Ideale vs. Brooks?
10-06-11, 09:12 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Monte Rio CA
Posts: 1,009
Bikes: Motobecane Le Champion, Raleigh International, Bertin, Raleigh DL-1 1980, Colnago Super,Follis, Bianchi Competizione, Brompton M6L, Black Mountain Monstercros
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 125 Post(s)
Liked 839 Times
in
151 Posts
Ideale vs. Brooks?
General impressions from those who have used both?
Thanks.
-D
Thanks.
-D
10-06-11, 09:25 AM
#2
multimodal commuter
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NJ, NYC, LI
Posts: 19,808
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
Mentioned: 584 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1908 Post(s)
Liked 574 Times
in
339 Posts
I believe you will find more variability among all the Brooks offerings, or among all the Ideale offerings, than you will between two comparable Brooks and Ideale saddles.
10-06-11, 09:46 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,454
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
6 Posts
I hated my Ideale 80 - just didn't fit me. I love my Brookses (2 B17s and a Pro). But the Ideale was 30+ years ago, and the Brookses are now. Seems to me the Ideale shape is more round in cross-section, and the Brooks is flatter. FWIW, my taste in plastic saddles is similar: I LOVE my WTB SST - broad and flat, like a B17. Can't stand most Selle Italia offerings. Too much like straddling a steel pipe.
SP
Bend, OR
SP
Bend, OR
10-06-11, 10:00 AM
#6
Senior Member
They're both great. My Ideale 80 is my favourite, because I find the shape allows more room for your thighs, if that makes sense. B17 is also very comfortable, but MUCH flatter than the Ideale.
10-06-11, 10:06 AM
#7
Senior Member
Ideale and Brooks were very comparable in quality.
__________________
Bikes on Flickr
I prefer email to private messages. You can contact me at justinhughes@me.com
Bikes on Flickr
I prefer email to private messages. You can contact me at justinhughes@me.com
10-06-11, 10:24 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Rosanky, Texas
Posts: 308
Bikes: Steel is real. All others need not apply.
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Ideale 90 is similar to the Brooks Pro
Ideale 92 is similar to the Brooks B.17
Ideale 80 is similar to the Brooks B.17 Narrow
Ideale 92 is similar to the Brooks B.17
Ideale 80 is similar to the Brooks B.17 Narrow
10-06-11, 10:44 AM
#9
I'm doing it wrong.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,875
Bikes: Rivendell Appaloosa, Rivendell Frank Jones Sr., Trek Fuel EX9, Kona Jake the Snake CR, Niner Sir9
Mentioned: 85 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 9742 Post(s)
Liked 2,812 Times
in
1,664 Posts
I really love the Brooks Pro saddles, just great looking and comfortable. The regular b17 is also a fine saddle, but it has been my experience that it doesn't last nearly as long as the Pro.
10-06-11, 10:50 AM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Washington County, Vermont, USA
Posts: 3,778
Bikes: 1966 Dawes Double Blue, 1976 Raleigh Gran Sport, 1975 Raleigh Sprite 27, 1980 Univega Viva Sport, 1971 Gitane Tour de France, 1984 Lotus Classique, 1976 Motobecane Grand Record
Mentioned: 77 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 765 Post(s)
Liked 660 Times
in
351 Posts
I mostly ride Brooks B17s, but I also have a couple of Flyers. I really like them. I've only owned one Ideale--an 80 (I think) that I bought a few years ago as NOS. It was great, very comfortable for some time, but began to sag after a couple of years. I'm generalizing from a single example, but the Ideale leather was thinner than the leather on the Brooks saddles, it seemed to me. I'd give Brooks the edge in terms of durability.
__________________
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
www.redclovercomponents.com
"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long."
--Ogden Nash
10-06-11, 10:59 AM
#11
Stop reading my posts!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 12,584
Mentioned: 90 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1443 Post(s)
Liked 1,062 Times
in
787 Posts
Ideale also tend to be shorter (if not in overall length, at least in the nose) compared to the closest-matching Brooks models. At least that's what I remember.
10-06-11, 03:05 PM
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,768
Bikes: Cinelli, Paramount, Raleigh, Carlton, Zeus, Gemniani, Frejus, Legnano, Pinarello, Falcon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
8 Posts
I have various Ideales on a number of my bikes, and though I haven't ridden them as much as I've ridden my Brooks seats, I'd say they're comparable. The Ideales in some ways are much handsomer for some reason, and have become much harder to come by. I say, grab all you can!
10-06-11, 05:05 PM
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 1,154
Bikes: '93 Bridgestone RB-1, '91 Specialized Allez Epic, '85 Raleigh Team Pro, '78 Andre Bertin, early '90s F. Moser Leader AX , '85 Centurion Equipe, '98 Litespeed Tuscany, '89 Klein Quantum, '80 Nishiki Superbe, '83 Peckham, '84 Fuji Opus III
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
I have and ride both, among others. A '70s Ideale 90 is my most comfortable saddle, period. An old friend, and still in very fine condition. Brooks Pro of same age and use is just not "right" in the same way, showing more loss of configuration. With about 300 miles on a NOS Brooks Pro Select, it is coming around but still is a stiff platform. I think it eventually will be a good one for a long time.
Ebay prices for Ideale are noticeably higher than for similar Brooks, it seems to me.
Ebay prices for Ideale are noticeably higher than for similar Brooks, it seems to me.
10-06-11, 05:11 PM
#14
Bicycle Repair Man !!!
Ideale saddles are low end French crap and should be sent to me for disposal.
10-06-11, 06:02 PM
#15
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
Back in the day Brooks and Ideale were both considered to be top-shelf saddles. At any given price point, quality was comparable. I have a Brooks Team Pro, two B-66s, an Ideale mod. 92, and an Ideale 2002 and like them all.
10-06-11, 06:03 PM
#16
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,786
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3588 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
10-06-11, 06:33 PM
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Nampa Idaho
Posts: 1,081
Bikes: 76' Centrurion Pro-Tour, 86' Specialized Rock Hopper, 88' Centurion Iron Man, 89' Bruce Gordon "Hikari", 95' Rock Hopper Ultra.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
In the early 80s I had three Ideale 90s, loved them, wish I still had them! I have a Ideale 92 Diagonal on my upright bike that is wonderful! I believe the "Diagonal" is the same as the Brooks "S" (short).
Cheers,
Chris
Cheers,
Chris
10-06-11, 09:56 PM
#18
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Monte Rio CA
Posts: 1,009
Bikes: Motobecane Le Champion, Raleigh International, Bertin, Raleigh DL-1 1980, Colnago Super,Follis, Bianchi Competizione, Brompton M6L, Black Mountain Monstercros
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 125 Post(s)
Liked 839 Times
in
151 Posts
Thanks for the information folks. I think I just need to go to France with an empty trunk.
-D
-D
10-06-11, 10:39 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Chattanooga
Posts: 1,154
Bikes: '93 Bridgestone RB-1, '91 Specialized Allez Epic, '85 Raleigh Team Pro, '78 Andre Bertin, early '90s F. Moser Leader AX , '85 Centurion Equipe, '98 Litespeed Tuscany, '89 Klein Quantum, '80 Nishiki Superbe, '83 Peckham, '84 Fuji Opus III
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
