Classic & Vintage - Possible Leather Saddle Option? Please Advise...

I'm planning the buildup of a bike to be a SS/FG townie/country bike that will look smoooooth and ride the same way. Does anybody know about the quality and/or ride of the sprung leather saddles that come from Rideable Bicycle Replicas (http://www.hiwheel.com/accessories_main.htm)? I'm figuring that they may just be good enough to be cool-looking saddles for replica penny farthings (and that the prices probably reflect the quality), but I figured I should ask you folks. Is this likely to be a good option, or will I be disappointed if I don't "spring" (pun intended) for the Brooks?

Thanks for reading/replying.

Sheldon Brown wrote

Good Leather vs Bad Leather

Back when leather was the only game in town, good bikes came with good leather saddles, and cheap bikes came with cheap leather saddles. There is quite a difference. For one thing, good saddles are made of thick, high quality leather. In addition, there is the question of grain. Leather, like wood, has a natural grain pattern to it. When saddle tops are to be cut out of a hide, the cutter has a choice. The cheap way is to get the largest number of saddle tops from a given hide with the least wastage of leather. The quality way is to cut the saddle tops in such a way that the grain runs straight down the middle of the saddle. The cheap saddles that came on $90 dollar bikes in the early '70's are no longer made, but their memory lingers on. Some of them could be broken in properly and give a comfortable ride, but many just had the wrong grain, and just went from bad to worse.

There used to be many brands of leather saddles, but two names in particular stood out for the highest quality: Brooks of England and Ideale of France. Now Brooks appears to be the only survivor. There is also a Dutch manufacturer called "Leppers", but they are not widely distributed, at least in the U.S.
http://sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

Sheldon Brown wrote

http://sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

Yes he did. Do you know anything specific about the saddles in question?

I'm planning the buildup of a bike to be a SS/FG townie/country bike that will look smoooooth and ride the same way. Does anybody know about the quality and/or ride of the sprung leather saddles that come from Rideable Bicycle Replicas (http://www.hiwheel.com/accessories_main.htm)? I'm figuring that they may just be good enough to be cool-looking saddles for replica penny farthings (and that the prices probably reflect the quality), but I figured I should ask you folks. Is this likely to be a good option, or will I be disappointed if I don't "spring" (pun intended) for the Brooks?

Thanks for reading/replying.

I think you'll be horribly disappointed, especially with a saddle that is priced at the same price as a pair of rubber grips from the same website. But what the heck - order the $19.95 version and see what you get. I suspect its not much more than a movie prop.

Bob

Yes he did. Do you know anything specific about the saddles in question?

If I did, I wouldn't have had to quote Sheldon. You are welcome.

Hello Shelato12771,

I saw the hairpin saddles for sale at the
Trexlertown bike show seemed like adequet
quality they were selling for $45. I may pick
one up for my rat bike.

Cheers.

Those are Arpan saddles, which are made in India. Arpan is a high-end (for India) bicycle manufacturer, specializing in copying early Raleighs. Their seats are a great deal for the price, being only 1/7th the cost of the Brooks B33 which they are modeled after.