Affordable leather saddles?
#26
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To be honest I'm not sure where to source them anymore other than Ebay. Crow Cycle used to be my go to source for them but they seem to be gone now.
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#28
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Yep, Velo Orange used to sell them with their name also. Not sure why they aren't as distributed as they were. Maybe the Brooks "mystique" makes them unmarketable?
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#29
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I used to believe this too until the Gyes. Now having running both brands amongst the bikes for many years I just don't believe this anymore. With my 33" bike inseam on a 68" body I need a lot of setback on most of my bikes to keep the old knees happy. The short rails on the Brooks always caused me problems with normal setback seatpost which is why I originally went looking for a solution. If Brooks would lengthen their rails I bet they get more customers.
#31
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I love leather saddles and I almost always buy them used. Used ones look better, are more comfortable and are cheaper. I generally pay €20 - €50, depending on condition, at swap meets and online. The trick, I find, is to keep an eye out and buy them whenever they come up for sale, and not wait until you actually need them.
My favorite is probably this well-used Brooks Pro which came off a €60 donor bike ten years ago, and has been on various L'Eroica bikes since then. It has just the right color, shape and wear for me:
The only exceptions are the B17S Imperials mrs non-fixie has come to love. I've not been able to find them used so far, but at ~ €90 new, I think they're a pretty good investment.Come to think of it, buying anything mrs non-fixie likes has turned out to be a pretty good investment.
My favorite is probably this well-used Brooks Pro which came off a €60 donor bike ten years ago, and has been on various L'Eroica bikes since then. It has just the right color, shape and wear for me:
The only exceptions are the B17S Imperials mrs non-fixie has come to love. I've not been able to find them used so far, but at ~ €90 new, I think they're a pretty good investment.Come to think of it, buying anything mrs non-fixie likes has turned out to be a pretty good investment.
#32
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I'm glad to hear that Gyes saddles are good. But I still haven't regretted any of the Brooks saddles I've bought. When I came back to cycling and found bikeforums, I thought people sounded silly talking about how they loved Brooks. I thought, come on, the world has moved on, and we've invented better saddles. But then I came to realize that there's nothing I like as much.
I've bought more than I needed and now I have a stash of them. They may die of mold before I get to use them all. Come to think of it, I think I will take out of the barn and find space for them in a closet.
I see what you did there.
I've bought more than I needed and now I have a stash of them. They may die of mold before I get to use them all. Come to think of it, I think I will take out of the barn and find space for them in a closet.
I see what you did there.
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#33
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Wow, so many new replies! Thanks guys, much appreciated.
I found an old French saddle which would be pretty close to what my bike was originally sold with, but unfortunately pics provided by the seller show how the shiny black finish has crackled a lot, revealing brown leather underneath, and the sides have pulled up meaning it has lost its shape. For 20 €, I'm not sure if it's worth the go. Also keeping an eye on a couple of near-mint second hand Brooks examples, waiting for the seller to answer to my bargaining effort
I found an old French saddle which would be pretty close to what my bike was originally sold with, but unfortunately pics provided by the seller show how the shiny black finish has crackled a lot, revealing brown leather underneath, and the sides have pulled up meaning it has lost its shape. For 20 €, I'm not sure if it's worth the go. Also keeping an eye on a couple of near-mint second hand Brooks examples, waiting for the seller to answer to my bargaining effort
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#34
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I will say I find the Fizik Kurves to feel pretty close to the leather saddles with out they feel to my bum.
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#35
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Not sure what that poster on YACF is going on about with the Lepper but I have two Lepper Tourer saddles on high mileage, wet weather, bikes right now and am considering buying a third before they run out. (The company has gone bankrupt in 2020 and the machines have been sold off)
The leather is thicker than Brooks and so is the frame.
I have the exact same complaint about a Brooks B17 Imperial. Sagging to the point of the leather hitting the frame with the additional issues of broken frames.
Sounds to me like he overstretched the leather so it is failing quicker than usual. Then again, YMMV
As others have said, leather saddles are a very personal item.
The leather is thicker than Brooks and so is the frame.
I have the exact same complaint about a Brooks B17 Imperial. Sagging to the point of the leather hitting the frame with the additional issues of broken frames.
Sounds to me like he overstretched the leather so it is failing quicker than usual. Then again, YMMV
As others have said, leather saddles are a very personal item.
#36
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I used to believe this too until the Gyes. Now having running both brands amongst the bikes for many years I just don't believe this anymore. With my 33" bike inseam on a 68" body I need a lot of setback on most of my bikes to keep the old knees happy. The short rails on the Brooks always caused me problems with normal setback seatpost which is why I originally went looking for a solution. If Brooks would lengthen their rails I bet they get more customers.
#37
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Wow, so many new replies! Thanks guys, much appreciated.
I found an old French saddle which would be pretty close to what my bike was originally sold with, but unfortunately pics provided by the seller show how the shiny black finish has crackled a lot, revealing brown leather underneath, and the sides have pulled up meaning it has lost its shape. For 20 €, I'm not sure if it's worth the go. Also keeping an eye on a couple of near-mint second hand Brooks examples, waiting for the seller to answer to my bargaining effort
I found an old French saddle which would be pretty close to what my bike was originally sold with, but unfortunately pics provided by the seller show how the shiny black finish has crackled a lot, revealing brown leather underneath, and the sides have pulled up meaning it has lost its shape. For 20 €, I'm not sure if it's worth the go. Also keeping an eye on a couple of near-mint second hand Brooks examples, waiting for the seller to answer to my bargaining effort
Good saddle discussion. I'll try a Gyes if I see one.
Edit non-fixie nice B17S, I can ride that. Nice early tribute to Bunnie Wailer too.
Last edited by clubman; 03-24-21 at 09:46 PM.
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#38
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I'm glad to hear that Gyes saddles are good. But I still haven't regretted any of the Brooks saddles I've bought. When I came back to cycling and found bikeforums, I thought people sounded silly talking about how they loved Brooks. I thought, come on, the world has moved on, and we've invented better saddles. But then I came to realize that there's nothing I like as much.
I've bought more than I needed and now I have a stash of them. They may die of mold before I get to use them all. Come to think of it, I think I will take out of the barn and find space for them in a closet.
I see what you did there.
I've bought more than I needed and now I have a stash of them. They may die of mold before I get to use them all. Come to think of it, I think I will take out of the barn and find space for them in a closet.
I see what you did there.
That was entirely unintended.
#39
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Do you have any experience with the Gilles Berthoud saddles (out of Montreal?) I bought mine exactly for the reasons you mention—Brooks were too short for all the positions you need for distance travelling. If these Gyes are long lasting and comparable to the Gilles maybe I can save $ on my next build. ....Gilles are spectacular though as that one “go to” saddle.
#40
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I think this place in the UK has rebranded Gyes saddles. If you have the need for a saddle bag or something else, then the bundled shipping can def be worth it.
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m18b0s20...addles-Leather
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m18b0s20...addles-Leather
#41
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Do you have any experience with the Gilles Berthoud saddles (out of Montreal?) I bought mine exactly for the reasons you mention—Brooks were too short for all the positions you need for distance travelling. If these Gyes are long lasting and comparable to the Gilles maybe I can save $ on my next build. ....Gilles are spectacular though as that one “go to” saddle.
#42
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Do you have any experience with the Gilles Berthoud saddles (out of Montreal?) I bought mine exactly for the reasons you mention—Brooks were too short for all the positions you need for distance travelling. If these Gyes are long lasting and comparable to the Gilles maybe I can save $ on my next build. ....Gilles are spectacular though as that one “go to” saddle.
https://berthoudcycles.fr/en/
==
I bought my first about 6 weeks ago and and ordered another two days ago so I'm sold on them
#43
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#44
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Interesting that much more people are now coming out with positive reviews on the Gyes saddles.
I still remember how many quite hated the saddle, the first few years it was issued in the bike market, with the biggest complaint, being, the saddle was almost impossible to break in, because of the fabric reinforcing bonded to the bottom of the leather seemed to keep the leather rock hard, permanently.
How come I don't hear this mentioned on this thread? Did Gyes do something different to get rid of this problem??
I still remember how many quite hated the saddle, the first few years it was issued in the bike market, with the biggest complaint, being, the saddle was almost impossible to break in, because of the fabric reinforcing bonded to the bottom of the leather seemed to keep the leather rock hard, permanently.
How come I don't hear this mentioned on this thread? Did Gyes do something different to get rid of this problem??
#45
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Interesting that much more people are now coming out with positive reviews on the Gyes saddles.
I still remember how many quite hated the saddle, the first few years it was issued in the bike market, with the biggest complaint, being, the saddle was almost impossible to break in, because of the fabric reinforcing bonded to the bottom of the leather seemed to keep the leather rock hard, permanently.
How come I don't hear this mentioned on this thread? Did Gyes do something different to get rid of this problem??
I still remember how many quite hated the saddle, the first few years it was issued in the bike market, with the biggest complaint, being, the saddle was almost impossible to break in, because of the fabric reinforcing bonded to the bottom of the leather seemed to keep the leather rock hard, permanently.
How come I don't hear this mentioned on this thread? Did Gyes do something different to get rid of this problem??
I've got a Guv'nor on order that will be coming with a Brooks Ti railed saddle. In my mind I'm already wondering if I'll need to swap in the Gyes for no other reason than to get enough setback. I did go with the "larger" 22.5 Guv'nor based on common fit guidance so in this case the frame may work for me with a Brooks.
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#46
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I think this place in the UK has rebranded Gyes saddles. If you have the need for a saddle bag or something else, then the bundled shipping can def be worth it.
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m18b0s20...addles-Leather
https://www.spacycles.co.uk/m18b0s20...addles-Leather
Awesome, good find!!!!!!!
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#47
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Has anyone heard of/tried the Creme Cycles Speedy Saddle? I've only seen them at Mike's Bikes here in the U.S. but I think they're available from the Creme Cycles site in Europe and maybe the U.K.?
(Couldn't post the links because I'm a newbie)
(Couldn't post the links because I'm a newbie)
#48
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eBay is always worth a look. I bought a decent looking "Ideale" saddle on there a few years ago for like $10. I use quotes because either the leather had been replaced or it was never an Ideale in the first place (No embossed logo/model on the leather, no nameplate on the back, etc).
It's a pretty comfortable saddle though!
It's a pretty comfortable saddle though!
#49
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#50
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In the long run I just buy a Brooks that suits the bike and admire how good it feels and looks. I just tried a perfect looking Czech saddle recently and it will never be supportive or shaped the way I want. I almost always take them off before I sell a bike. I even bought a new B67 for my new Giant ebike.
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Last edited by browngw; 03-25-21 at 09:14 PM.
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