Classic & Vintage - Brooks Saddles & Bags... recent ad?

Came across the following photo which seems to display some of the current line of Brooks saddles and leather bags. Perhaps an advertisement? Does anyone know if this is available as a poster?

http://www.campyonly.com/images/modbikes/2006/brooks_bottom_800.jpg

Nice Saddle

Hi,
I liked the looks of that saddle. So I downloaded the catalog, and I
don't think it's current production. It looks like a B18 made specifically for the ad.

Hi,
I liked the looks of that saddle. So I downloaded the catalog, and I
don't think it's current production. It looks like a B18 made specifically for the ad.I thought it was this one-> http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/saddles/brooks-b18.html

Some folks just have no taste...this Brooks ad is a glaring example of just that.

Not even cheesecake - just full on nudity. Tasteless, I say, tasteless!

-Kurt

Okay, before this thread gets silly, let's all keep in mind that Americans have a heritage of Puritanical notions about human sexuality, which basically freezes our emotionial development and attitudes about sex at about the level of your average fourteen year old. If you are from the UK, or any other 21st century civilization, please don't take offense at anything said on this thread, we've just got a lot of hang-ups and can't handle the idea of intercourse among consenting adults. Thanx.

I bet the cop sure enjoyed that flash. :D

I thought it was this one-> http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/saddles/brooks-b18.html

Thought the leather was smooth, guess it ain't.

That B18 saddle sure is a beauty. I wish you could see more of the bike in the picture, though. Looks like a sweet ride.

I wonder what the sign says. Perhaps "Brooks saddles are so comfy, you don't need a padded short".

It is a current advertisement for the B18 which is either
new, or newly being produced again.
what we are seeing is evidence of Brooks (stodgy old british company)
having been bought by Selle Italia.
What I don't get though is how that particular advert appeals to women, as
the B18 is a Womens Specific saddle.

marty

Pistofferson: I realise that the Brits have a different view on the subject, but does it mean that sex has to be dragged in to sell a saddle? P.S.: Love that forum handle.

Marcello: I see your point about the comfort of a Brooks saddle possibly being the sales point, but what does that have to do with this woman flashing watermelons :p at the bobby?



What I don't get though is how that particular advert appeals to women, as
the B18 is a Womens Specific saddle.

Good point. I also note that what makes the B.18 unique is the curled nose, specifically designed to keep a skirt from tearing or catching on the traditional Brooks saddle nose design. As this is pretty much the paramount feature on the B.18, can someone tell me how does this ad promotes it? I see no skirts, neither can I see the curled nose of the saddle. Looks like any other B.72 with a flower print on top, to anyone looking at the ad, and you can bet that the saddle ain't going to be the primary focus of most customers!

Personally, I believe that Brooks could have done a much better job marketing this saddle with a vintage theme.

Picture this: A DL-1L with the B.18 mounted atop it, with a beautiful lady in 1940's period clothing (similar to the painting in the '48 Raleigh catalogue - see pages for the Superbe Sports Tourist) behind the bicycle.
Place the front end of the bike 7" or so closer in the camera's range then the rear, to put emphasis on the saddle's unique curling nose.

Sigh - I should be in advertising...

-Kurt

As a fan of female nudity and Brooks saddles, I have only one problem with this ad. Those aren't cyclist legs and glutes.

This doesn't answer the OP's question about whether the ad is available as a poster or not, but if you go to the "Press" section of the Brooks Website, you can download the image.

Regards,
Alan

P.S. I have to agree with Marty regarding the ads' appeal to women. I'm pretty sure that if I showed this ad to my wife, her response would not be "I just have to have a B-18". In fact, she might regret having given me a B-72 for Christmas:)

Perhaps, then, the target customer for the ad are those men who'll be buying the B-18 saddles for their wives/significant others? Lots of products are marketed that way, usually to great effect.

Neal

Surprised that no one from England has mentioned the location depicted in the photo. And, from the architecture and the distinctive glass work above the door I believe it was either photographed at the real location or deliberately intended to represent that locale.

Number 10 Downing Street is commonly regarded as the "Official Residence" of the Prime Minister of England. If I recall my history correctly, technically, it has been passed on to the First Lord of the Treasury since (I believe) the early 1700s, but during this century that office has really just amounted to the Prime Minister.

I think that small town house has now been turned into government offices (and no one had ever really enjoyed actually living there, anyway). Nevertheless, reference to "Number Ten" has been commonly used as sort of a euphemism for the P.M.... much like, here in the US, saying that something came from "The White House" simply means something was by direct order of the President.

~ Well, I still can't figure what a naked young woman, late at night, apparently holding up a sign in protest of... something,... has to do with bicycles, or saddles, or anything. However, the saddle certainly looks nice. ~ Hey, I'm just glad they did not use the new Swallow in the photo; in this context, that would suggest to the viewer... well... at very least, extreme discomfort.

There's no sex in that ad! It's a nice butt, and a nice saddle. It's not too difficult to understand the theme of the ad - it's all about tradition, but making a joke on a different type of tradition. Look at the woman - braided hair, CND symbol - she's a hippy. Naked protesting hippies have been around a long time now, and so has Brooks.

It's a gentle joke, and few people in this country will be offended by the sight of a bare bottom. I'm sure it won't be used in the states, where the sight of a bare bottom or an uncovered nipple has people shreeking "Think of the children!", but seriously, how sexy is this ad? It's beautiful, and funny, but there are far more sexual images in most beer commercials.

On another part of the topic, I'm loving the Brooks leather handlebar tape.......

As a fan of female nudity and Brooks saddles, I have only one problem with this ad. Those aren't cyclist legs and glutes.

Who cares?

Tim

Nice pic.

Looks like a Roberts Women Audax to me.
http://www.robertscycles.com/products.html

What kind of cantilevers are those?

And lastly, I'm guessing those are standard SKS fenders, no?