Shortly after I got into bikes leather saddles got me intrigued. I remember during my collage days I had an old beaten up bike with an old beaten up leather Brooks saddle. I never gave it any attention and maintenance, yeah right! No idea what model it was either. How little did I know.

To me good looking saddles top off a nice bike like nothing else. And since the material is organic none look the same. When you look at them it’s like they tell you a story. At first I thought I was going to sell some of them but I cannot give up any of them. I've caught the collectors bug I guess.

Over the last three years I’ve collected the following saddles:
- Brooks Swift (2008 - 0E8 - stamped in leather)
- Brooks Professional Select (1979 - 79 stamped in metal)
- Ideale Model 90 Speciale Competition with Danel Rebour pre-softening leather (year - 1970s ?)
- Brooks Professional (year - ?)

All are definitely in used condition. Especially the metal frame of the Ideale is very rusted. But the leather of all saddles are in excellent condition. Over time I’ve discovered the following:

- The Swift in my opinion is by far the least comfortable saddle of the bunch, especially during long rides. The leather is much thinner than the other saddles and it’s the only one where I feel I have to keep adjusting the tension.
- The Select is very comfortable. It feels very wide and the leather is very hard.
- The Ideale is actually my favorite of them all. And the patina of this saddle is so beautiful and rich.
- I haven’t had the Professional long enough to give much feedback but I want to see how I can clean up the tarnished copper nails.

Meet my family















This weekend I adopted a fifth member:



I haven’t received it yet, I cannot wait.