What do you guys think of Brooks saddles? Are they goofy or what?

In article ,
Rick Onanian wrote:

I do indeed like how my saddle looks and feels. I can't say for
sure just how the aforementioned saddle feels, because I can't
remember. That _must_ be a good thing.

As somebody- I think it was Jobst- said: if you're thinking about
your saddle while you're riding bike, you've got the wrong saddle.

In article
,
(Chris Zacho "The Wheelman") wrote:

I'm surprised that, after all these years, Brooks hasn't designed a
special waterproof cover for their saddles (Gore Tex maybe?).
Something light enough to fold up and tuck into a bike bag, yet
durable enough and perhaps somewhat form fitting.

Because Carradice makes one, I s'pose.

"Chalo" wrote in message
om...

The Brooks Swift at $160 is the most expensive leather saddle I know
of. Very few plastic saddles cost that much, e.g. Selle Italia SLR
Carbon which weighs not much more than 1/4 what the Swift does.


FWIW, I just ordered from Alfred E. Bike and it was only 123.99 + 6.50
shipping. Thsi is the best price I was able to find, by quite a margin.
Oddly, their other Brooks saddle prices are not nearly as competitive.

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=SA1230

NFI, blah blah blah.

-Peter

In article ,
(Roy Zipris) wrote:

With my small bike frame, I don't have room for that big device the
Carradice cover stores in, not do I like the look.

Huh? Mine rolls up into a tiny cylinder. Fits in a pocket or in a
seat pack withouty any problem. You sure you're thinking of the
Carradice saddle cover, which looks like a glorified shower cap?

On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 09:37:47 -0500, Tim McNamara
may have said:

In article ,
(Roy Zipris) wrote:

With my small bike frame, I don't have room for that big device the
Carradice cover stores in, not do I like the look.

Huh? Mine rolls up into a tiny cylinder. Fits in a pocket or in a
seat pack withouty any problem. You sure you're thinking of the
Carradice saddle cover, which looks like a glorified shower cap?

Without the flower-and-seashell print.

(I just checked, and the shower cap used by others in the household
happens to fit over my largest saddle with room to spare; I seem to
recall that it was obtained at a dollar store, though it has the
drawback that it *does* have the aforementioned flowers and
seashells.)

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Yes, I have a killfile. If I don't respond to something,
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On Fri, 15 Aug 2003 06:50:46 -0700, Roy Zipris wrote:

I've often thought the same question and I've also thought about sewing
up something of my own design. But until then, I still rely on a plastic
bag from the supermarket: it stashes easily under the seat when not in
use, it covers my B17 (top and bottom) and saddle bag completely, and it
ties snugly above my blinkie, leaving the light visible. I don't notice
the bag while riding, and as I've noted elsewhere, it's easily
replaceable and the price can't be beat.

With my small bike frame, I don't have room for that big device the
Carradice cover stores in, not do I like the look. --Roy Zipris

I use a saran wrap bowl cover, medium size. This is like a thick plastic
bag with elastic around the edges. It fits perfectly over my champion
flyer. a little ugly though, but cheap and you can get them at the grocery
store.

I have an Avocet seat cover. Bought for $1 off the get rid of it
table at a local bike shop about 5 years ago. Very form fitting. Its
also bright green. These covers used to be much more common back in
the 1980s and earlier.

I would guess Brooks does not make a cover because it involves
cloth/rubber/plastic work. Brooks is experienced in working with
leather and steel/titanium tubing. Sewing together saddle covers
would require more capital investment and employee hiring/training
than they can afford. Remember about three years ago there was a
concern that Brooks would fold because Sturmey-Archer(?), the parent
company, went under. Companies on the verge of becoming extinct
probably should not waste money trying to start up a new and different
business line.

(Chris Zacho "The Wheelman") wrote in message ...
I'm surprised that, after all these years, Brooks hasn't designed a
special waterproof cover for their saddles (Gore Tex maybe?). Something
light enough to fold up and tuck into a bike bag, yet durable enough and
perhaps somewhat form fitting.

Perhaps an oversized shower cap with a draw string that could be tied
around the seat post, sealing the saddle from the elements?

May you have the wind at your back.
And a really low gear for the hills!
Chris

Chris'Z Corner
"The Website for the Common Bicyclist":
http://www.geocities.com/czcorner

Tim McNamara wrote in message ...
In article ,
(Roy Zipris) wrote:

With my small bike frame, I don't have room for that big device the
Carradice cover stores in, not do I like the look.

Huh? Mine rolls up into a tiny cylinder. Fits in a pocket or in a
seat pack without any problem. You sure you're thinking of the
Carradice saddle cover, which looks like a glorified shower cap?

No, I wasn't aware of this item. I find it amusing, however, that, on
the Rivendell page in the link below your post, the Rivendell folks
twice talk about using plastic bags to ensure against leaks. I already
got that covered (pun intended)! --Roy Zipris

Rivendell: "Paranoid cylists should place a plastic bag underneath
this -- not to imply that it isn't totally waterproof by itself, but
there is some stitching, so some leakage might happen.
.....
"If you have a leather saddle and you sometimes ride in the rain, you
ought to get one. At the very least, cover the saddle with a duct-tape
reinforced plastic bag."

I purchased a Brooks Swift 2 weeks ago and have been more than happy
with it. BTW if you buy from Wallingford you can return it before 6
months for a full refund if you don't like it.

Below is a copy of a letter I sent to MBR and English MTB magazine
last week:

"Being an avid reader of MBR since your first edition and a mountain
biker for the last 9 years, I recently went out in search of the
ultimate most comfy saddle for my new Santa Cruz Blur. Over the years
I've experimented with lots of fad products - some great, some good and
some just a waste of money! I have the plastic bins of obscure bike
parts in my garage to prove
it." "Which saddle should I buy - Gel? Cut-out for my Bits and Bobs?
Razor-sharp Carbon? Dental Floss...get the picture? So I did my
research scouring through all my bike mags and on the Internet to
find the most comfortable saddle for long distance mountain biking."
"I came across a company that I faintly remember when I must have
been a kid - "Brooks Saddles", England. I thought the company had
packed up years ago, NO! after 140 years they were still in business
making traditional leather saddles. This conjured up images in my
mind of men with cycling clips riding old touring bikes around the
countryside. Well my research revealed that these men ARE still
riding their bikes on Brooks Saddles, some of which they have had for
20 or 30 years." "Anyhow after seeking their advice, I took the
plunge and purchased a Titanium Swift Brooks Saddle, beautifully hand
made from fine leather and copper rivets, no plastic to be seen. It
turned out to be the most comfortable saddle I have ever experienced,
better than all these new Italian techno saddles and it looks totally
retro on my Blur." "The moral of this story is that the UK
fortunately still has a cottage industry of small specialist frame
builders and small bike component companies manufacturing high
quality products that have survived countless recessions and cheap
Far Eastern imports. I feel that some of these companies need a
helping hand from the cycling public, it would help them if mags such
as MBR were to review their products once in a while and bring their
products into the spotlight to the new generations of riders out
there with little or no knowledge of their existence. In this way, we
can secure a future for these companies and their workers for many
generations to come."



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In article ,
(Roy Zipris) wrote:

No, I wasn't aware of this item. I find it amusing, however, that, on
the Rivendell page in the link below your post, the Rivendell folks
twice talk about using plastic bags to ensure against leaks. I already
got that covered (pun intended)!

Yah, there have been some compaints about some seepage or leakage
through the Carradice cover. I've never had it happen, but I've never
been out with it on a long ride in the rain.