Gilles Berthoud Saddles
09-11-18, 04:11 PM
#1
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Gilles Berthoud Saddles
Anyone have a Gilles Berthoud Saddle?
If it replaced a Brooks (eg: B17), was it an upgrade?
If it replaced a Brooks (eg: B17), was it an upgrade?
09-11-18, 04:26 PM
#2
Jedi Master
I Have an Aravis on my randonneuring bike and an Aspin on my townie. Same saddle different rails. My randonneuring saddle has 6-7k km on it, and It's so broken in that I'm considering replacing the leather. Other than that I like the saddle a lot. I don't have any experience with Brooks. This was my first leather saddle.
09-11-18, 07:08 PM
#3
Senior Member
A GB saddle is an upgrade to any Brooks.
Have leather saddles on all of my upright bikes, including B-17, B-68, Imperial, Champion Flyer. An S. Anatomica and a GB Aravis. The Aravis is a little more like the Champion Flyer than a B-17.
Have the Aravis on my road bike, it is the most comfortable saddle/bike combination I've ever ridden.
Have leather saddles on all of my upright bikes, including B-17, B-68, Imperial, Champion Flyer. An S. Anatomica and a GB Aravis. The Aravis is a little more like the Champion Flyer than a B-17.
Have the Aravis on my road bike, it is the most comfortable saddle/bike combination I've ever ridden.
09-11-18, 08:52 PM
#4
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I Have an Aravis on my randonneuring bike and an Aspin on my townie. Same saddle different rails. My randonneuring saddle has 6-7k km on it, and It's so broken in that I'm considering replacing the leather. Other than that I like the saddle a lot. I don't have any experience with Brooks. This was my first leather saddle.
I haven't even had to tighten the adjustment bolt on my Brooks in 3 to 4 times that distance.
09-11-18, 09:44 PM
#6
Banned
Internet BOB (a google group), post Grant Peterson, now Jan Heine followers,
mostly subscribers to Vintage Bike Quarterly, seem to like them .
and the Compass Bike tires..
Brooks C series all weather, saddles made in Italy (same company as Fizik)
has non metal plastic component parts too..
...
mostly subscribers to Vintage Bike Quarterly, seem to like them .
and the Compass Bike tires..
Brooks C series all weather, saddles made in Italy (same company as Fizik)
has non metal plastic component parts too..
...
Last edited by fietsbob; 09-12-18 at 10:11 AM.
09-11-18, 09:49 PM
#7
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Well, if the saddle is to my arse what Compass Tires are to the road, that would be a great endorsement.
Jan is the US distributor for these saddles (although I think you can get them elsewhere. I saw Peter White sells them too.)
Jan is the US distributor for these saddles (although I think you can get them elsewhere. I saw Peter White sells them too.)
09-12-18, 02:48 AM
#8
Jedi Master
Yes, I don't know if it's worn out or broken in, but I liked it better before it developed sit bone indentations. This is my first leather saddle, so I don't have any other experience. My butt doesn't really bother me on shorter distances so my other bikes don't have leather saddles. I'll take a picture and post it, but it might be a few days. I'd be interested if others think it's worn out or just broken in. Maybe I'm just not a leather saddle guy. I see a lot of randonneurs with the Brooks cambium saddles.
09-12-18, 03:05 AM
#9
Jedi Master
09-12-18, 09:46 AM
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09-12-18, 09:48 AM
#12
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Yes, I don't know if it's worn out or broken in, but I liked it better before it developed sit bone indentations. This is my first leather saddle, so I don't have any other experience. My butt doesn't really bother me on shorter distances so my other bikes don't have leather saddles. I'll take a picture and post it, but it might be a few days. I'd be interested if others think it's worn out or just broken in. Maybe I'm just not a leather saddle guy. I see a lot of randonneurs with the Brooks cambium saddles.
09-14-18, 03:34 AM
#13
Jedi Master
Here are a few photos. Broken in or worn out?
09-14-18, 05:52 AM
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I Have an Aravis on my randonneuring bike and an Aspin on my townie. Same saddle different rails. My randonneuring saddle has 6-7k km on it, and It's so broken in that I'm considering replacing the leather. Other than that I like the saddle a lot. I don't have any experience with Brooks. This was my first leather saddle.
09-14-18, 05:58 AM
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Yes, I don't know if it's worn out or broken in, but I liked it better before it developed sit bone indentations. This is my first leather saddle, so I don't have any other experience. My butt doesn't really bother me on shorter distances so my other bikes don't have leather saddles. I'll take a picture and post it, but it might be a few days. I'd be interested if others think it's worn out or just broken in. Maybe I'm just not a leather saddle guy. I see a lot of randonneurs with the Brooks cambium saddles.
09-14-18, 06:07 AM
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09-14-18, 07:18 AM
#17
Jedi Master
Well, whatever kind of saddle guy you are now, you might be a different kind in the future. I would not change my saddle because some guy online is amazed at how the saddle has changed in your usage. If you have the option to replace the leather and you want a saddle that rides the way this did when new, why not replace the leather? You could jump to another saddle design or brand, but it might not do what you want it to, and then you're in the saddle soup, seeking satisfaction in different designs.
09-14-18, 11:26 AM
#18
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09-14-18, 01:44 PM
#19
Jedi Master
I may have done something wrong with the maintenance like over-oiled or got it too wet with rain and sweat. I haven't seen any other reports of people complaining that the GB saddles don't last very long.
09-14-18, 02:29 PM
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I had a Brooks Pro on my Paramount for 37 years. The leather finally was failing, in part because I never Proofided it. Comfortable as all get out. I just bought a Schwinn Superior (Chrome-moly frame, hand fillet-brazed by the merry Paramounters at Schwinn) and would love to have that saddle back, even though it's failing. I may just break down and splurge to get another Professional - the Ti one. Quite dear, but if its as comfortable as my old saddle, wow.
09-14-18, 03:28 PM
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09-15-18, 05:02 AM
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I have a lot of bikes with a lot of different saddles, and my butt doesn't really bother me that much. I rode a full SR series and a 1,200k on this one this year and it was fine, I just liked it better when it was new, so I might get a new cover, which is a nice benefit of this saddle design. I don't really understand your post.
09-17-18, 12:40 AM
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Internet BOB (a google group), post Grant Peterson, now Jan Heine followers,
mostly subscribers to Vintage Bike Quarterly, seem to like them .
and the Compass Bike tires..
Brooks C series all weather, saddles made in Italy (same company as Fizik)
has non metal plastic component parts too..
...
mostly subscribers to Vintage Bike Quarterly, seem to like them .
and the Compass Bike tires..
Brooks C series all weather, saddles made in Italy (same company as Fizik)
has non metal plastic component parts too..
...
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