Indie

I can take pictures when I get home if nobody knows what I'm talking about. This saddle was on my 1976 Triumph folder and was probably the original that it came with. It's got a vinyl or faux-leather cover over a metal frame with springs to provide squishiness. It's built rather like a sofa.

I've heard all the debates over whether squishy or hard saddles are better for the posture etc. I have found this saddle to be quite comfortable for my length of commute. The problem is that the cover is deteriorating and the frame is poking through in places. I've ridden it with a gel pad on top but now the gel pad is being torn up by the vinyl. I could tape up the holes with duct tape, I suppose...

The ideal solution for me would be to get a new cover to replace the vinyl one that's falling apart. Can these be bought anywhere? I might try to buy some scrap leather and sew a new one myself, if not, using the old cover as a template.

r0ckh0und 

Does it look like this?

Indie

Yup, that's it (black cover instead of sporty colours, but the frame is the same).

The more I look at it, the more I think I just want to stop at the reservation moccasin shop on the way home for the holidays, and buy a bag of scrap leather... it's a pretty simple design.

Noah Scape

Is it a quilted style black saddle? I'm not sure, but I think I might have one lying around. PM me in you're interested and I'll take a look for it.

r0ckh0und 

Mine is available as well.............although shipping to Canada may make it less attractive than DIY.

flammenwurfer

I think you should make your own leather cover. I have a similar saddle sitting around and I want to see how it turns out if you do it.

Indie

Okay, I'm going to try making it. I'll get the thickest non-suede leather I can find, and maybe make a quilted pad underneath. It needs to be thick to keep the metal bits from poking through.

I know nothing about leather working other than that you need a special needle or an awl.

cycleheimer

Don't sweat it. Bike Nashbar often sells saddles for as low as $6.99 on sale. It's amazing the one you have survived this long. Most of them were being held together with tape 30 years ago.

mickey85

I've got one in perfect condition that is driving me INSANE with its squeaking. I thought it was the bottom bracket creaking until I replaced the saddle. I Swapped that one out for a B17 and haven't looked back.

On a related note, I picked up an old Murray 3 speed for $5 the other day - it has a Mesinger saddle that looks nearly identical to the brooks and is just as comfortable. Bought that bike mostly for the saddle (which is going on dad's Sears beach cruiser if he decides to give it to me) and the Shimano 3 speed wheel.

wahoonc

Nothing wrong with those old Brooks vinyl saddles. I use them on utility bikes that spend a lot of their time out in the weather. I have one that has been ridden close to 30,000 miles and spent a fair amount of it's 35+ years sitting outside. They are suitable for shorter rides...say under 20 miles.

Let us know how the rebuild comes out. I have a couple that could stand to have that done to them.

Aaron

Chris_in_Miami

I've got the same one as r0ckh0und on my Rudge. It's badly in need of re-covering and I just learned that I have a Tandy Leather shop along my route to/from work (I must have passed it hundreds of times without noticing...)

I think it will look very nice in blue and white leather...

wahoonc

Depending on where the squeaking was coming from a bit of grease on the main springs (I use the white lithium in the spray can) will quite often quiet it down. Nothing wrong with the B17 though.

Aaron

mickey85

Thanks for the tip! I was looking at the bottom of that thing realizing that if I oiled it like you do one of the leather saddles, that oil would run from EVERYWHERE. Now that I know - yay!

Indie

The story that came with this bike is that it came over from England and then sat in storage for a couple of decades. I don't know how much road time it actually had with any previous owner. It looks really spiffy.