Which Non-Brooks (or other stretched leather) Saddle
09-02-18, 11:44 AM
#26
Uber Goober
I've used various leather saddles with generally good results. However, the non-leather stock saddle that came on my Specialized Venge is surprisingly comfortable. I don't see a model name on it right offhand.
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09-04-18, 05:51 PM
#27
For The Fun of It
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You need to realize that especially the traditional shaped leather saddles aren't really that anatomical. A lot of them either have a pronounced T-shape (which only really generally works for women) or lack support at the sides where the pubic rami would contact the saddle.
So essentially a brooks b-17 for example only works for people who have either very shallow angled pubic rami or people with very narrow sitbones. If you have steep angled pubic rami and have wide sitbones there's no real chance a brooks or any other leather saddle will work properly.
Selle Anatomica are getting there, but they also have a narrow effective width essentially precluding them from everyone with wide sitbones. They're 165mm wide so if you take a sitbone measurement and add 4cm from center to center measurement you get the width you'd need for a suspended leather saddle so that the steel rails will not contact the outsides of your sitbones. So for a selle anatomica the maximum sitbone width center to center would be 125mm. However that's pushing it so honestly a person with 115mm wide sitbones could probably sit on a selle anatomica without issues.
There's nothing wrong in a person if their sitbones are wide. Generally sitbones can go up to 150mm or more.
So essentially a brooks b-17 for example only works for people who have either very shallow angled pubic rami or people with very narrow sitbones. If you have steep angled pubic rami and have wide sitbones there's no real chance a brooks or any other leather saddle will work properly.
Selle Anatomica are getting there, but they also have a narrow effective width essentially precluding them from everyone with wide sitbones. They're 165mm wide so if you take a sitbone measurement and add 4cm from center to center measurement you get the width you'd need for a suspended leather saddle so that the steel rails will not contact the outsides of your sitbones. So for a selle anatomica the maximum sitbone width center to center would be 125mm. However that's pushing it so honestly a person with 115mm wide sitbones could probably sit on a selle anatomica without issues.
There's nothing wrong in a person if their sitbones are wide. Generally sitbones can go up to 150mm or more.
09-06-18, 10:38 AM
#29
Banned
I have done a good bit of searching and reading here on the forum. The vast majority of you use Brooks or other stretched leather saddles. I'll spare you the details as to why Brooks don't work for me. What other saddles are you using for your touring or distance rides?
Thread has gone away from mentioning other thick leather, suspended,
between nose and rear metal frame rivets .. brands.
to a type, with thin leather stretched over foam rubber , on a nylon base , with metal rails added ..
On my 1988 tour of Europe, I rode a San Marco Concor Max, then ..
they went into a manufacturer discontinued category , long ago...
... still have it.. though I went over to a Brooks Team Pro for my other tours ...
...
09-06-18, 10:42 PM
#30
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Brooks haven't fit me, Currently an SQLabs 610 Active & a Terry Liberator Gel are working OK but not perfect. Ideally one could try a lot of different saddles but that can get expensive.
09-08-18, 11:47 AM
#31
Banned
People riding the Pacific Coast route , When they got here , bought another saddle
either new or found one in the 'Take off' box, that they liked better,
at least for another 150 miles to the next bike shop, to try something else..
[no feedback comments, offered]
One woman, looked like she started her tour on a brand new B17, from the looks of it,
and not one well ridden in before starting..
I had been using my team pro for 10 years,
before I got to go touring, long days, over weeks..
....
either new or found one in the 'Take off' box, that they liked better,
at least for another 150 miles to the next bike shop, to try something else..
[no feedback comments, offered]
One woman, looked like she started her tour on a brand new B17, from the looks of it,
and not one well ridden in before starting..
I had been using my team pro for 10 years,
before I got to go touring, long days, over weeks..
....
11-18-19, 03:34 PM
#32
Member
Ergon ST Core Touring Series
https://www.ergon-bike.com/en/product...tcore-44040000
https://www.ergon-bike.com/en/product...tcore-44040000
11-18-19, 04:15 PM
#33
Senior Member
I have not found that leather saddles are in the majority even in the touring community. At least that has been the case among the folks I have met on tour. Personally I am not a leather saddle fan. If you like them great, but don't think that you need to go that route because that is what touring riders do.
I have generally been okay with the saddles that came with my bikes and have gone coast to coast on a couple of them, but my favorite is the WTB Volt Race 142. I have them on a couple of my bikes and they work well for me. You may well prefer something else, but I Ill suggest that in the beginning it often has more to do with getting your bottom acclimated to the saddle than anything else.
I have generally been okay with the saddles that came with my bikes and have gone coast to coast on a couple of them, but my favorite is the WTB Volt Race 142. I have them on a couple of my bikes and they work well for me. You may well prefer something else, but I Ill suggest that in the beginning it often has more to do with getting your bottom acclimated to the saddle than anything else.
11-20-19, 08:40 PM
#35
Senior Member
I've ridden my '75 Fuji S-10S's original hard leather 'Brooks-clone' Fujita Belt saddle for over 55K miles in the past 40+years. It has never been an issue. Yes, the saddle and my butt have to come to some sort of understanding, but (no pun intended) that takes several hundred miles at the start of EVERY riding season. Yeah, I get flabby and out-of-shape in the off-season, and my sit bones notice, too!
But (there's that word again), once we - meaning my hard leather saddle and I - come to an agreement, I never get 'saddle-sore' for the rest of the year. Is it because it is an 'ass-hatchet'? No. I've tried to ride hard plastic- or plastic-backed saddles and we've (my butt and saddle) have never broken in to each other like a suspended leather saddle like a Brooks (or clone) can.
You've got to give a leather saddle the 'seat time' to break in to your own personal physiology.
Yeah, the 'problem' with a leather saddle is having it get wet.. Initially, getting it wet while riding on it helps with the break-in process by allowing it to form to your individual sit-bones/fit. After that, treat it with a good penetrating silicone treatment on both top- and undersides and you'll be good for years with seasonal periodic re-treatments. I've had mine for 44+ years now, that alone should tell you something!
But (there's that word again), once we - meaning my hard leather saddle and I - come to an agreement, I never get 'saddle-sore' for the rest of the year. Is it because it is an 'ass-hatchet'? No. I've tried to ride hard plastic- or plastic-backed saddles and we've (my butt and saddle) have never broken in to each other like a suspended leather saddle like a Brooks (or clone) can.
You've got to give a leather saddle the 'seat time' to break in to your own personal physiology.
Yeah, the 'problem' with a leather saddle is having it get wet.. Initially, getting it wet while riding on it helps with the break-in process by allowing it to form to your individual sit-bones/fit. After that, treat it with a good penetrating silicone treatment on both top- and undersides and you'll be good for years with seasonal periodic re-treatments. I've had mine for 44+ years now, that alone should tell you something!
11-21-19, 05:56 PM
#36
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11-22-19, 07:31 AM
#37
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I know you asked about leather but I'm going to follow up with a recommendation to try a non leather saddle. I built a carbon gravel bike last year as a "fun" bike and to keep it light opted to not put a Brooks on it. I was able to get a Fabric Scoop Shallow Pro on clearance from REI with the assumption that if I didn't like it I could return it. 2500 miles and almost a year later I have to say I think it's more comfortable than the Brooks though it doesn't have the classic Brooks look. FWIW, I have 3 bikes... Touring 1, upright, Brooks Flyer; Touring 2, drop bar, C17; Gravel, Fabric Scoop Shallow. Of the 3 the Fabric is my favorite.
As an FYI if you consider Fabric saddles use their site as a guide to pick the right saddle. Shallow's work best for me.
https://fabric.cc/findyourfit/
As an FYI if you consider Fabric saddles use their site as a guide to pick the right saddle. Shallow's work best for me.
https://fabric.cc/findyourfit/
Last edited by edthesped; 11-22-19 at 07:36 AM.
11-24-19, 07:47 PM
#40
Senior Member
THEN we get into the fact that Brooks makes several different sizes/shapes/styles of saddles... B-15, B-17, B-17N, Professional, etc... Differing in nose width, nose length, sit-bone area width, spring-suspension, cut-outs,... Despite all being suspended leather, they all feel different.
...and then we get to the cambium saddles.
All from just ONE manufacturer, Brooks.
...and then we get to the cambium saddles.
All from just ONE manufacturer, Brooks.
11-27-19, 06:27 AM
#41
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THEN we get into the fact that Brooks makes several different sizes/shapes/styles of saddles... B-15, B-17, B-17N, Professional, etc... Differing in nose width, nose length, sit-bone area width, spring-suspension, cut-outs,... Despite all being suspended leather, they all feel different.
...and then we get to the cambium saddles.
All from just ONE manufacturer, Brooks.
...and then we get to the cambium saddles.
All from just ONE manufacturer, Brooks.
11-27-19, 08:18 AM
#42
Senior Member
I believe most saddle makers have multiple sizes and shapes.... Over the years I've come to the conclusion that Brooks are nice but they certainly aren't the end all. I'm a bit more comfy on my Fabric than I am on my Brooks and I don't worry about weather or fading dye, maybe I have a really sweaty a$$ but my charcoal C17 is now tan. Whether it's on a Brooks or Fabric I can comfortably ride all day without spandex or padded shorts. In hind sight I really wish I would have tried a Fabric saddle earlier but fear of discomfort coupled with the high cost of a decent saddle that could not be returned dissuaded me from branching out.
11-28-19, 05:55 PM
#43
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When I was in college (a long, long time ago), I bought an Ideale 90 from a friend of mine. I used it for a summer-long tour and it was extremely comfortable. I'm not sure what ever happened to it but I wish I still had it. Of course, it may have fossilized by now...
11-29-19, 06:14 PM
#44
Senior Member
Berthoud saddles has its connoisseur - fans.. Gilles Berthoud - Selles
Gilles Berthoud Saddles
https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/bersaddles.php
Gilles Berthoud Saddles
https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/bersaddles.php
11-29-19, 06:23 PM
#45
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