Ideale vs. Brooks?
 

General impressions from those who have used both?

Thanks.

-D

I believe you will find more variability among all the Brooks offerings, or among all the Ideale offerings, than you will between two comparable Brooks and Ideale saddles.

One is from France, whilst the other is from Grande Bretagne.

I hated my Ideale 80 - just didn't fit me. I love my Brookses (2 B17s and a Pro). But the Ideale was 30+ years ago, and the Brookses are now. Seems to me the Ideale shape is more round in cross-section, and the Brooks is flatter. FWIW, my taste in plastic saddles is similar: I LOVE my WTB SST - broad and flat, like a B17. Can't stand most Selle Italia offerings. Too much like straddling a steel pipe.

SP
Bend, OR

Rode a Continental that had an Ideale- loved it. Just got my first B-17- love it.

They're both great. My Ideale 80 is my favourite, because I find the shape allows more room for your thighs, if that makes sense. B17 is also very comfortable, but MUCH flatter than the Ideale.

+1

Ideale and Brooks were very comparable in quality.

Ideale 90 is similar to the Brooks Pro
Ideale 92 is similar to the Brooks B.17
Ideale 80 is similar to the Brooks B.17 Narrow

I really love the Brooks Pro saddles, just great looking and comfortable. The regular b17 is also a fine saddle, but it has been my experience that it doesn't last nearly as long as the Pro.

I mostly ride Brooks B17s, but I also have a couple of Flyers. I really like them. I've only owned one Ideale--an 80 (I think) that I bought a few years ago as NOS. It was great, very comfortable for some time, but began to sag after a couple of years. I'm generalizing from a single example, but the Ideale leather was thinner than the leather on the Brooks saddles, it seemed to me. I'd give Brooks the edge in terms of durability.

Ideale also tend to be shorter (if not in overall length, at least in the nose) compared to the closest-matching Brooks models. At least that's what I remember.

I have various Ideales on a number of my bikes, and though I haven't ridden them as much as I've ridden my Brooks seats, I'd say they're comparable. The Ideales in some ways are much handsomer for some reason, and have become much harder to come by. I say, grab all you can!

I have and ride both, among others. A '70s Ideale 90 is my most comfortable saddle, period. An old friend, and still in very fine condition. Brooks Pro of same age and use is just not "right" in the same way, showing more loss of configuration. With about 300 miles on a NOS Brooks Pro Select, it is coming around but still is a stiff platform. I think it eventually will be a good one for a long time.

Ebay prices for Ideale are noticeably higher than for similar Brooks, it seems to me.

Ideale saddles are low end French crap and should be sent to me for disposal.

:D

Back in the day Brooks and Ideale were both considered to be top-shelf saddles. At any given price point, quality was comparable. I have a Brooks Team Pro, two B-66s, an Ideale mod. 92, and an Ideale 2002 and like them all.

That's probably because Ideale is no longer in business while Brooks is still making plenty of saddles.

In the early 80s I had three Ideale 90s, loved them, wish I still had them! I have a Ideale 92 Diagonal on my upright bike that is wonderful! I believe the "Diagonal" is the same as the Brooks "S" (short).

Cheers,
Chris

Thanks for the information folks. I think I just need to go to France with an empty trunk.

-D

Yep.

J