Road Cycling - Color of Saddles?

It's time to upgrade my saddle, and I'm looking at a Brooks. I have read in this Forum that some saddles(blue) are not color fast, and stain the shorts. If they can stain the shorts, what about me? Are these dyes harmful to our body? Is tan the best color because it's natural. Or is if colored too? I hope this doesn't sound foolish, and thanks for the help.

I don't know about the blue but I have a maroon & 2 "honey" tan saddles with no discernable difference. No staining at all.

Are these dyes harmful to our body?

I think not...... I've been using Brooks saddles off and on since 1973 and I'm still alive.

My favourite colors are antique brown and black. Honey is also very nice but the two saddles (Professsional & Conquest) I own in that color didn't match my bikes so I ended up dying them dark brown. They look good now...... :)

I can't believe we're having this conversation. Everyone knows that red saddles are so much faster than any other color.

... what were we talking about again? ...

I can't believe we're having this conversation. Everyone knows that red saddles are so much faster than any other color.

I wasn't aware of red saddles being faster. I know for a fact that red frames are faster. My red Cinelli & Schwinn are noticably faster than my other non-red framed bikes.

I have two black Brooks saddles. I have never had any of the problems you describe. I wouldn't factor color fastness or staining into your decision. I have never seen even the slightest evidence of this.

I wasn't aware of red saddles being faster. I know for a fact that red frames are faster. My red Cinelli & Schwinn are noticably faster than my other non-red framed bikes.


I concur. My Red and Black Lemond MJ with the Black Brooks Pro on it, is damn fast ! much faster than my old purple and white Centurion :-)

jeff

how could a color affect the speed. unless its a subconcious thing and you just like pedalling faster on your red bike

how could a color affect the speed. unless its a subconcious thing and you just like pedalling faster on your red bike
That's the trouble with the internet... sarcasm is so often missed. :rolleyes:

how could a color affect the speed. unless its a subconcious thing and you just like pedalling faster on your red bike

dude, you just don't get it. ;)

-mark

hehe ahhh it was a joke.
sry i havent been on here long enough to discover all the inside jokes ;)

also its hard to sense sarcasm through text :)

how could a color affect the speed. unless its a subconcious thing and you just like pedalling faster on your red bike

No..... not only bikes, but automobiles too....

I'm sorry, if you are gonna get a Brooks (and what sane person wouldn't)
it has to be black.
or British racing Green which is oh so proper. . .

Marty

My current Brooks is green. It is very cool looking. My last Brooks was tan, it was also nice looking. I have a black Brooks (with springs) I haven't gotten around to trying yet. I am less taken with the black color; but black doesn't clash with anything. But my favorite Brooks color is the green.

It's time to upgrade my saddle, and I'm looking at a Brooks. I have read in this Forum that some saddles(blue) are not color fast, and stain the shorts. If they can stain the shorts, what about me? Are these dyes harmful to our body? Is tan the best color because it's natural. Or is it colored too? I hope this doesn't sound foolish, and thanks for the help.
------------Thanks guys for all the good information.---------- The blue saddle I spoke of was a US postal type saddle. But my concern is the "dye" in any saddle. Bumping, grinding and sweating on top of a saddle, for hours could cause dyes, or anything else on the saddle, to be absorbed into our bodys rather easily. Are these dyes harmful to us,(what does the manufacturer say) and is the "tan" saddle producted without dye? ...and if dyes don't matter, BLACK has got to be for class, and for speed, YES! red. But I've always liked the color of money, beautiful GREEN.(could be the color of her eyes).

Quick question, i have a leather saddle that ressemble the Brooks, I think the name is Idaho or something?

Is it normal for the color to be coming off to your pants?

For PriO, the saddle could be a Ideale (French saddle like brooks but softer leather - pronounced e-doll). I had one back in the 70s and loved it. Got suckered into the new lighter saddles and sold it - BIG mistake! I don't think they are in business anymore, but not sure. Enjoy.

I can't believe we're having this conversation. Everyone knows that red saddles are so much faster than any other color.

Only if it's moving away from you. If it's moving towards you then blue is the "faster" colour. ;)

And of course, those moving at ludicrous speed will be plaid. :D

Red is the real deal.

I just recently purchased a couple Brooks saddles (one British Racing green, for my road bike, and a honey for my commuter). I've had the bike in the LSB a couple of times and the help can't keep their hands frm admiring/rubbing the saddle. I am still in the middle of breaking them in, but have no complaints thus far!

Only if it's moving away from you. If it's moving towards you then blue is the "faster" colour. ;)


OK, you astrophysicist..... :p

But my concern is the "dye" in any saddle...Are these dyes harmful to us...

The FDA has published a report with conclusive findings on the dangers to humans of the blue dye in the USPS blue saddle.

According to the report, lab rats who consumed a 55 gal drum of this dye every day for the period of three weeks, (which coincidentally is the length of time that lance sits on one in the TDF), began to wear sunglasses, dance the jitterbug, and read Tom Robbins novels.

I would steer clear if I were you. I mean, who wants to read Tom Robbins novels?

The FDA has published a report with conclusive findings on the dangers to humans of the blue dye in the USPS blue saddle.

According to the report, lab rats who consumed a 55 gal drum of this dye every day for the period of three weeks, (which coincidentally is the length of time that lance sits on one in the TDF), began to wear sunglasses, dance the jitterbug, and read Tom Robbins novels.

I would steer clear if I were you. I mean, who wants to read Tom Robbins novels?

. . . and end up looking like Robbin Williams.

:D

Marty

Best thread I have seen in a long while. So informative. I'm working on painting my bike plaid as soon as I get home!

. . . and end up looking like Robbin Williams.

:D

Marty

Now that IS a scary thought. "The hairer of it all."

------------Thanks guys for all the good information.---------- The blue saddle I spoke of was a US postal type saddle. But my concern is the "dye" in any saddle. Bumping, grinding and sweating on top of a saddle, for hours could cause dyes, or anything else on the saddle, to be absorbed into our bodys rather easily.

Are you afraid of blue balls? :eek:

Seriously, I've never noticed any blue dye rubbing off my USP Saddle onto me.

Larry

i think pink is a faster color than red...but yellow is faster than both.

------------Thanks guys for all the good information.---------- The blue saddle I spoke of was a US postal type saddle. But my concern is the "dye" in any saddle. Bumping, grinding and sweating on top of a saddle, for hours could cause dyes, or anything else on the saddle, to be absorbed into our bodys rather easily.

Are you afraid of blue balls? :eek:

Seriously, I've never noticed any blue dye rubbing off my USP Saddle onto me.

Larry

I dont think the danger of absorption of seat dye through the skin would not keep me awake at night. If the dye is coming off the saddle that means that it must be water soluble or have polar molecular charge distribution (assuming your sweat is aqueous). If this is the case then the dye is unlikely to be fat soluble (non-polar) since apart from surface active materials, materials are usually either polar or non-polar. Since polar materials are not absorbed well through the skin (unless you use a permeation enhancer) this means that the dye would not absorb well into the skin. So you should be fairly safe unless you start licking your seat.

Then I should not be concerned with hair dyes I've used to change the color of my saddles. Doesn't seem to rub off once absorbed.

Everyone here knows what color saddles I ride, and I think they are definately faster than the red ones, and fixer I hate to break this to you but the bikes with celeste are faster than the red ones :D

Best thread I have seen in a long while. So informative. I'm working on painting my bike plaid as soon as I get home!

Plaid bike... HMMMMMmmmmm..... you may watch for one in my stable in the future. How cool would that be?

I think not...... I've been using Brooks saddles off and on since 1973 and I'm still alive.

My favourite colors are antique brown and black. Honey is also very nice but the two saddles (Professsional & Conquest) I own in that color didn't match my bikes so I ended up dying them dark brown. They look good now...... :)

Just curious ... how did you dye them? I have a honey B17 that looks hideous on my blue/silver bike (year end close out) ... but it is so comfy, I love it. I can barely ride my beater which used to be comfy I'm getting so spoiled.

Next time I'll have the good sense to buy a bike that matches my Brooks!

Tan is dyed tan the only color not dyed is the rawhide chewbone color, and even that color leather will probably be lightly dyed for an even shade. Work boots have been made from dyed leather for a very long time, if oiled regularly(they must be if working in the dirt) they do bleed upon comencment of sweating, and turn white socks into tye dye, but I have never heard of anybody having so much as an allergic reaction.

Just curious ... how did you dye them? I have a honey B17 that looks hideous on my blue/silver bike (year end close out) ... but it is so comfy, I love it. I can barely ride my beater which used to be comfy I'm getting so spoiled.

Next time I'll have the good sense to buy a bike that matches my Brooks!


I used Miss Clairol hair dye.....med brown. Mix with 20 volume peroxide and simply brush on. My wife owns and operates salons so I figured I'd experiment with some of her chemicals.

Only if it's moving away from you. If it's moving towards you then blue is the "faster" colour. ;)

And of course, those moving at ludicrous speed will be plaid. :D

If you're seeing plaid, I recommend you have a nice pierre-air and relax. ;)

My blue bike shorts from performance lost a lot of color, every time I wash them in the sink, the water's blue. It also dyed the silver part of my seat blue to match my bike. I always thought polyester or nylon was made blue right into the plastic polymer.

I always thought polyester or nylon was made blue right into the plastic polymer.
Some times it is built in, some times the thread is dyed, some times the final fabric is dyed. Just depends on what the fiber maker, fabric maker, and clothing maker agree on for price, fuctionality, design, logistics, estimated lifespan, etc. in the case of rope strength can be significantly affected by different dyes and even colors.