1972 Road bike Saddles
04-15-23, 12:52 PM
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1972 Road bike Saddles
I picked up a 1972 Bottecchia Giro D'Italia today. It is missing the original saddle. First does anyone know what the original saddle was? And second what would be popular options for the time period I could use? Hoping to find something Italian. I am a bit lost on what saddles are 70s vs 80s...
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04-15-23, 01:03 PM
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04-15-23, 01:09 PM
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04-15-23, 01:26 PM
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Remember those 70s days... Wow! Didn't need a seat much then...
All hail the old Stellas...
Not that I could use one now days... Ha
All hail the old Stellas...
Not that I could use one now days... Ha
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04-15-23, 01:47 PM
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I picked up a 1972 Bottecchia Giro D'Italia today. It is missing the original saddle. First does anyone know what the original saddle was? And second what would be popular options for the time period I could use? Hoping to find something Italian. I am a bit lost on what saddles are 70s vs 80s...
The other racing ones are plain plastic Cinelli copies.
My take is a leather padded Cinelli or real Brooks.
Here's my 70's Pro? repaint, no livery, rides great, my size.
04-15-23, 02:07 PM
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04-16-23, 06:07 AM
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Selle Italia Sprint Suede
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...=106&AbsPos=33
Still working after 42 years, and surpisingly comfortable
Edit: With Cyclo loops for the saddle bag.
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...=106&AbsPos=33
Still working after 42 years, and surpisingly comfortable
Edit: With Cyclo loops for the saddle bag.
Last edited by Aardwolf; 04-16-23 at 01:39 PM.
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04-16-23, 06:24 AM
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Love what the brochure says about a "quintuple" free wheel. You can't go wrong with a Brooks saddle.
04-16-23, 08:14 AM
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In my part of the world, Northern California, almost all of the racers and wanna-be racers in 1972 were sitting on Cinelli Unicanitors of one type or another.
Brent
Brent
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04-16-23, 08:58 AM
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Thought I answered this in another thread with pictures. Anyway, here is what was on mine.
P1020429 on Flickr
P1020428 on Flickr
This is what is on it now, from 1971
PXL_20230406_110514222~2, on Flickr
P1020429 on FlickrP1020428 on FlickrThis is what is on it now, from 1971
PXL_20230406_110514222~2, on Flickr
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04-16-23, 08:59 AM
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Selle Italia Sprint Suede
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...=106&AbsPos=33
Still working after 42 years, and surpisingly comfortable
https://velobase.com/ViewComponent.a...=106&AbsPos=33
Still working after 42 years, and surpisingly comfortable
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04-16-23, 09:00 AM
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What Brooks models would be good for this bike and period?
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04-16-23, 09:02 AM
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Thought I answered this in another thread with pictures. Anyway, here is what was on mine.
P1020429 on Flickr
P1020428 on Flickr
This is what is on it now, from 1971
PXL_20230406_110514222~2, on Flickr
P1020429 on FlickrP1020428 on FlickrThis is what is on it now, from 1971
PXL_20230406_110514222~2, on Flickr
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04-16-23, 10:06 AM
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04-16-23, 12:46 PM
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Objection. Witness is mischaracterizing the motives of the saddle.
Having ridden plastic saddles from this era for mumblesomething years on my speedier bikes, I will speak up for the good name of the Freccia D'Oro. Very unlike the similar-looking all-plastic hiney-hatchets used in BMX of that era, the Freccia D'Oro and Unicanitor saddles are generally constructed of a flexible plastic, which can move under the rider's gluteus and provide reasonable comfort, especially as compared to thin-pad hard-pan saddles (I'm lookin' at you, Concor) that don't flex and are actually less-forgiving as the miles roll along.
I will not speculate that a FD'O will provide the comfort level cherished by the Cult of Brooks, but since this isn't P&R I'll stay out of faith-based discussions.
The Freccia D'Oro would be an excellent choice, and apparently model & period correct. I sold one of my Freccias at the Tucson swap on the 2nd, but still have another one.
Having ridden plastic saddles from this era for mumblesomething years on my speedier bikes, I will speak up for the good name of the Freccia D'Oro. Very unlike the similar-looking all-plastic hiney-hatchets used in BMX of that era, the Freccia D'Oro and Unicanitor saddles are generally constructed of a flexible plastic, which can move under the rider's gluteus and provide reasonable comfort, especially as compared to thin-pad hard-pan saddles (I'm lookin' at you, Concor) that don't flex and are actually less-forgiving as the miles roll along.
I will not speculate that a FD'O will provide the comfort level cherished by the Cult of Brooks, but since this isn't P&R I'll stay out of faith-based discussions.
The Freccia D'Oro would be an excellent choice, and apparently model & period correct. I sold one of my Freccias at the Tucson swap on the 2nd, but still have another one.
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https://www.richardcmoeur.com/bikestuf.html
Last edited by RCMoeur; 04-16-23 at 12:49 PM.
04-16-23, 12:52 PM
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The Brooks that fits your butt. 
For me, the Team Pro is the absolute best-in-class, but others prefer the B-17. I also have the Swallow that came with the Carlton -- I am keen to give it a try after I get that project put back together.
For me, the Team Pro is the absolute best-in-class, but others prefer the B-17. I also have the Swallow that came with the Carlton -- I am keen to give it a try after I get that project put back together.
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
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Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
04-16-23, 04:27 PM
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04-16-23, 11:39 PM
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The Pro and he B17 are never wrong from a period-appropriate standpoint. Whether they are right or wrong from a butt-comfort standpoint is a different question, as all butts are different and one person's all-day comfy cloud is another person's ass-hatchett.
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04-17-23, 08:21 AM
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No recommendations but I always loved the name Freccia d’oro. The golden arrow.
Conversely, putting my backside on a golden arrow sounds unpleasant.
Conversely, putting my backside on a golden arrow sounds unpleasant.
04-17-23, 01:00 PM
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As long as the freccia is on the X-axis and not the Y-axis when parking your backside, it shouldn't be too horrible.
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