Vegan Bikes?
 

I'm not personally vegan (can't give up chicken and I hate vegetables like a 5 year old) although I support those who are. I was wondering, has the issue of Brooks saddles ever come up in vegan/biker circles? Would you forego the masterful craftsmanship (so I'm told) of a really nice saddle because it's leather? I was looking into investing in a Brooks saddle and this thought occured to me. And for that matter, what about leather toe-clip straps?

Any thoughts on the matter?

not a vegan myself but know many (and serious riders, at that) who forego the leather saddles and straps for their philosophies.

yes

I'm a really bad vegan. In fact, I'm not really a vegan. I got the Brooks. I feel the issue with saddles is much like the issue of shoes, for me. i could get the non leather product, but it's not going to last nearly as long as the leather one. Then I'm buying too much crap that is just going to end up in the land fill. That's not good. Grrr. Too much to think about. World makes my left wing head hurt.

I am vegetarian and most times vegan. I dont buy the Brooks because of the leather, same with the toe straps. Its one of those things where, if the leather saddle is already on the bike, then I probably wont have a problem with it, but I wouldnt go off and buy one.

Yes, its been discussed before
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=66529
I agree its a quandry, the brooks last forever, uses no petrochemicals
but flies in the face of vegan philosophy.

Marty

such a difficult issue beyond leather straps and saddles, because something was bound to have been made using some process or chemical that is extracted using animal byproducts or manufactured somewhere that has ties to a company which supported by a another company that uses animal byproducts. Where do you draw the line?

Ahimsa saddles.
The new "hip" - straight from the bodies of dead cows floating down the Ganges. Get yours now...operators are standing by.

I'm not a vegan, but I try to avoid animal based products. I do use an old Brooks B15, however, that was given to me by someone who gave up road cycling. I figured since an animal gave up its life, at least it won't be in vain. I would never buy a new one though.

oops, sorry to repost it. Thanks lotek. It's not anything I planned on researching, just a passing thought.

How about this- do vegans covet Brooks saddles? Are they THAT great that they make you want it, even though you know you wouldn't defy your beliefs?

i think they're ugly, and even though i've heard they're comfortable, i would choose not to get one because it's leather. simple.

to each their own.

i'm vegan, and i wouldn't buy one new. i might consider a used one if someone gave it to me, but since there are plenty of non-leather, comfy, stylie saddles out there, what's the point.
as for straps, i got both my sets of track pedals used, and they came with leather straps.
i left them on and will replace them with synthetic ones when they wear out.

I still want to know what a Nauga is

Plastic deer that roam the refineries of New Jersey.

i wouldnt buy one; in fact, i ride a bike sometimes instead of sitting in friends' cars with leather seats.

depends on the vegan.

i'm a vegan who realizes that a piece of leather that will last 50 years makes more sense than a piece of petrochemical that will last 3 years. of course, i'm an ascetic vegan, not an animal rights vegan, so simplicity takes priority over nitpickery for me.

and to anyone who thinks that the above statements make me NOT vegan...FU!

Sorry vegans, Nauga's are animals! :)

http://www.naugahyde.com/history.html

Liking Kevin Sorbo makes you not a vegan.

I'm vegetarian. I have a Brooks saddle. That's my own choice.

I'm a level 5 vegan. I only eat things that don't cast a shadow.

I don't really understand the question. it's like asking a vegan if they would really give up eating a good steak. I mean, a good steak tastes way better than any TVP fake meat...
I'm vegan. that means I don't buy leather...period. Just because leather saddles and shoes are more practical or lasts longer than synthetic, thats not a reason to kill something for them. (and I think we've already gone into how the leather tanning process prevents the natural breakdown of leather and uses many extremely toxic chemicals)
To all the meat-eaters: would you buy a saddle made of human skin if it was found to be more comfortable and last longer than a brooks?
I know some will think that that is a false analogy, but I look at killing another animal the same way I look at killing humans. It is just wrong. especially for something as stupid as a comfortable saddle on your bike.
so for all you brooks fans, why not go out a buy a fur lined cycling jacket for the winter? fur insulates way better and lasts longer than all that synthetic polyfill crap and is way more comfortable than wool.
(in case you're going to call me on it, I don't buy wool either)

tim

This post is going the way of the SXE (straight edge post), lifestyle choices need only be justified to ourselves.

I wasn't attempting to preach my lifestyle, I was simply making my argument against the type of logic used in previous posts to justify the superiority of leather saddles.

tim

guh. i can't stand touchy-feely vegans. what happened to all of the sensible vegans?

lousy wife-swap types. if its about being sustainable, then i'm right. buy the leather if you're going to use it well. wear the wool if you're going to use it every day.

if you're going to be identified by what you buy (and you are) then you need to consider, is buying a hand-made leather saddle that will likely be the last one i ever buy a better choice? or should i go with the mass-produced, mold-constructed, plastic piece of crap that i'll have to replace in a year or two?

i'm going to stop now, before i really get rolling.

i want some of whatever you are rolling! :p