Giant Squid

I have a 1985 Palo Alto (Contract built by Biemezetta of Italy for Palo Alto bike shop, according to someone on these forums in 2008) that was handed down to me by my dad when I went off to college. He bought it from their catalogue in '85. When I got it in 2008 I replaced the original disintegrating saddle with a modern Bontrager a bike shop had in a basket for $20. I'm thinking of putting a period correct saddle back on and since the bike has some Cinelli bars I thought a Cinelli saddle would be appropriate. It also has this really annoying Raleigh branded seat post that is the biggest pain in the world to adjust the seat position. Wouldn't mind replacing that too if for no other reason than contempt for it.

Doesn't have to be Cinelli but what brands and models of saddles should I be looking for to stay period correct? Even if its a new seat using old spec's is fine with me, is that what they call "new old stock"?



This is the bike after a cleaning in about 2009. Incorrect Dia-Compe brake hoods on Shimano 600 levers too. Looks exactly the same now just in need of another cleaning.

Lattz

Slap a Turbo (normal, no Matic or Super), Concor or a Rolls on it and call it a day.

EDIT: if you want to be true to the bike as well, get an Avocet, see the catalog:
https://velobase.com/Resource_Tools/..._alto_1984.pdf

Pompiere

Avocet saddles were around then, so a Racing model would look good. I bought my Touring model in 1986. Pick whichever one fits your backside.

Big Block

use the 1984/85 Palo Alto Bicycles catalog on Velobase

Bianchigirll 

Great looking bicycle

I'm not huge on "period correct" or OEM saddles. Even the original owner might change a saddle. Put something confotable on it that you like. A good leather is almost always a good choice

1989Pre

A white Iscaselle Tornado

P!N20

Concor Supercorsa

Chombi1 

1985 saw a lot of Selle Italia Turbo saddles on race bikes which included whole teams that used it on the Pro Circuit.
The Concors were also popular, but not as much as a turbo as not as many people fit well on them and they had much less padding than the Turbos..

pastorbobnlnh 

If an Avocet Racing model is in contention, there's the 'Gatorcet that I recovered over the winter. It originally looked like this:

Before I turned it into this:


The blue and black stamped cowhide would look good with your blue paint. Let me know if you are interested.

Ironfish653

New Old Stock (NOS) is original, vintage production, that never got sold/installed. "New" in that it's never been used, but "Old" in that it got made a long time ago.

Above suggestions of Avocet Touring, Selle Rolls or Turbo are all good choices

Selle is making reproduction (ie; New) Turbo saddles, if you don't want to buy used; although they're lower-spec (steel rail, synthetic cover) than the originals.

Robvolz 

I 3rd the Avocet recommendation. There is a connection with Palo Alto cycles.

And rather comfortable.

himespau 

Because I find them comfortable, I'd go with a Selle San Marco Regal or Rolls. Or a Brooks Swallow/Swift.

Giant Squid

Thats the word I was thinking of, reproduction! I'm leaning towards looking for an Avocet, but this bike is already a Frankenstein of non-matching parts so I'm in a toss up between keeping it frankenstein or Avocet cousin.

These are all good suggestions from everyone though. Might skip that gator skin seat though, appreciate the offer though.

genejockey 

My 1985 Centurion Ironman was originally sold with a Turbo saddle, so there's another data point. BUT I don't run it with either the original "Hinault" model Turbo, or the modern reproduction one I bought, because they're not that great a fit for me. I run a Fizik Aliante VSX instead, because it DOES fit me.

My take is like someone's above - BITD, when you bought a bike, you wouldn't necessarily stick with the saddle it came with, especially if you ride a lot. You'd find one that would keep you comfy for all the miles your legs could manage. So swapping out a saddle is still period correct, even if the saddle isn't.

merziac

BROOKS, period appropriate for over 150 years.

DiabloScott

Concor for racy old-school looks.
Rolls for comfort and classy looks.

Schweinhund

PB! Tellin 'ya, there's bunch of cool going on there! Did you make the bar tape too?

SurferRosa

Same. My new $70 1980 Turbo reproduction looks fantastic and is just fine on short rides. But I'd much rather be on a Rolls or Brooks Pro on anything around 25 miles or more.

pastorbobnlnh 

Thank you. Yes, I made the the bar wrap (not tape, but stitched on), the bag, and the saddle cover. I rode the saddle three times for a total of about 75 miles, and found it too butt-numbing. Mine is a pure Brooks bootie. Check out this thread for more info on the 'Gatorcet and the other items I made.

The Golden Boy 

The Avocet saddles are great, and they're like $25 on eBay all the time. They were made, pretty much unchanged, for a decade or so, and on bikes from entry level to pretty high end- so there's LOTS of them out there.

For as omnipresent and inexpensive as the Avocet saddles are, they're really, really good.

FWIW- the "W" saddles are designed as women's saddles- ostensibly for wider sit bones. The Touring II is just a great all around saddle. I got a Brooks Cambium to replace the Avocet Touring II on my 86 Trek- after going back and forth, I still really like the Avocet so I kept it on there.

bikingshearer 

San Marco Rolls saddles are certainly period-correct and are on all my bikes because they work well for my butt. Everyone's butt is different (or so I'm told; I do not have first-hand information on that) and YMMV.

I have an old Brooks Pro and a brand-new Brooks B17 for when I decide to mix things up, but I generally don't mess with contact points now that I have found things that work for me.