Roypercy

Hi all:

I'm looking to buy my '81 Grand Jubilee a new leather saddle as a late Xmas gift. I'm torn between the Brooks B17 (regular and narrow), Brooks Pro, and the Brooks Colt. I particularly like the looks of the Colt, and currently I'm riding a Selle Royal Sprint which is pretty hard, pretty narrow, and (to me) fairly comfortable. I wonder if the Colt's profile would suit me given my preference for fairly skinny seats. Anybody have any experience with the Colt on a C&V bike?

Thanks!

Roy

septacycles

Hey Roy,

Saddle preference is such a personal choice... its hard to say. I'm a authorized brooks dealer... personally I like the look and ride of the Colt series just fine... especially mixed with the aesthetics of an 80s steel frame road bike. I would measure the dimension of your saddle and compare to the specs on the brooks website...https://www.brooksengland.com

The B17 is a great starter brooks saddle but will be much wider than your current saddle. The B17 Narrow is very narrow in the nose of the saddle and works well for folk with thigh rub issues.

Once you decide on a brooks... let me know and I can price out a saddle and maybe able to give you a better deal than most retailers since your a BF member. I currently have the Brooks Team Pro in Black and Honey with copper rails on Sale! See https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...o-and-Bar-Tape

You may also want to check out the swift.

Bianchigirll 

I can't speak for you, but my Colt is pretty comfy, although I would be hard pressed to say why, how or if it feels very different from my B17s.

RaleighSport

BIKE ABUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! but hopefully neither the alcohol or the bike was harmed.

Yo Spiff

I had a colt on my late Specialized Allez. I recall it being very comfortable. Had the brown one, and loved the way it looked.


I have a black one now on my Prologue which is the spare bike, but it's not fully broken in yet. Need to correct that.


I have a team pro on my Bianchi. Offhand, the Team Pro seems a little flatter on top, while the Colt appears more rounded. I can do some side by side comparison shots between the Team Pro and Colt if you like.

lotek 

I had a Colt, and I never could quite get fully comfortable on it.
It was good for short rides, but just didn't have that long ride comfort
I expect from Brooks. I sent mine off to someone in NJ who rides Bianchi's and
puts champagne bottles in her bidon holder. haha.

Bianchigirll did that Colt ever stop squeaking?

Marty

pastorbobnlnh 

I bought one last winter for my '96 Cannondale build. It saw more miles under me than any other saddle this year. I am very pleased. Can't beat the color selection.

haddawad

I understand that this is a very hard saddle.

Yo Spiff

The first one I had back in the 80's broke in very easily, and was comfy after just a few hundred miles. The one I have now is still pretty hard. I've put it on my Prologue and will try using that bike on some shorter rides for a while. I'll see how it is later in the year.

Grand Bois

My Colt is the only Brooks I have that has never been comfortable for me. It may be that it came from a bike that lived in the desert and it is very dry and hard. The shape does not resemble a B17 at all. It's much closer to the Pro.

Sheldon Brown said that it was an attempt to make the Pro aerodynamic.

jar351

I have a total of about 50 miles on my Colt, all from short rides of 5 or 10 miles, so I can't fairly comment on comfort yet. (I will say that for now it's hard as hell, but we'll see...) In any case, as someone else pointed out, the color selection is really nice and it's a damn fine-looking saddle. I almost regret resting my sweaty taint on it.

pastorbobnlnh 

Yo Spiff asked for a comparison between the Team Professional and the Colt. Here's mine next to a '70s vintage Team Pro.





Hope this helps.

Grand Bois

The colors are not my style, but I sure wish mine was brown instead of black.

Yo Spiff

Actually, I had offered to do a comparison, since I own both of them myself. Thanks, however, that visual comparison might help the OP. The pro is definitely flatter on top.

Sirrus Rider

Love that funky purple!

pastorbobnlnh 

It doesn't really match the fade from black to purple on my '96 Cannondale SR500, but with the matching Brooks Bar tape, it gets the job done.



Here's a side view of the Colt and Team Pro. I can't say that I can tell the difference in shape, while sitting upon.



As everyone might have noticed, the purple or violet (as Brooks names it) is difficult to photograph. The color always seems to change and rarely looks the same from photo to photo.

Roypercy

Hey, thanks for the replies, everybody! I measured my Selle Royal Sprint, a very good suggestion; it turns out to be about 127mm at its widest point - and quite rounded on top, as well - so I don't think I'd find any Brooks saddle too narrow. I think I'll be giving the Colt a try, and will report back after a few hundred miles(!)

Best
Roy

jtyr71 

Bianchigirll I just had to comment on this old thread (I was looking for Colt info) and I'm STUNNED by the beauty of your Cornelo!!!! With the deep red bar tape and how it completes the yellow to red gradient of the frame!!! And the rims-- wow some of the best bike art I've seen lately-- well done!!!!

Bianchigirll 

Thank You. I really wanted to make this something special and really stand out from the crowd. The bar covering is actually suede which never having worked with it I did incorrectly. I was unaware that you taped the lever clamps to the bar and then put on the leather/suede wrapping over the clamp.

3speedslow

I’ve had this 80’s Colt for awhile and enjoy it on the Schwinn High Plains drop bar machine. Comfortable for me.