New saddle order

[johnridley]

This winter my existing saddle, a cheap gel thing that came with the bike, started falling apart, and it's getting steadily worse.

I've been thinking about getting a Brooks saddle for a year or more. I like the idea of an old-school saddle that hasn't changed since 1927, wears itself to fit you, and there are stories of people using them 50 years and then passing them on to their kid.

Prices on these U.K. made saddles are starting to climb sharply due to the declining dollar value, and I figure we have, oh, (consulting BackwardsBush counter) at least 305 days more decline coming (probably more), so I'd better move on this. I found an Amazon marketplace seller that was selling the sprung saddle I've decided on, and I think they neglected to up their prices there; it's $70 on Amazon and $80 on their website. For some reason the shipping is $4.50 on Amazon, and $9 on their site too. Add the fact that I have a $25 gift cert on file at Amazon, and I went that way.

I did order the Brooks leather conditioner at the local bike shop. They're mainly a racing shop so I expect the owner/mechanic to be amused by my heavy, sprung, leather saddle, but I've seen him on the road, and *HE* turns around and goes back to town before he gets to the washboarded gravel that I have to cross to get home.

Comments

[c0nsumer.livejournal.com]

Those are really beautiful saddles. If / when it comes time to replace mine, I'm really going to consider getting one.

That said, I do wonder a bit about the lack of groove down the center...

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Grooves are only necessary if the saddle is padded so as to allow your sit bones to sink in and allow excess pressure to be applied to the soft tissues.

And padding isn't necessary.

It's telling that the people who are the biggest fans of Brooks saddles are the folks who do cross-country and more touring. They sit on their bikes 6 to 10 hours a day for months on end and don't have any problems.