Soma Cardiff leather saddles intro price?
12-22-19, 01:00 AM
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Soma Cardiff leather saddles intro price?
It appears SOMA is offering Cardiff leather saddles for $48 apparently they are using different leather than the previous run. details here
12-22-19, 07:03 AM
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I started a thread about the Cardiff saddle about two months ago. I'm a true Brook fan, but I thought the Cardiff might be a cheaper substitute for situations such as bad weather, or leaving the bike parked for a while. (I'd hate to have my favorite Brooks stolen) It is as comfortable as a Brooks and broke in quickly. I like the slighly longer rails which allow me to push the saddle back more than a Brooks. I got the "brown" version, but it looks more orange or brick red. Maybe it will darken with use. The holes in the saddle are further back than on a B-17; will that make a difference? I don't know how long it will last, but the leather looks pretty good.
12-22-19, 08:15 AM
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I started an order for this saddle. When the shipping came to $15.00 I bailed out.
12-23-19, 12:15 AM
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12-23-19, 01:22 PM
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I believe that Cardiff and Gyes are the same. VO sold them for a time and I bought 3 three of them. two of them are sprung and are very nice saddles; the third is more of a B15 type and is as hard as any Fujita to break in.
12-23-19, 01:39 PM
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I owned a VO saddle and even applying saddle soap to it did not have a measurable effect . It was so hard that I passed it along with my Bianchi Portofino when it sold .
12-23-19, 05:33 PM
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These gyes/cardiff saddles are also rebranded for other retailers in the UK.
12-23-19, 05:52 PM
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I like them a lot. They seem to be very well made. I've been using one on my Ironman for a few years. I also have two new ones that haven't been used yet. Mine are all Mercia models. The pictured ones have copper rivets and rails.
Last edited by 76SLT; 12-23-19 at 05:56 PM.
01-16-20, 06:20 PM
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All Gyes saddles, and brands that are made by them, are constructed using Australian Buffalo. The new Cardiff's leather is sourced from the same Italian tannery that makes Leper saddles of Holland. These Cardiff's are truly unique.
