>The DeSoto rigging is very simple and that would make it easier to
>"pack" on a bicycle...Although, I'd like to have a picture of you
>lugging any saddle around on a bicycle...that HAS to be a chore!, and
>YOU have to be addicted to riding to do it. I'd guess that one of the
>synthetics would be easiest to "lug" around on a bicycle (a Wintec
Actually, if you ride bikes a lot for short-distance transportation (more
people should!) you develop a repertoire of ways to carry things, just
like ways to carry your water bottles, raincoat, etc. on your horse. A
barepack pad with peacock stirrups fits easily into a daypack. Any
saddle will bungee-cord along your side, on your hip. The larger or
more massive ones (all western, a few endurance, I suppose) are
not feasible to carry. I used to do my AP upside-down on my back,
with an old wide elastic belt. Never had a rear pannier-frame. Thank
the Lord I never wiped out while carrying a saddle. People stare
enough at bicyclists, especially at ones crashing. I suppose I drew
enough stares anyway. I drive to most lessons now, because they're
right after work. Besides, the roads here in PA don't often have shoulders,
and SE PA drivers are much less courteous than SW Ohio ones.
The lightness of a De Soto would be nice vs a S.Saare. I won't have the
problem of the width at the withers that you have, though; Firefly is "average".
The flaring, however, may pose a problem, because I'm not disciplined or
schedule-free enough to ride regularly enough to keep her in condition
year-round. After the winter's ice thawed and I started to have daylight
after work to ride a bit, Firefly's hollows behind her withers were pretty
sunken on each side of her spine, compared to her in-condition muscular
self. I'd need a saddle that wouldn't cause soreness there when she's out
of shape.