Cycling UK Forum

I fitted a Brooks Cambium C17 to the bike today and took off for a ride.

These are my first thoughts:

The saddle is beautifully constructed. It feels very solid, but it's lighter than the old B17. It's distinctive looking with it's unusually textured top, and I think very stylish and sleek. The rubber moulding allows for a more cut away line than the B17, though the sitting area seems almost the same.
To ride it feels like a half-broken-in Brooks, That is that the shape is just like the B17 but it's much firmer than a fully broken-in saddle (the reason I'd decided to replace the B17 was because mine just didn't seem to stop stretching and the leather was too soft - I was finding that the frame was starting to distort too). The shock of the firmness didn't last long. I went on a three hour ride along muddy tracks and hilly back roads and fast main roads and pretty much forgot the saddle was there, it was very good. One of the best improvements I noticed was that where I chose to perch my bum is where my bum stayed. It's grippy and there's no sliding about. Also it got splattered with wet mud, and it didn't matter cos this is a Brooks that is weather and water resistant! I like it a lot.

Thanks for that review Colin.

I saw when these were previewed on Brooks web site. I am interested to try one but can't really justify the new price , so will wait till a few second hand ones come up.

I applied to get on the trial programme but no luck.

The Mechanic wrote:I applied to get on the trial programme but no luck.

And me...

A quick update. I've been riding the Cambium for several weeks now and I've not found a single thing to complain about. It's the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden on. I much prefer it to the B17. T'is a piece of classy kit.

Some time ago I read several negative reviews and was put-off". Main negatives related to the textured finish.

Comments were made about how the texture holds water when wet and allows dirt to collect in the material.
Also, comments were made about it being very high wear on clothes.

These were from people claiming to use them.

I suspect the C15 might be my ideal saddle (though having never even tried a C17 I suspect the superb looks might be biassing me). Are the negative comments justified in any way or are they just part of the "you can read anything you want to hear on the internet".

Ian

I was slightly worried about the texture of the finish affecting clothing, but it hasn't. I can't comment on whether the cotton finish will hold water as mine hasn't become wet.

I suspect that the colour will change and that dirt could become ingrained, but equally I reckon that it could be easily cleaned with a little detergent if that's a problem.

I too had heard a few doubts, but I'm as happy as Larry.

Colin63 wrote:I can't comment on whether the cotton finish will hold water as mine hasn't become wet.

I suppose you could always give it some Proofhide

Hi Colin

I have bought a Canbium and tried it on a couple of bikes, but I am a 100% Brooks B17 rider, I hoped it would be the same but currently find it too firm, I have only done a couple of short rides but ready to call it a day with mine and stick with the B17, has the C17 improved in comfort, I was under the impression there is no breaking in period with the C17

It hasn't become more comfortable, but I sit better on it than I did on the B17, on which I slipped around. The longest time I've ridden it is about 5 hours - last weekend, out in the rolling hills northwest of Lancaster. Even when tired I remained perched on the back.

Thanks Colin, I will let mine go, its sightly too firm for my likings, although I wouldn*t take my comments as critical, I really do like the Canbium, but I have had lightweight bikes, with skinny tyres and hard little saddles, ridden them happily for hours, but I now ride a cross/touring frame, wider tyres, B17 and saddlebag and stubbornly unwilling to compromise any of that comfort

I tried one yesterday, thinking that it offered some key advantages over the B17 I use at present (longer rails, waterproof, no mucking about with the tension).

I must have got lucky with my B17, which feels a little like a comfy armchair. The Cambium, on the other hand, felt too wide, a bit too bouncy, and too hard. I hated it after 100 yards, and 10 miles later I was of the same opinion. 100 miles on this thing is not gooing to do me any good. Put the B17 back on and was instantly reminded of why I've been using it for the last year.

Maybe the C15 will work a little better for me, but I'm not as eager to try it as I was. It's just a shame that the rails on the B17 are so short.

Richard D wrote:I tried one yesterday, thinking that it offered some key advantages over the B17 I use at present (longer rails, waterproof, no mucking about with the tension).

I must have got lucky with my B17, which feels a little like a comfy armchair. The Cambium, on the other hand, felt too wide, a bit too bouncy, and too hard. I hated it after 100 yards, and 10 miles later I was of the same opinion. 100 miles on this thing is not gooing to do me any good. Put the B17 back on and was instantly reminded of why I've been using it for the last year.

Maybe the C15 will work a little better for me, but I'm not as eager to try it as I was. It's just a shame that the rails on the B17 are so short.

Out of interest why do you feel its too wide?

Because it felt that way? And - FWVLIW - it looked a little wider than how my B17 looks. Maybe the B17 I have has broken in that way, but it fits my bum; the C17 *felt* wider - perhaps because it doesn't give in the same way in the same places.

I hate the fact that the B17 so restricts what seatposts I can use, and how I can mount/adjust them on my particular bike. I just wish that I could find another saddle that still felt OK to sit on after 100 miles like the B17 does.

Richard D wrote:Because it felt that way? And - FWVLIW - it looked a little wider than how my B17 looks. Maybe the B17 I have has broken in that way, but it fits my bum; the C17 *felt* wider - perhaps because it doesn't give in the same way in the same places.

I hate the fact that the B17 so restricts what seatposts I can use, and how I can mount/adjust them on my particular bike. I just wish that I could find another saddle that still felt OK to sit on after 100 miles like the B17 does.

You can always try the Spa"Nidd" saddle which has the same dimensions as the B17 but has longer rails.