Replacing Original Saddle on '78 Raleigh Super Course
08-13-18, 12:01 PM
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Replacing Original Saddle on '78 Raleigh Super Course
Finally getting around to replacing the very worn original saddle on my '78 Raleigh Super Course. Waited so long because I found the saddle to be one of the most comfortable I've ever used. I've got an old Selle Italia Turbo that's not being used. That could go on, but I'd like to keep the look of the original suede-ish saddle. The photo below isn't my bike, but does show the original saddle. Is an Cinelli Unicantor what I should be looking for, or would comfort potentially be an issue? Are there other saddles that will give me a similar look and feel to this one? Thanks in advance for the help.
08-13-18, 12:30 PM
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Saddles are really personal so be skeptical of any glowing saddle reports here. That said, here are my comments: The earlier Super Courses were fitted standard with a Brooks B-17, but in 1978 they switched to a generic suede covered plastic saddle for cost reasons. The one pictured does look a bit like a Unicanitor but it's hard to say without close ups. Also hard to say whether the Cinelli saddle will be as comfortable as your original. I have a Unicanitor on my Colnago and it's ok however Turbo saddles seem to fit me better. I actually have a Turbo on my 1972 Super Course (and a Brooks on my Bianchi!).
So what are you after, looks or comfort? May not get both. If this were my bike, I would either opt for a Brooks B17 (which I find comfortable) or I would recover your old saddle assuming that the base is ok. There are a number of threads here on recovering old saddles.
So what are you after, looks or comfort? May not get both. If this were my bike, I would either opt for a Brooks B17 (which I find comfortable) or I would recover your old saddle assuming that the base is ok. There are a number of threads here on recovering old saddles.
08-13-18, 12:39 PM
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Saddles are really personal so be skeptical of any glowing saddle reports here. That said, here are my comments: The earlier Super Courses were fitted standard with a Brooks B-17, but in 1978 they switched to a generic suede covered plastic saddle for cost reasons. The one pictured does look a bit like a Unicanitor but it's hard to say without close ups. Also hard to say whether the Cinelli saddle will be as comfortable as your original. I have a Unicanitor on my Colnago and it's ok however Turbo saddles seem to fit me better. I actually have a Turbo on my 1972 Super Course (and a Brooks on my Bianchi!).
So what are you after, looks or comfort? May not get both. If this were my bike, I would either opt for a Brooks B17 (which I find comfortable) or I would recover your old saddle assuming that the base is ok. There are a number of threads here on recovering old saddles.
So what are you after, looks or comfort? May not get both. If this were my bike, I would either opt for a Brooks B17 (which I find comfortable) or I would recover your old saddle assuming that the base is ok. There are a number of threads here on recovering old saddles.
Haven't taken off the original saddle yet to see if there's a manufacturer mark. Anybody know who made those?
08-13-18, 12:40 PM
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Recover your original saddle, or find out what exactly it is and get another one. FWIW, yours looks a lot like the Selle Italia Grand Prix Professional that came stock on Motobecanes for a while there. Is that what it is?
08-13-18, 12:47 PM
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Selle Italia Grand Prix Professional is a good prospect. I'll check those out. Thanks.
08-13-18, 12:48 PM
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08-13-18, 12:50 PM
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The Selle Turbo is being sold these days and one option is a tan suede finish, if that's what you're after. They are, in my opinion, a little pricey at about $60 delivered. Not so pricey that I don't have one, though. Seems comfortable, but I haven't taken it on one of those 40-50+ mile rides that really reveal a saddle's nature.
The Selle catalog says the cover is "Nubuk" leather. I'm not sure what that is. Sounds like the hide of a nauga.
Soma sells something they call Ta bo for about $40, but doesn't look like it comes in that tan suede finish. Cover is "synthetic leather." I guess that means plastic.
Suggestion put your old Turbo on there and ride it a bunch and see if the comfort is about like the old one. If so, buy one of the Selle tan "Nubuk leather" ones.
The Selle catalog says the cover is "Nubuk" leather. I'm not sure what that is. Sounds like the hide of a nauga.
Soma sells something they call Ta bo for about $40, but doesn't look like it comes in that tan suede finish. Cover is "synthetic leather." I guess that means plastic.
Suggestion put your old Turbo on there and ride it a bunch and see if the comfort is about like the old one. If so, buy one of the Selle tan "Nubuk leather" ones.
08-13-18, 12:53 PM
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I thought mine was made by Turbo. Was never an issue until the day I rode it 200 miles... in unpadded shorts.
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08-13-18, 05:14 PM
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Methinks the issue wasn't the saddle. Or possibly even the unpadded shorts...
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08-13-18, 10:37 PM
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I love the Brooks B17 on my '73 Super Course. It's not original, but new, and was standard for this model back in the day. You can't go wrong with a Brooks on almost any vintage bike. I have 3 bikes with Brooks. You're either a Brooks guy or you're not. This bike was built from scrapped and discarded frame, so keeping it original was never an issue.
