Classic & Vintage - Which saddle for a Raleigh 3 Speed bike?

For those that have gone all out and completely rebuilt a Raleigh 3 speed bike with upgrades that were not necessarily vintage correct, which saddle did you select? I’m leaning more towards a Brooks B72/B73 style saddle for my Raleigh Sports. I would not only like for this bike to look good, I want it to be comfortable.

Pictures of bikes with upgraded saddles would be helpful and appreciated to help me decide.

Definitely a ti rail selle italia flite.

Having a picture of your bike would help. (I think the B73 looks best on some Raleighs, B72 on others.)

I used a B67 on my '63 Huffeigh.

I like the B68 and the price is right. Springs add too much weight and they don't do much for comfort, IMHO. I got mine really cheap from the UK due to a favorable exchange rate.

http://www.wallbike.com/b-68

Springs can do a lot for comfort, but it depends on the rider's weight and their position. For an upright ride, I really like them a LOT. They definitely help on my Schwinn Triplet, especially over rougher terrain. On the Koga I find it overkill on pavement, but VERY helpful on uneven ground. Lighter guys don't need them IMO.

Having a picture of your bike would help. (I think the B73 looks best on some Raleighs, B72 on others.)

This is as it looks now.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i19/cutacroshorty/Raleigh%20Sports/RaleighSport.jpg

237466 For function I changed the grips (brittle and split) brake levers (cheap from amazon) and rear caliper with a 730 weinmann. Topped it off with a sprung gyes and a big bell from walmart :)

Hard to beat a Brooks B66...

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/English_Bicycles/Raleigh_Bicycles/Raleigh_Touriste/RaleighTouriste_Saddle_3.jpg

http://www.mytenspeeds.com/My_TenSpeeds_1/Bicycles_Table/English_Bicycles/Raleigh_Bicycles/Raleigh_Touriste/RaleighTouriste_Saddle_1.jpg

Of course, knowing that there are several different Raleigh three speeds, knowing which one would help with saddle selection...

Hard to beat a Brooks B66...

Of course, knowing that there are several different Raleigh three speeds, knowing which one would help with saddle selection...

The B66, B72 and Flyer are very appropriate for this bike atmo.

This is as it looks now.

No, that won't do. Upright bikes generally need wider saddles than bikes with drop handlebars.

Here is my 1962 Rudge, with its original B-72.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JbTsmltY1QY/ThOT568grsI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/4kfcaUw8T0U/s640/IMG_0289.JPG

Speaking of springs, I never feel the springs in this saddle compress. It's probably because I don't put much weight on my saddle.

No, that won't do. Upright bikes generally need wider saddles than bikes with drop handlebars.

Here is my 1962 Rudge, with its original B-72.

Speaking of springs, I never feel the springs in this saddle compress. It's probably because I don't put much weight on my saddle.

Tom, there are some that claim that the springs in the B72 don't compress. I have one but haven't ridden it yet, so I can't say if the spring on the B72 works or not.

No, that won't do. Upright bikes generally need wider saddles than bikes with drop handlebars.

Here is my 1962 Rudge, with its original B-72. Great looking

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-JbTsmltY1QY/ThOT568grsI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/4kfcaUw8T0U/s640/IMG_0289.JPG

Speaking of springs, I never feel the springs in this saddle compress. It's probably because I don't put much weight on my saddle.

Perhaps you don't have as much lead in your britches as I do. Great looking Rudge by the way. Thanks!

I remember hearing somewhere that the B-72 was original equipment on these, but it might depend on the year.

I remember hearing somewhere that the B-72 was original equipment on these, but it might depend on the year.

As I mentioned, I'm more interested in being comfortable than I am period correct.

As I mentioned, I'm more interested in being comfortable than I am period correct.

You're in luck, then, it's also a very comfortable saddle.

Older Raleigh Sports, like my 1969 model came with B72 saddles. However, I imagine the original saddle on yours was a quilt top plastic covered Brooks. If you are not worried about period correct, I would recommend the B67 or B67. Both are better saddles than the B72 and cheaper. I seem to recall Sheldon making that recommendation.

Older Raleigh Sports, like my 1969 model came with B72 saddles. However, I imagine the original saddle on yours was a quilt top plastic covered Brooks. If you are not worried about period correct, I would recommend the B67 or B67. Both are better saddles than the B72 and cheaper. I seem to recall Sheldon making that recommendation.

Did you mean B66 or B67?

You have me a little curious. What's the difference in a B67 and a B67? Did you possibly mean B66?

I think he meant B66 and B67. B66 is double rail but B67 is single rail. I'm not sure they ride any differently but the B67 will work with a post that has rails whereas the B66 requires a seat post clamp or a special doohickey to make it work with that style seatpost.

+1 for the Brooks Flyer.;)

I put one on my ST recently and love it! They come in less expensive than other Brooks saddles too. I think I paid $85 bucks for it from Nashbar during the X-mas sales. I'm digging the springs too.

http://www.brooksengland.com/en/ResampleImg.ashx?imgurl=~/images/shop/shop_saddles/Classic_Saddles___Trekking___Touring/Flyer/colors/Flyer_Black_1.jpg&Width=344&Height=280&format=jpeg&bkColor=FFFFFF&vAlign=bottom&halign=left

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s295/Maxturbo/Super%20Tourer/St.jpg

http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/saddles/touring+&+trekking/Flyer/

+1 for the Brooks Flyer.;)

I put one on my ST recently and love it! They come in less expensive than other Brooks saddles too. I think I paid $85 bucks for it from Nashbar during the X-mas sales. I'm digging the springs too.

http://www.brooksengland.com/en/ResampleImg.ashx?imgurl=~/images/shop/shop_saddles/Classic_Saddles___Trekking___Touring/Flyer/colors/Flyer_Black_1.jpg&Width=344&Height=280&format=jpeg&bkColor=FFFFFF&vAlign=bottom&halign=left





That's a good looking saddle.

Just keep in mind that the Flyer's shape is similar to the B17 except with springs. The B66, B67 and B72 are flatter and wider.

The B66 comes with the double-rail clamp to fit on the regular seatpost it looks like he has. The double-rail saddle's frame is stiffer and the saddle frame flexes on the springs where it is supposed to rather than on the rails.

Riding an upright bike with that narrow saddle would be tortuous. I would imagine ANY wider saddle would be an improvement. The B66/67 is a very comfortable saddle once it is broken in. But even before that happened the increase in comfort from what is on there now would be HUGE.

Some feel that the B17 and Flyer are too narrow for upright riding but I have them on two of mine and they're very comfortable for me. We're all different. You have to try them and decide for yourself. Wallingford Bicycle Parts will let you try one for as long as six months.

Some feel that the B17 and Flyer are too narrow for upright riding but I have them on two of mine and they're very comfortable for me. *We're all different. *You have to try them and decide for yourself. *Wallingford Bicycle Parts will let you try one for as long as six months.

I'm riding Flyer saddles on my Davidson tandem (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/sets/72157621588391107/) and they are supremely comfortable atmo.

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2423/3735890493_3461e95be1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/3735890493/)
Davidson Tandem Bicycle - 12 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/threefamilyalbum/3735890493/) by Sallad Rialb (http://www.flickr.com/people/threefamilyalbum/), on Flickr

Is the saddle post on my Raleigh Sports 25mm?

I'm not an expert on seatpost sizes, but I think on a Sports it is 25.4mm. There are others here better able to answer the question though.

Just a note of caution. Whatever the post necks DOWN to, is the critical dimension if you are thinking about fitting a new seat to your existing post. ;)

Just a note of caution. Whatever the post necks DOWN to, is the critical dimension if you are thinking about fitting a new seat to your existing post. ;)

The seat post actually measures 25mm where it goes into the frame tube, but I was using a Pocket Chum to measure with. I was considering buying a different seat post because I haven't been able to find an original type seat clamp

Your typical seat post clamps are a dime a dozen! The only diff's are single or dual rail (per your saddle style / need), color and maybe composition. Double check the rail diameter size needs. All of your major bike parts places have them. You can even get them from Brooks, or...

Places like...

http://www.jensonusa.com/Seatpost-Small-Parts/Velo-78-Single-Rail-Saddle-Clamp

The seat post actually measures 25mm where it goes into the frame tube, but I was using a Pocket Chum to measure with. I was considering buying a different seat post because I haven't been able to find an original type seat clamp

Is this for your Raleigh Sports? It should use a pretty standard seat clamp... Many seats even come with them.

The seat post actually measures 25mm where it goes into the frame tube, but I was using a Pocket Chum to measure with.

Please, silvercreek. This is a family-friendly forum. And those are notoriously low-precision instruments, anyway.

Your typical seat post clamps are a dime a dozen! The only diff's are single or dual rail (per your saddle style / need), color and maybe composition. Double check the rail diameter size needs. All of your major bike parts places have them. You can even get them from Brooks, or...

Places like...

http://www.jensonusa.com/Seatpost-Small-Parts/Velo-78-Single-Rail-Saddle-Clamp



I order one of these for $6.79 even thought it didn't give any dimentional information it looks pretty standard to me.

http://www.amazon.com/SBS-Seat-Rail-Clamp-Silver/dp/B0017KDCR0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1329346762&sr=8-2

Please, silvercreek. This is a family-friendly forum. And those are notoriously low-precision instruments, anyway.

I thought someone would get a kick out of that.

Oh! THAT pocket chum! ;)

http://heavylittleobjects.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/calipers-150x150.jpg

Sheldon has (well, had, but the page is still there) a page on how the Sports was equipped over the years: http://sheldonbrown.com/raleigh.html

I really like B72s. They offer plenty of suspension for me and weigh less than any other sprung saddle. The massive springs of the B66/67 and other models are overkill for most riders. My dad weighs something like 230# or more and he loves his B72.

http://gallery.me.com/justinhughes/100401/IMG_4251/web.jpg?ver=13205100220001

I use the B66/67 on the uprights and the Flyer on the less upright bikes. Only exception is my Tourist gets a B33

Aaron:)