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Saddle Choice: Brooks Black, Navy, Demin, or _____?

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View Poll Results: Saddle Choice: Brooks Black, Navy, Levis Denim, or _______?
Black Brooks B-17
17
37.78%
Navy Brooks Professional
19
42.22%
Levis Denim Cambium
3
6.67%
Something else?
6
13.33%
Voters: 45. You may not vote on this poll

Saddle Choice: Brooks Black, Navy, Demin, or _____?

Old 01-25-23, 04:03 PM
  #1  
pastorbobnlnh 
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Saddle Choice: Brooks Black, Navy, Demin, or _____?

I'm looking for guidance on saddle selection for my 1975 Schwinn Voyageur II. I recently built it with a Sturmey Archer AM (medium ration) three-speed hub. Over the weekend I unearthed from storage, a better seat post, my navy Brooks Professional, and my Blue Levi Brooks Cambium. I'm faced with four choices:
  1. Black Brooks B-17 with small chrome rivets
  2. Navy Brooks Professional with large copper rivets
  3. Faded Blue Denim Levi Brooks Cambium
  4. Other saddle suggestions
I have ridden it twice with the B-17 for 20+ miles. All things being equal, I find all three saddles comfortable.

If you haven't seen my other posts about this bike, the saddle bag, bar covers, and hoods, they are made of cowhide embossed and dyed to look like alligator skin.

Black Brooks B-17 with small chrome rivets


Navy Brooks Professional with large copper rivets


Levi Denim Blue Brooks Cambium with stainless rivets


What say you?

Last edited by pastorbobnlnh; 01-25-23 at 05:21 PM.
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Old 01-25-23, 04:18 PM
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Blue Pro to accentuate the Disco-skin coverings.
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Old 01-25-23, 04:23 PM
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Copper rivet compliment the sidewalls... but perhaps clash with the chrome a bit. Quite the conundrum.....

loosing the alliteration, B17 w/ silver rivets.
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Old 01-25-23, 04:29 PM
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B17 just clicked for me in the pics

but can't go wrong with any choice
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Old 01-25-23, 04:31 PM
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Sort of like the denim blue saddle with it. Navy blue brooks will weather nicely though and look great as well.

You can’t lose on the choice...
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Old 01-25-23, 04:33 PM
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B17 with chrome rivets looks best for that particular bike. The blue denim Cambium is certainly cool looking but it is way more modern and would need a much sexier seatpost and to not be tilted down to look more normal.
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Old 01-25-23, 04:43 PM
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Concor Supercorsa in Rhino

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Old 01-25-23, 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted by P!N20
Concor Supercorsa in Rhino

A Rhinogator bike! Rhinodile?
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Old 01-25-23, 04:48 PM
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Picked the standard b17 for that bike, but wow, the Levi's version could be the design core for its own build.
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Old 01-25-23, 04:55 PM
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Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
I'm looking for guidance on saddle selection for my 1975 Schwinn Voyageur II. I recently built it with a Sturmey Archer AM (medium ration) three-speed hub. Over the weekend I unearthed from storage, a better seat post, my navy Brooks Professional, and my Blue Levi Brooks Cambium. I'm faced with four choices:
  1. Black Brooks B-17 with small chrome rivets
  2. Navy Brooks Professional with large copper rivets
  3. Faded Blue Denim Levis Brooks Cambium
  4. Other saddle suggestions
I have ridden it twice with the B-17 for 20+ miles. All things being equal, I find all three saddles comfortable.

If you haven't seen my other posts about this bike, the saddle bag, bar covers, and hoods, they are made of cowhide embossed and dyed to look like alligator skin.

Black Brooks B-17 with small chrome rivets


Navy Brooks Professional with large copper rivets


Levis Denim Blue Brooks Cambium with stainless rivets


What say you?
To the Thread Starter: Nice Schwinn! What are your tooth counts for the front and rear sprockets?
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Old 01-25-23, 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by jdawginsc
A Rhinogator bike! Rhinodile?
The rhino is a better runner
The alligator is a better swimmer
So in a triathlon it would come down to who is the better cyclist
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Old 01-25-23, 05:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
To the Thread Starter: Nice Schwinn! What are your tooth counts for the front and rear sprockets?
IIRC, 47T chain ring and 19T sprocket.
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Old 01-25-23, 06:17 PM
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My first thought was the B17 but magnifying the picture I see the blue of the custom bag, hoods and bar wrap that work with the denim saddle better. Ultimately a custom Brooks like saddle done in the same style and color as the other leather components would by the best option. Perhaps B17 frame with new leather for the win🤌🏻
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Old 01-25-23, 07:19 PM
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4. Black Brooks Professional with large copper rivets.

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Old 01-25-23, 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Fredo76
4. Black Brooks Professional with large copper rivets.

I actually have a black Professional with large copper rivets, but it is still in storage.
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Old 01-25-23, 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
IIRC, 47T chain ring and 19T sprocket.
Pastor Bob, do you know if he's using a ⅛" chain?
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Old 01-25-23, 07:56 PM
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So sorry, I didn't read carefully! You ARE the OP!
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Old 01-25-23, 10:57 PM
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Don't worry about the saddle.

GET RID OF THAT BAR TAPE AND BAG! That stuff is heinous!

Last edited by Bad Lag; 01-26-23 at 12:54 PM.
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Old 01-26-23, 05:49 AM
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B17. Beautiful bike!
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Old 01-26-23, 06:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Bad Lag
Don't worry about the saddle.

GET RID OF THAT BAR TAPE AND BAG! That stuff is heinous!
I think it looks cool and not something you buy off the shelf. dude has some mad skills.
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Old 01-26-23, 06:20 AM
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I think I like the Denim! Goes well with the housing. Now if there was something around the crank you could paint the same shade of blue.....
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Old 01-26-23, 07:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Road Fan
Pastor Bob, do you know if he's using a ⅛" chain?
Yes, he's using a 1/8" chain.
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Old 01-26-23, 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by Bad Lag
Don't worry about the saddle.

GET RID OF THAT BAR TAPE AND BAG! That stuff is heinous!
Well, there's no need to SHOUT! Nor be insulting. I only asked about the saddle choice (specifically the color), and not your opinion about my bar wrap, saddle bag, and don't forget the hoods. Can I provide closeup pictures to further tweak your emotional response?



Please visit this thread, Cool and Interesting Bar Tape to read the back story on how the bar wrap, brake lever hoods, and saddle bag, were inspired to be created.
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Old 01-26-23, 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by SJX426
I think I like the Denim! Goes well with the housing. Now if there was something around the crank you could paint the same shade of blue.....
Thank you. I decided to try the denim Cambium because of the brake housing color.

I need to cut up an old pair of jeans and make bar wrap, hoods, and a bag to match the Levi Denim Brooks Cambium.
@cudak888 has a nifty chrome or polished aluminum chainguard he's offered that might work, especially with the shade of blue painted on it to highlight portions of the guard.

However, I'm really enjoying riding this bike as it is pictured. With the AM hub, which has the aluminum shell, it is a lightweight, fast, and energetic ride--- here on my flat coastal island. I also don't want to cover up the cool 1950s Schwinn crankset.


Should I make a chain stay slap guard to match? Of course, it would not serve any purpose other than aesthetics.
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Last edited by pastorbobnlnh; 01-26-23 at 07:38 AM.
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Old 01-26-23, 07:41 AM
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Originally Posted by pastorbobnlnh
Thank you. I decided to try the denim Cambium because of the brake housing color.

I need to cut up an old pair of jeans and make bar wrap, hoods, and a bag to match the Levi Denim Brooks Cambium.
@cudak888 has a nifty chrome or polished aluminum chainguard he's offered that might work, especially with the shade of blue painted on it to highlight portions of the guard.

However, I'm really enjoying riding this bike as it is pictured. With the AM hub, which has the aluminum shell, it is a lightweight, fast, and energetic ride--- here on my flat coastal island. I also don't want to cover up the cool 1950s Schwinn crankset.


Should I make a chain stay slap guard to match? Of course, it would not serve any purpose other than aesthetics.
Absolutely yes. And I love the wrap and bags. They are tooooo cooolll!
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