pdlamb

Or, if you buy the alternative, let us know how it works out. Especially if it doesn't and you get a Brooks for comparison next time.

WT160

I bought Cardiff saddle a little while ago. Haven't tried it yet.

Saddles - Cardiff Ltd. - Bicycle Accessories

smd4

Brooks saddles look old-fashioned. Like, from the 1930s.

And heavy.

Koyote

Just like steel bike frames.

squirtdad

???? steel is not heavy if it is a nice frame, just like aluminum in not light if it is a cheap frame

smd4

Sure, some steel frames look like they're from the 1930s. The ones with super-long wheelbases where you can put a fist between the rear tire and the seat tube, and forks with 4 inches of trail.

GeezyRider 

I admire your persistence.

philbob57

Brooks was already an old company in the 1930s. From Brooks' website:

The Chemist

I have two Brooks saddles - a B17 on my Dahon and a C15 Cambium on my Giant gravel bike. I personally prefer the not leather C15, as it is incredibly comfortable even on distances of up to 300km in a day. It's also totally weatherproof.

JohnDThompson 

Nobody can really see the saddle while you're riding, so what's the problem, other than at the coffee shop?

smd4

I don’t just look at a bike when I’m riding it. What’s the problem?

Germany_chris

The reason I didn’t bring up Berthoud is the cost, if the OP is looking for a cheap Brooks they’re not going to stretch to the 200+ to get a Berthoud

mstateglfr 

Yes, steel is still heavy even if it is a nice frame. This is all relative, and a quiality steel frame is simply heavier than a quality aluminum frame, with both being heavier than a quality carbon frame. And by 'quality', I mean intended to be light. I say this as a disclaimer so that some nerd doesnt come in and say 'but but heavier frames can be quality if they are intended for a specific purpose!' Yes, thats true, no, that isnt what squirt was referring to and not what I am discussing.

A quality steel road frame in a mid-size will likely weigh 1500g if it is from a builder willing to really work to make weight the priority AND the frame is not production.
A quality aluminum road frame in mid-size will likely weigh 1100g.
A quality carbon frame in mid-size can get down to 585g(specialized Aethos S-works in size 56). Thats a production frame.

Thats over 2 pounds difference between a custom mid-sized steel road frame that is not production(since production will require it to be heavier/sturdier) and a production carbon road frame.
Now is when some other nerds start googling to find a random steel frame that weighs 1300g or something like that. Cool, thats still over 1.5 pounds heavier than the production carbon road frame in a mid-size that I mentioned.

himespau 

I've had some Gyes saddles that were quite nice. A bit hard at first (that protective,waterproof fabric on the bottom keeps them stiffer, longer). One I had was probably the most comfortable saddle I've ever owned. At least it would have been if it had a cut out, the lack of which really only started to bother me after an hour + in the saddle. I've long thought about trying to make a cut out in it and try it again, but lack of knowhow, pattern, and probably appropriate tools have kept me from it so far.

3alarmer 

...I weigh 230 pounds. Why would I care ?

phughes

Generally speaking, if your Brooks broke in asymmetrically, the seat was most likely too high, causing you to sit to one side to compensate. I had the same issue. Once I realized it, I dropped the saddle, and that fixed the issue. Many miles later the saddle is broken in symmetrically. The drop in saddle height also greatly increased the comfort of the saddle.

squirtdad

My main point was to avoid the over generalized "steel is always heavier"
it is always hard to to a real comparison, as an example the Aethos is designed for light weight so is on the extreme
I think we all make too much of frame weight alone and of course discount personal weight
Overall bike weight is more component dependent
I am not sure prod vs custom makes as much difference as you think, depends more on the builder. also ,it was not hard back in the day to get a sub 19 lb steel production bike
did not weigh my kirk custom, but it certainly is lighter than my team miyata (which were not known as light)

as long a we ride it make no real difference

mstateglfr 

I am not saying you would, or you should.
But your weight is of no consequence to the comment I was responding to.

3alarmer 

...OK. But please, no fat shaming. This and the general comfort I've had on Brooks Pro saddles is the reason I'm willing to put up with the extra weight of them.

mstateglfr 

- It isnt 'over generalized' though, when equal quality/use/goal is considered. Its quite accurate, actually.
- Yes the Aethos is designed to be lightweight...the steel and aluminum frame weights I cited are also designed and built to be lightweight. See what I did?...I compared frames with similar quality/use/goal.
- You may feel like too much emphasis is placed on frame weight, but that doesnt make your prior comment true - "steel is not heavy if it is a nice frame"
- Agreed, the majority of bike weight is in components and therefore frame weight differences are reduced when taken as part of an overall bicycle. Again though, that has nothing to do with your comment that I initially disagreed with and responded to.
- Production vs custom absolutely has a huge impact on steel frame weights. 20 minutes reading about it would explain why, but Ill give you the synopsis- production steel frames(and forks) must meet failure testing standards that require the frames to be beefed up to pass. Beef = weight. Custom bikes are not subject to this, therefore they can be made lighter.
- A sub19# bike 'back in the day' is neat. That has no bearing on what you claimed though. 19# is relatively heavy.
- Cool that your Kirk is lighter than your Miyata. Once more, that has nothing to do with what you claimed and I responded to.


I own half a dozen steel road bikes and 1 aluminum road bike. 0 carbon. My comment earlier wasnt trashing steel, I love steel bikes. My comment earlier was simply corrected an incorrect claim. None of your comments in response to my correction support your initial comment.

mstateglfr 

I didnt fat shame and dont plan to fat shame.

Bluejohn

Sounds like my ideal sort of bike

squirtdad

I think we are saying much the same thing in different ways or viewpoints. most important thing is hope we both get good rides in on the weekend

3alarmer 

....once you started in on gram weights, I immediately flashed on Jenny Craig. My apologies.

teacherman62

I find it hard to believe that these old leather bike seats are considered comfortable. When I started riding, that's all there was. Brooks leather on chromed steel rails. When I got my racing beer can aluminum bike in 2002, after years with no bike, the foam CODA seat seemed OK, but I ended up with a Selle Italia cutout built on titanium rails, which I stuck on a carbon fiber seat post. Now I put a big fat Zacros (from Scamazon) gel pad on top of it, and I use padded bike shorts as well.

I remember buying a new Brooks for my 1973 Follis 531 main tubes bike, and it was as hard as a rock for quite some time.

I guess my question is, should I have another look at Brooks? Are they built of lighter metal now, and how long would it take to break in?
Thanks.