First ride on my Ideale saddle
 

I picked up an Ideale model 39 saddle in very good condition a few weeks ago. Today I got around to installing it on my touring bike and went for a ride.

This is my first all-leather saddle and I was kind of dreading the first ride. I heard so many comments about breaking it in and how it is much stiffer than even a Brooks B-17.

To my surprise, I loved it. I only went 12 miles, but that was mainly due to darkness not butt ache. In fact, I found the leather soaked up a lot of the road bumps. I also did a one mile ride in non-bike shorts. That went OK too.

I'm just wondering why anyone would ride a modern saddle...

just wait until it gets broken in, it will feel even better.
I just won an Ideale Profil TB-1 and can't wait for it to arrive, I have never even heard of it.

I picked up this #45 over the winter for less then $40 shipped. It's still waiting for the perfect bike.

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...5SideLogo1.jpg

And I've put 1000s of miles on this #80 on several different bikes. It was used when I bought it several years ago. The hardness of the leather has never changed and is basically the same as the NOS #45. But the important thing is it has always been comfortable. The feel is different then a Brooks. Difficult to describe. But I can tell the difference.

Best of luck with yours. A picture of it would be nice!

http://i125.photobucket.com/albums/p...No80Saddle.jpg

Two of my #42 are super comfy, one is getting there.
The #39 and #80 are still very stiff despite repeated applications of Pecards, being left in the sun, ect. I think Sheldon's neatsfoot oil bath might be in order on those.
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I'm just wondering why anyone would ride a modern saddle...[/QUOTE]


For one, modern saddles save weight (less to drag uphill for us old guys); for another, all tushes aren't created equally:)

I did 90 miles yesterday on a vintage rig outfitted with a Flite Carbon saddle (the full carbon shell type). No problem; BTW, this was my first long ride since returning to the USA after a year over in Afghanistan. Because the CF flexes, it's very much like the feeling of a broken in full leather saddle.

Good padding in the shorts helps, too!

If nobody's said it yet, welcome back, troop!
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Thanks! Nice to be back in the US, and back on the bike, too!!

I only have a few bikes that do not have leather saddles and I have Ideales, Wrights, Lycette, Brooks, and a few mystery saddles.

For me I find them to be superior to synthetics except for weight... I am very happy with my Ideale saddles and have a 92D touring, a 90, and a 60.

They are on a part with Broooks when it comes to quality of construction and ride quality.

I got this one for $52 with shipping. Seems like it was never used....

http://bikes.javazoid.com/images/idealeSaddle.jpg