Roypercy

Hi all:

I have a 1987 Schwinn Super Sport in the very noticeable white and lavender paint scheme. I need to get a new saddle, and I'm ready to try a brooks. Until now I've been using a white Rolls with white bar tape, but the Rolls is getting on in years and I've started getting quite uncomfortable on long rides.

I'm deciding between a Colt (in black - they're still out there) or a Team Pro. But in the Team Pro (with the copper rivets) I favor Honey color.

My bike originally shipped with a black saddle, I'm sure black would look just fine. How do we think the honey would look on this bike? Without being able to see it before purchasing, I'm not so sure what I think.

This is from the catalog - I don't have a decent pic handy right now. Mine has a white Rolls saddle and gum hoods. Whatever saddle color I choose I'd match the bar tape as best I could. So imagine this with a honey-colored saddle and bar tape.



Opinions welcome!

RiddleOfSteel

I think the honey color would clash with the pink/lavender. The late '80s saw fairly straight ahead and bold colors, unlike earlier in the decade and before that in the '70s. Metallic paints weren't as common, etc. Add to that the fact that it's a race bike, and that proportion also implies the kind of components that are more appropriate than not. That's more or less the "table" set before us, aesthetically. If the bike was a solid color, like a gloss white or black, then the honey colored saddle etc would work well. You'd just have to be ok with the obviously late-'80s graphics and a Brooks. Some people don't care about that, others do. I try and do my best to have a cohesive look for each bike--that doesn't mean period correct pieces, just a consistent theme.

What color are your rims? Tires? Depending on what they are, there is either increased or decreased aesthetic flexibility (with regard to a matching or consistent aesthetic theme).

A picture, even indoors with ok-enough lighting, would be very appreciated!

I personally, of the two saddles, prefer the Team Pro. The Colt looks like a beak, and is too chunky IMO and thus lacks elegance.

For a modern round-profile saddle that comes in white and works with the sporty late-'80s look, I run a few Prologo Scratch Pros in my fleet. The long side stripe is the ticket. They come in various metal grades as far as rails go. Comfortable and nicely proportioned. Used, they are not expensive.

plonz 

I just bought one of these bikes and it is equipped exactly like the catalog picture above. As a matter of fact, I think it might be 100% original.

Anyway, I love the frame colors but I don’t like the tan sidewalls with it. I’ll be going with all black tires or maybe Schwalbe One with the silver stripe if I’m feeling adventurous. Not a big fan of a black saddle on this bike either. Thinking the Prologo above with cromo rails might work better. But then I’m not sure I like white tape with a white saddle on this bike. I am fairly certain I’ll go with grey cable housing regardless of the other bits.

Zero help I know. Just letting you know you have company.

Roypercy

Here she is. I forgot I had uploaded this pic a while back. Nothing has changed except the angle of the saddle (don't know what happened there...)

The bike had black rims as OEM but mine came with (period-correct) silver rims, and I installed the solid black Vredestein Comp Race tires.

You may be right about the honey colored Brooks clashing. I don't hate the Schwinn's paint job, but it really is what it is and doesn't allow for a lot of personalization unlike other bikes I've owned.

tyrion

+1

bikemig 

Black Brooks saddle. White rolls or white turbo would also look good.

SurferRosa

I would replicate this with a black Turbo saddle, grey/black rims, gumwalls, white leather pedal straps, and a revolving assortment of light colored tape. Looks great.

Mr. 66

I may be the only one but I think the honey would look really good with your setup. Black is also hot. One thing about Brooks, they have short rails, for me they don't work well with steep seat and short top tubes. Puts me to forwards.

RiddleOfSteel

Looks great! The white saddle and bar tape complete and complement the paint color and overall composition.

JohnDThompson 

Meh. Nobody can see the saddle when you're riding on it, anyway.

TenGrainBread 

Aesthetically, the Brooks "honey" colored products are pretty meh-looking. I think a lot of people think they're achieving a vintage look with a honey Brooks and the matching bar tape but in reality the honey color is a modern invention of Brooks and is out of place on vintage bikes. Same with the leather bar wrap - one of those products marketed to the "retro" market but wasn't actually around until the 2000s. Looks fake to me.

Bianchi84

If you're definitely going with either black or honey/brown, I'd suggest black seat, toe straps and brake hoods.

cb400bill

A few years ago I faced this decision when overhauling my pink Trek 770. So I kitted it up with both black and with white saddles and bar tape to decide which I liked better.

Roypercy

Great idea! Both options look very good, which did you ultimately go with?

plonz 

^This is excellent. I’m definitely in favor of the white version and makes me more comfortable with white saddle and bars on the pink bike. My brake hoods would probably have to stay black but I think I’d still opt for grey cable housings.

cb400bill

I went white, white, white