Commuting - Sprung Saddle Recommendations

I'm converting my old steel road racer into a more upright, cruisey commuter. And since this conversion is straightening my riding posture, I'd like to take off the stiff old race saddle and put on a more comfortable Brooks sprung saddle. (I have a B67 on my other bicycle.) But this is the bike that I use when I know I'm going to lock my ride up out in public so I try to keep it as ugly and undesirable as I can. Can anyone recommend a pretty good sprung saddle that is upright-comfortable (and maybe can sit out in the weather) without being too expensive and alluring to thieves?

Thanks.

i have an ancient mattress saddle,very second hand.225904

Brooks and VO are all I have used. If you are worried about theft, maybe a seat cover would disguise it enough.

Marc

Thanks, Grishnak. My plan is to haunt the junk shops and used bike part stores looking for a saddle like yours. But I thought someone on the forum might be able to recommend a shortcut.

Thanks, Marc. I have a cover for my Brooks saddle that's been great for both weather and disguise. But I still get nervous leaving that bike locked up out in the city for too long.

Thats sensible,its as easy to lose a Brooks cover as it is a whole Brooks.I hope you turn something up soon.

Yea, now that they are fashionable , people steal Brooks saddles.

have you considered a suspension seat post? there are cheap $20 ones..
and then you can fit a cheap plastic saddle and worry less..

Thanks, Grishnak. My plan is to haunt the junk shops and used bike part stores looking for a saddle like yours. But I thought someone on the forum might be able to recommend a shortcut.

I a lot of the old ladies Schwinn's came with those. I have at least one in my parts bin (broken spring, haven't gotten around to fixing it.)

Fietsbob, I hadn't even considered that. I'll give that option a look.

See if you can find any old bikes. Like from the 60s. I've got a saddle from an old Coast King on one of my bikes and find it comfortable.

A nice mattress saddle would be just the ticket. Very comfortable for shorter trips.
Here's one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Classic-Padded-Mattress-Saddle-Spring-Touring-Seat-/200672189869?pt=Cycling_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2eb8fe9dad

A work of caution on the mattress saddle. I have a old schwinn speedster I keep at the office for an errand bike with mattress in very good condition. It does not attract thieves, it is springy, but much to my surprise for a ride any longer than a mile and it is ridiculousy uncomfortable. Just riding it the 8 miles to my office was memorably bad, the shape is truly awful for spinning. For a slow speed cruise around block or to the store, they're fine but IMHO they may not be a good choice for a commute of any distance. OTOH they are dirt cheap and plentiful, so trying one out would be a a pretty easy thing, as long as you have the right seat post or the seat has rails. The vintage ones don't just pop on to a modern seat post.

Can anyone recommend a pretty good sprung saddle that is upright-comfortable (and maybe can sit out in the weather) without being too expensive and alluring to thieves?

Velo Newport (http://www.amazon.com/Velo-Newport-S2W-Saddle-Black-Spring/dp/B001F31DXY/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1320954158&sr=1-2). If the cover is cloth, spray with shoe water repellent.

Seems every garage sale I go to around here I find one of these. Many are labeled Schwinn and they are very comfortable when seated upright. I stopped buying them when I got to 6.


On edit:
I just looked at the photos above of the one linked as new. The old ones I have been finding don’t have the plastic form inside they have about 10 tension springs from front to back. I will have to look closer I think the old ones were leather also.

http://inlinethumb21.webshots.com/23636/2643369530037547136S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2643369530037547136CMvBGs)

A work of caution on the mattress saddle. I have a old schwinn speedster I keep at the office for an errand bike with mattress in very good condition. It does not attract thieves, it is springy, but much to my surprise for a ride any longer than a mile and it is ridiculousy uncomfortable. Just riding it the 8 miles to my office was memorably bad, the shape is truly awful for spinning. For a slow speed cruise around block or to the store, they're fine but IMHO they may not be a good choice for a commute of any distance. OTOH they are dirt cheap and plentiful, so trying one out would be a a pretty easy thing, as long as you have the right seat post or the seat has rails. The vintage ones don't just pop on to a modern seat post.

+1. I was surprised by how uncomfortable the original "mattress" saddle on my 3-speed was. No amount of adjustment would make it agree with my underside.

Velo Newport (http://www.amazon.com/Velo-Newport-S2W-Saddle-Black-Spring/dp/B001F31DXY/ref=sr_1_2?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1320954158&sr=1-2). If the cover is cloth, spray with shoe water repellent.

Thanks. I hadn't even considered cloth covered saddles, but I have some water repellant spray already.

A work of caution on the mattress saddle. I have a old schwinn speedster I keep at the office for an errand bike with mattress in very good condition. It does not attract thieves, it is springy, but much to my surprise for a ride any longer than a mile and it is ridiculousy uncomfortable. Just riding it the 8 miles to my office was memorably bad, the shape is truly awful for spinning. For a slow speed cruise around block or to the store, they're fine but IMHO they may not be a good choice for a commute of any distance. OTOH they are dirt cheap and plentiful, so trying one out would be a a pretty easy thing, as long as you have the right seat post or the seat has rails. The vintage ones don't just pop on to a modern seat post.

I had a Schwinn Speedster for a few years. It's true that its saddle was terrible for long rides. (The bike, too.) But I love my sprung Brooks B67 so I know sprung saddles can be comfortable.

What about this (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_503503_-1___)? $13

How much of a difference will the sprung one make compared to unsprung?

I had a Schwinn Speedster for a few years. It's true that its saddle was terrible for long rides. (The bike, too.) But I love my sprung Brooks B67 so I know sprung saddles can be comfortable.

Indeed, just not those....

What about this (http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product_10053_10052_503503_-1___)? $13

How much of a difference will the sprung one make compared to unsprung?


That's what I'm looking for. This might be the winner. Thanks!

Foam padding? Eww.

But for $13, you're not out much if it doesn't agree with you. :thumb: