Affordable leather saddles?
#51
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,621
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1666 Post(s)
Liked 1,818 Times
in
1,057 Posts
"Some folks don't believe that the Taiwanese can make stuff as well as the British did, but there's no factual basis for that belief, and in many cases this attitude may be traced to racism." - Sheldon Brown
#52
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 16,874
Bikes: 1980 Masi, 1984 Mondonico, 1984 Trek 610, 1980 Woodrup Giro, 2005 Mondonico Futura Leggera ELOS, 1967 PX10E, 1971 Peugeot UO-8
Mentioned: 49 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1856 Post(s)
Liked 664 Times
in
506 Posts
I bought one Gyes about 10 years ago, a return/re-sell from Velo Orange, Model 6. I got rid of it because the leather, as thick as it may be, did not suspend me. I was either pushing back against the cantle, or sagging into the saddle. I tried adding screw tension, and with just a fraction of a turn it turned into a a@@ hatchet. It may have a been a fluke of bad leather, but I don't see why I should chance it. Any case, I've not stumbled across them anywhere but V-O. S-A would be my go-to.
#54
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,621
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1666 Post(s)
Liked 1,818 Times
in
1,057 Posts
I think this place in the UK has rebranded Gyes saddles...
Likes For tcs:
#55
señor miembro
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: Pac NW
Posts: 6,623
Bikes: '70s - '80s Campagnolo
Mentioned: 92 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3886 Post(s)
Liked 6,480 Times
in
3,206 Posts
Definitely. I had a Cardiff that was exactly like my Gyes. The imprint on the skirt was the only difference.
And yes, they are really hard. Maybe terribly difficult to break-in. But I kind of like 'em that way.
And yes, they are really hard. Maybe terribly difficult to break-in. But I kind of like 'em that way.
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Utah
Posts: 8,671
Bikes: Paletti,Pinarello Monviso,Duell Vienna,Giordana XL Super,Lemond Maillot Juane.& custom,PDG Paramount,Fuji Opus III,Davidson Impulse,Pashley Guv'nor,Evans,Fishlips,Y-Foil,Softride, Tetra Pro, CAAD8 Optimo,
Mentioned: 156 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2323 Post(s)
Liked 4,988 Times
in
1,776 Posts
I must too, LOL! To be honest about my situation and saddles. I hardly ever take the same bike out twice in a row. I really do ride all those bikes I have. So I never get used to one saddle. What I have found is that the most comfortable to me are the Brooks Swallow and Gyes equivalent, the Fizik Kurve saddles and the flat style fabric Scoops. I can tolerate some other's like the various flat Flite models but I tend to stick to the ones that work for me. A lot of other saddles are just butt hatchets to me. But (pun intended, LOL!) on those days when my bottom is just sore or whatever I usually grab either a Brook or Gyes equipped bike to give myself the ultimate comfort. For me they both seem to ride the same, couldn't say one is harder than the other. Oh and I hate, I say hate the old Turbo saddles. Ugh pure torture past the first 5 miles or so.
__________________
Steel is real...and comfy.
Steel is real...and comfy.
#57
Newbie
Just be aware that some of the cheaper leather saddles splay out quite a bit after some moderate use, while the more expensive saddles tend to retain their shape. It seems that you get what you pay for. I agree that if you are patient, you may find a deal on a lightly used leather saddle from a good brand (Brooks, Rivet, Selle Anatomica). Good luck.
#58
Go Ride!
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Minnesota—55346
Posts: 268
Bikes: Klein Quantum Pro, Klein Attitude, Azuki SS, Merckx AXM, Klein Quantum Race, Klein Quantum
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 155 Times
in
87 Posts
x2.
Just be aware that some of the cheaper leather saddles splay out quite a bit after some moderate use, while the more expensive saddles tend to retain their shape. It seems that you get what you pay for. I agree that if you are patient, you may find a deal on a lightly used leather saddle from a good brand (Brooks, Rivet, Selle Anatomica). Good luck.
Just be aware that some of the cheaper leather saddles splay out quite a bit after some moderate use, while the more expensive saddles tend to retain their shape. It seems that you get what you pay for. I agree that if you are patient, you may find a deal on a lightly used leather saddle from a good brand (Brooks, Rivet, Selle Anatomica). Good luck.
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Down Under
Posts: 1,936
Bikes: A steel framed 26" off road tourer from a manufacturer who thinks they are cool. Giant Anthem. Trek 720 Multiroad pub bike. 10 kids bikes all under 20". Assorted waifs and unfinished projects.
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1188 Post(s)
Liked 1,154 Times
in
640 Posts
It appears there are a lot of used suspended-leather saddles on secondhand-sites that are “splayed out” as you put it. Is this primarily from not adjusting the tension tighter as the seat stretches? Riding when the seat is wet? Can the splay be corrected with tightening and water-soak re-shaping?
Solution: Lace it across the bottom.
Lacing adds another variable to seat shape and can be useful for tuning a saddle for fit..
As for breaking in a Gyes, let it get a bit damp while riding then hit it with Nikwax water based wax while still damp. Reapply every now and again, after a while you'll notice it on soaks in at pressure points like sit bones, eventually even they'll become waterproof. That'll keep it's shape because dry leather doesn't stretch. They don't tend to stretch much anyway because of the reinforcing, but still need a bit of initial re-tensioning.
#60
Phyllo-buster
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,847
Bikes: roadsters, club bikes, fixed and classic
Mentioned: 133 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2298 Post(s)
Liked 2,054 Times
in
1,254 Posts
It appears there are a lot of used suspended-leather saddles on secondhand-sites that are “splayed out” as you put it. Is this primarily from not adjusting the tension tighter as the seat stretches? Riding when the seat is wet? Can the splay be corrected with tightening and water-soak re-shaping?
#61
Extraordinary Magnitude
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Waukesha WI
Posts: 13,646
Bikes: 1978 Trek TX700; 1978/79 Trek 736; 1984 Specialized Stumpjumper Sport; 1984 Schwinn Voyageur SP; 1985 Trek 620; 1985 Trek 720; 1986 Trek 400 Elance; 1987 Schwinn High Sierra; 1990 Miyata 1000LT
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2608 Post(s)
Liked 1,699 Times
in
935 Posts
This thread pushed me in the opposite direction and I just bought a Berthoud.
__________________
*Recipient of the 2006 Time Magazine "Person Of The Year" Award*
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Commence to jigglin’ huh?!?!
"But hey, always love to hear from opinionated amateurs." -says some guy to Mr. Marshall.
Likes For The Golden Boy:
Likes For Germany_chris:
#63
Banned
I paid more than $20 for a Brooks saddle in 1971 and paid another $15 to have a friend remove the rivits and soften the leather and then re-revit it to the saddle frame. With inflation that would be equavalent to spending $245 today for this saddle. I still have the saddle and the custom frame bike and the I paid $150 to have the frame made and another $450 for Campy components and wheels and Phil Woods bottom bracket or a total of more than $600 which would be equivalent to spending $4,100 today.
I put a premium on a good saddle that I will be sitting on for thousands of hours. What are grossly overpriced are the saddles with all plastic construction that sell for $120 or more.
I put a premium on a good saddle that I will be sitting on for thousands of hours. What are grossly overpriced are the saddles with all plastic construction that sell for $120 or more.
#64
Junior Member
Thread Starter
This is OP again. I ended up getting a slightly used Brooks saddle in the end. Compared to the cheap plastic and foam saddles I'm used to, it seems pretty bulky and large, but time will tell how it feels in use.
I don't deny that in leather items, price pretty much goes hand in hand with quality. This goes for shoes, briefcases, belts, leather jackets etc. so quite naturally the same basic principles apply to bicycle saddles too.
For example, I recently uncovered an old pair of BBS brand leather handlebar grips I bought several years ago and had in storage for along time. The thin leather wrapped around the foam underneath was all wrinkly and appeared to have grown black mold spots that I couldn't get out I think the leather is bonded, and when trying to clean it, I actually sanded away the plastic coating and exposed the leather-based material underneath. I think the foam under the leather has been slightly damp when I put them into a box, and so the leather has molded from inside out
I don't deny that in leather items, price pretty much goes hand in hand with quality. This goes for shoes, briefcases, belts, leather jackets etc. so quite naturally the same basic principles apply to bicycle saddles too.
For example, I recently uncovered an old pair of BBS brand leather handlebar grips I bought several years ago and had in storage for along time. The thin leather wrapped around the foam underneath was all wrinkly and appeared to have grown black mold spots that I couldn't get out I think the leather is bonded, and when trying to clean it, I actually sanded away the plastic coating and exposed the leather-based material underneath. I think the foam under the leather has been slightly damp when I put them into a box, and so the leather has molded from inside out
#65
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Port Dover Ontario Canada
Posts: 1,543
Bikes: 1965 Dilecta Le Blanc, 1956 Royal Nord, 1972 Raleigh Sports, 1972 CCM Turismo,1976 SuperCycle Excalibur, 2014 Salsa Vaya, 2017 Felt DD70, 2019 Giant Lafree and others
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 351 Post(s)
Liked 590 Times
in
228 Posts
A couple of years ago I bought a B17 Aged. The leather is a little softer to start and it comes with lacing to help retain its shape. I have it on my 1965 Dilecta LeBlanc where it doesn't get excessive use, but is comfortable for a longer ride. It also just looks great.
__________________
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
We are what we reflect. We are the changes that we bring to this world. Ride often. -Geo.-
#66
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Really nice! I would have thought that coming pre-laced would be a negative sign for a saddle, but I guess not
#67
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,621
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1666 Post(s)
Liked 1,818 Times
in
1,057 Posts
#68
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,621
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1666 Post(s)
Liked 1,818 Times
in
1,057 Posts
Having read Consumer Reports for the last half-century, I've seen innumerable items that were expensive for no measurable reason, and other goods that punched well above their weight class.
#69
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Posts: 40,502
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 511 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7348 Post(s)
Liked 2,465 Times
in
1,433 Posts
These are exceptions that prove the rule. They are not a guarantee that you can always get something good for less than the going rate.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Likes For noglider:
#70
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,695
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,528 Times
in
916 Posts
I've had good and bad results with Brooks, Rivet, Ideale, and Selle AnAtomica. I would go back to all, maybe not Rivet. The best in recent times have been Brooks, Ideale, and S-A.
I bought one Gyes about 10 years ago, a return/re-sell from Velo Orange, Model 6. I got rid of it because the leather, as thick as it may be, did not suspend me. I was either pushing back against the cantle, or sagging into the saddle. I tried adding screw tension, and with just a fraction of a turn it turned into a a@@ hatchet. It may have a been a fluke of bad leather, but I don't see why I should chance it. Any case, I've not stumbled across them anywhere but V-O. S-A would be my go-to.
I bought one Gyes about 10 years ago, a return/re-sell from Velo Orange, Model 6. I got rid of it because the leather, as thick as it may be, did not suspend me. I was either pushing back against the cantle, or sagging into the saddle. I tried adding screw tension, and with just a fraction of a turn it turned into a a@@ hatchet. It may have a been a fluke of bad leather, but I don't see why I should chance it. Any case, I've not stumbled across them anywhere but V-O. S-A would be my go-to.
#71
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,800
Bikes: Lots of English 3-speeds, a couple of old road bikes, 3 mountain bikes, 1 hybrid, and a couple of mash-ups
Mentioned: 53 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 887 Post(s)
Liked 335 Times
in
225 Posts
I have two VO sprung saddles and one B-17ish saddle that I assume were Gyes built. I have one of the sprung saddles on a three speed that I ride regularly. Maybe it's because it is sprung, but it is quite comfortable; the second sprung saddle is waiting for another build. I bought both during a VO sale for $40 each, so I am happy.
The third saddle reminds me of a Fujita "Belt" and that thing is hard. It was most likely Gyes built as well and I got it for $8 new without a box at a swap.
The third saddle reminds me of a Fujita "Belt" and that thing is hard. It was most likely Gyes built as well and I got it for $8 new without a box at a swap.
#73
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,629
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 98 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3871 Post(s)
Liked 2,568 Times
in
1,579 Posts
So I took a look at the Gyes website. Generally it's obvious which Brooks models they're trying to replicate, but I'm curious about a couple: does the GS-19 map to the Pro, and the GS-24 to the B17 Narrow, or is it the other way around? Sometimes it's hard to gauge the roundness of the tops from online pictures.
Thanks!
Thanks!
#75
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
Interesting how little love here for selle anatomica saddles. I like the "classic" model (without a cutout) a lot and use it on two bikes: a 70s Fuji Finest and a 1982 Peugeot PXN 10. The Fuji has seen a lot of miles. I found that saddle comfortable from the start. I just mounted one on the Peugeot and took it out on a 25 mile ride yesterday. It's a neat saddle. I like Brooks pros as well but the SA saddle has nice long rails and is available with a cast aluminum frame (steel rails) if you want to save some weight (80 grams).