Originally Posted by
Krov9
I'm building a late seventies - early eighties French touring bike to serve as my day to day commuter. I really want to have a Brooks-style leather saddle on it, but 70+ € is just a bit much - it would be the most expensive component on the bike!
So I've been looking for more affordable alternatives. There are plenty of old saddles for cheap, but most of them are have rusty frames and cracked leathers.
I came across Lepper, which has a good pedigree, at least for what I read on this forum, but then I read a very disappointed review of their 40 € (sale price) touring model on YACF. For the reviewer it only lasted months with modest use.
I also stumbled upon this company called Gusti Leather, but I haven't found a single review on their products yet.
What saddles would you suggest in the <70 € price range?
(Sorry, this is my first post so I can't give links)
Given how important a saddle is, as the only thing between your butt and the seatpost, and how long a Brooks saddle can last (decades if you take care of it), the $100 or 70 euros is a bargain. You will likely pay more for tires which are equally important, the difference being you will wear the tires out in a couple of years.
There are cheaper alternatives, but IMO, if you want a real leather saddle, don't go cheap.