Saddle preference
04-27-15, 09:15 AM
#52
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Nice crankset. What is that?
The best leather saddles I've used are the Ideale 80 and the Wrights W3ST, which is a B17 with thinner, textured-top leather.
I find the WTB Lazer to be the most versatile saddle, excellent in all ways.
My favorite might be the Serfas TEGU mtb saddle, shown below with a fairly broad, flat top and the best quality padding. It has a dip to it like most mtb saddles, so I found it best to set it up with the front half level and with the rear half giving some lift when I slide back for seated climbing.
I found these hollow-ti railed saddles being sold for just $20 each at Jenson online, so bought another six of them after the first one seemed to meet all requirements.
I find the WTB Lazer to be the most versatile saddle, excellent in all ways.
My favorite might be the Serfas TEGU mtb saddle, shown below with a fairly broad, flat top and the best quality padding. It has a dip to it like most mtb saddles, so I found it best to set it up with the front half level and with the rear half giving some lift when I slide back for seated climbing.
I found these hollow-ti railed saddles being sold for just $20 each at Jenson online, so bought another six of them after the first one seemed to meet all requirements.
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04-27-15, 09:42 AM
#53
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Brooks has treated me the best so far, but I keep an open mind about it. Would like to try a Specialized Toupe next.
Have:
B17 on fixed-gear. The flattish top agrees with me for most riding, but is a little too wide in the rear -- it's not a huge problem because I am out of the saddle often enough. The top is the flexiest of all my Brooks saddles, but I don't mind the extra give on this bike as I don't always have the opportunity to lift myself out of the saddle for bumpy roads.
B17N on go-fast road bike. Width, top shape, and hardness are all about perfect.
B5N on rando bike. Much like the B17N except a little flexier. Nice for brevets.
Gone or no longer used:
B17S: My first Brooks saddle, ridden for a couple thousand miles. Nice flat hard top shape, but too wide. Hanging on to it in case I want to use it on more of an upright bike (or someone offers me money for it.
)
Pro: Just couldn't make the rounded top shape work with my anatomy. No amount of adjustment or riding light could make it disappear under me, so I sold it after about 1000 miles.
Have:
B17 on fixed-gear. The flattish top agrees with me for most riding, but is a little too wide in the rear -- it's not a huge problem because I am out of the saddle often enough. The top is the flexiest of all my Brooks saddles, but I don't mind the extra give on this bike as I don't always have the opportunity to lift myself out of the saddle for bumpy roads.
B17N on go-fast road bike. Width, top shape, and hardness are all about perfect.
B5N on rando bike. Much like the B17N except a little flexier. Nice for brevets.
Gone or no longer used:
B17S: My first Brooks saddle, ridden for a couple thousand miles. Nice flat hard top shape, but too wide. Hanging on to it in case I want to use it on more of an upright bike (or someone offers me money for it.
)Pro: Just couldn't make the rounded top shape work with my anatomy. No amount of adjustment or riding light could make it disappear under me, so I sold it after about 1000 miles.
04-27-15, 09:46 AM
#54
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quote from ddd: "The best leather saddles I've used are the Ideale 80 and the Wrights W3ST, which is a B17 with thinner, textured-top leather."
I agree with ddd that the saddles he mentions are good ones. I had a Wrights mounted on my PX-10 - great saddle. The Ideale 80 saddle I used on a PK-10 was so thick, I never really broke it in well.
I am riding two bikes right now, both 1980's. My go fast Panasonic has a Fizik gel/leather saddle. Very comfortable. The Stumpjumper Sport has a brown Brooks Team Pro mounted. Comfortable but still not molded to fit my butt. Very attractive, though.
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I agree with ddd that the saddles he mentions are good ones. I had a Wrights mounted on my PX-10 - great saddle. The Ideale 80 saddle I used on a PK-10 was so thick, I never really broke it in well.
I am riding two bikes right now, both 1980's. My go fast Panasonic has a Fizik gel/leather saddle. Very comfortable. The Stumpjumper Sport has a brown Brooks Team Pro mounted. Comfortable but still not molded to fit my butt. Very attractive, though.
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Last edited by kehomer; 04-27-15 at 09:58 AM.
04-27-15, 10:02 AM
#55
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I am fortunate...my rear end is pretty agnostic to the type of saddle...although, visually, I am very fond of Brooks...
So...I try to stay with original saddles if at all possible. If not, I try to stay period correct...
So...I try to stay with original saddles if at all possible. If not, I try to stay period correct...
04-27-15, 05:42 PM
#57
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San Marcos Rolls are my favorite for 80s race bikes, and Ideale 90 for tensioned leather. I tried Concor, Regal, Cinelli Volare, Turbo, Flite, Avocet Racing, and maybe a couple others before settling on the Rolls. +1 to @Chrome Molly. His comments in post #38 re Rolls are spot on, and/or our butts are similar.
Currently, I own:
Avocet Touring-I
Avocet Touring-II
Avocet Touring-WI
Avocet Racing
Ideale 80
Ideale 90
Ideale 90 with alloy rails
San Marco Rolls
Selle Italia Turbo
Selle Italia Flite
Wrights W3N
I always rode plastic-shell leather saddles until I found this forum and began collecting vintage bikes. Now I have a new appreciation for tensioned leather saddles. I've been really happy with the few Ideale 80s and 90s I've owned. Confession: I've never ridden a Brooks. I'd be curious to hear comparisons between the Ideale 90 and a Brooks Pro from people who have tried both. I'd love to try a RHM special one day, too!
Currently, I own:
Avocet Touring-I
Avocet Touring-II
Avocet Touring-WI
Avocet Racing
Ideale 80
Ideale 90
Ideale 90 with alloy rails
San Marco Rolls
Selle Italia Turbo
Selle Italia Flite
Wrights W3N
I always rode plastic-shell leather saddles until I found this forum and began collecting vintage bikes. Now I have a new appreciation for tensioned leather saddles. I've been really happy with the few Ideale 80s and 90s I've owned. Confession: I've never ridden a Brooks. I'd be curious to hear comparisons between the Ideale 90 and a Brooks Pro from people who have tried both. I'd love to try a RHM special one day, too!
Last edited by gaucho777; 04-27-15 at 10:09 PM. Reason: fixed typo
04-27-15, 05:43 PM
#58
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04-27-15, 06:27 PM
#59
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Serfas Mens Rx. A Brooks B17 nearly destroyed my prostate back in the day.
04-27-15, 11:17 PM
#62
Senior Member
Brooks Team Professionals were always my favorite Brooks. The B17 was OK, but the Standards usually were a little too flexy---the Champions were better. Over the past few years I've switched over almost entirely to Specialized Toupe and Romin saddles, mostly in the 155mm width. They're very flat across the back, like a Brooks, and just as supportive as a Team Pro, without the metal frame on the rear to bother me when I slide back on the saddle. Definitely more comfortable for me on longer rides, and riding trails and fixed gear.
I keep a couple Brooks around for my mostly period-correct bikes. I'm mostly a C&V back-slider (or front-slider?) these days, more in love with C&V frames than C&V components.
I keep a couple Brooks around for my mostly period-correct bikes. I'm mostly a C&V back-slider (or front-slider?) these days, more in love with C&V frames than C&V components.
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04-29-15, 10:08 AM
#64
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I really like the Selle Royal Contour with leather covering. Pretty comfortable right out of the box and looks period correct for a 70's road bike. I also have a Brooks Swift that is finally broken in or maybe I am finally broken in.
Last edited by gstep51; 04-29-15 at 10:13 AM.
04-29-15, 11:11 AM
#65
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04-29-15, 11:31 PM
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