Bicycle Mechanics - Is this vintage seat real or fake leather?

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Raleigh71
08-04-08, 07:54 AM
I'm having trouble deciding if this is real or 'faux' leather. It's from a c. 1978 Schwinn bike. It's marked:


MOD. CONTOUR
PATENTED
SELLE ROYAL
ITALY


See jpeg

Svr
08-04-08, 09:17 AM
You'll have to flip the seat over and examine the edge of the covering where it's attached to the underside of the seat shell. You may have to peel back the covering material just a little. It should be obvious if it's leather.
BCRider
08-04-08, 09:46 AM
It looks sagged out anyway. While there should be shallow dimples in the leather for your bones to fit those look way too deep for comfort. The ridge down the center is going to put far too much pressure on your center mounted naughty bits. From seeing that I'd say it really is leather but that it was ridden in the wet too much and stretched the leather too much where the ends of the pelvic bones sat.

A buddy had a Brooks many years ago. He was proud as heck to have the "best saddle in the world". Sadly it had been terribly neglected and had sagged to pretty much the same shape as this one or maybe a little worse. It was like sitting on a 2x4 set edge on. Extremely uncomfortable and gave no support where it should support.

jsmithepa
08-04-08, 11:38 AM
Leave it out in the hot sun for 1/2 hr. If hot then it's not real leather.