Harvest Project that’s trying to provide a hand up. They provide grocery support, an emergency food program, a rent bank, and many other services. 

There is a pile of ways to DONATE to Harvest Project, so pick whichever one suits you, fire them $25, and then e-mail me with the proof of your twenty-five dollar (or greater) donation to get your name added to the spreadsheet.