Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 1,513
From: Medford MA
Bikes: Ron Cooper touring, 1959 Jack Taylor 650b ladyback touring tandem, Vitus 979, Joe Bell painted Claud Butler Dalesman, Colin Laing curved tube tandem, heavily-Dilberted 1982 Trek 6xx, René Herse tandem
Originally Posted by
Lascauxcaveman
I have multiple vintage Brooks Professionals and a couple modern ones.
While they are actually pretty nice saddles, the modern ones seem to be invariably made from lighter weight leather and have a bit more flex and give to them (Even the deluxe 'Team Pro'). They don't inspire confidence that they will be as long lasting as the venerable ones from the 1970s and earlier.
Even between 2002 and now, I see a difference. I have ridden a B17 Champion Special since 2002 on multiple multi-month tours and I distinctly remember it being very uncomfortable at first, but I've had the thing just a hair more than half my life and it's really held up. So I bought another one last year at an unbelievable price from SJS Cycles and put it on my Trek. After several hundred miles, it appears to be in the same condition as my 18 year old one. I'm really hoping I don't have to punch holes and lace it. Kind of kicking myself for selling an old Team Pro I found years ago, but that thing was absolutely rock hard and it seemed no amount of breaking in would change it. I was just a kid though.
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Owner & co-founder, Cycles René Hubris. Unfortunately attaching questionable braze-ons to perfectly good frames since about 2015. With style.