Cycling UK Forum

WrightsW5 wrote:I wonder how many saddles from the Birmingham companies had holes that were actually meant for lacing? I think some of the Mansfields did but those around the side edges of Brooks, Wrights etc are said to be just perforated decoration by some. Saddles I have seen with definate lace holes don't seem to have them at the edge, unless the saddle is so narrow that they have to.

I've never laced across a saddle myself, but it always occurs to me that the laces would be fouled by the seat-pin and clamp - and therefore the lacing would have to be done with the saddle fitted to the bike. Is there a problem with the lacing which comes already threaded on the Spa saddle?

I'm very interested in all the comments about the comfort and breaking in of the Spa saddles. I've never had that problem with the Brooks, although my latest Brooks Pro (from about 5-years ago), which I've not yet ridden, does seem as though it's going to be the first that will be a problem. I've ridden brand new Brooks on 150 mile rides and never had a comfort problem.

I did a B10 and the positioning was ok.

[quote="WrightsW5..............I did a B10 and the positioning was ok.[/quote]

................yes, that looks OK - but I've since looked at my saddles which are further back on the seat-pin, and I find that any lace positioning would be much further forward on the saddle - or much further back. This is exacerbated by the clamps on my seat-pins, which are quite a lot longer than the traditional separate clamps that you show.

I've applied proofide today for the first time and it really really soaked it in.. It's getting really nice and I might order another for my road bike once this is broken in..

Anyone else's nidd rattling on the front clamp????

Something needs to be loose for it to rattle?....
If the tension bolt is creaking, a blob of Proofide in the right spot might quieten it.

Another source of creaking can be between the nosepiece and the leather around it. Easy to get some Proofide down the gap with a small artist's brush, especially melted Proofide.

gentlegreen wrote:I've a feeling the Nidd suits me less well than the Brooks - it seems to be a bit convex whereas I'm rather broad of beam and at the end of a 25 mile ride I was feeling uncomfortable contact in the perineal area

I too prefer the flatness of the B17 to the more rounded Nidd. I am advised that the Aire is more like the B17.

Some pictures and review of the Nidd
http://pedal-trikes.blogspot.co.uk/2012 ... -nidd.html


I finally got myself a Wharfe, waiting for it to arrive.

Edit: the Wharfe arrived today, very nice. The quality and workmanship seems as good as Brooks, with the added bonus of the protected underside. Don't how the top will endure long-term though?

WrightsW5 wrote:The extreme pricing will always taint the B17‘s attractiveness - like when you discover a hot woman has committed a crime.

There are many 2nd hand Brooks saddles on ebay Japan at the moment, so I read.

*update as requested*

my saddle is now approx 17 months old and to be honest it suits me better than any other saddle i have owned. Its wearing really really well with just a slight matt texture on the nose where it worn slightly.

In fact the only issue I have is I only have one, and seem to be constantly changing it from one seatpost to another(different size posts)

I've unlaced it and find it most comfortable slightly nose up, its still quite hard to the touch but in riding the leather does flex sufficently to add comfort.

So far it has lived on my roughstuff tourer, my mountain bike, my beater and more recently my english roadster.

Ive wasted a lot of money on saddles in the past, but havent been tempted to try anything else since i bought the nidd.

fatty

fatty wrote:*update as requested*................Ive wasted a lot of money on saddles in the past, but havent been tempted to try anything else since i bought the nidd.

fatty

Except perhaps another Nidd?

georgew wrote:The saddle rails on the Nidd are longer and the toe-piece has a more practical Allen-headed bolt rather than the strangely sized nut used on the Brooks.

While on tour I decided my B17 needed tightening so I went into a bike shop I was passing and asked to borrow a Brooks spanner. The man didn't have one throwing around in a drawer like most bike shops so he very kindly took one from a new B17 on display in his shop for me to use. It wouldn't fit! It was too small, I tried, he tried, neither of us could make it work. What I guess happened was that Brooks ran out of the old imperial unit stock and started using the nearest metric size that was just a teeny bit smaller. The old wrenches will probably work on the new stuff but not vice versa. I sent an email to Brooks on their website but heard nothing.

Took a good couple of thousand miles before my Nidd gave in.


It drank a full tin of dubbin from new, declared war on my backside and really put up a hell of a good fight.

It's lovely now, seems to shrug off drenchings and has a quality feel to the leather, even if the welding is a bit shonky.

My B17 Narrow (mid 90's?) feels insubstantial in comparison.

I've got another waiting for a new bike. I know it'll be worth it in the end, but bits of me are not looking forward to it breaking me in at all.

JohnW wrote:

fatty wrote:*update as requested*................Ive wasted a lot of money on saddles in the past, but havent been tempted to try anything else since i bought the nidd.

fatty

Except perhaps another Nidd?

I've never had a Nidd, but I do think you should stick with what you know works. I've wasted hundreds of pounds over the years on saddles that proved to be unsuitable, and I think once you have found one that works for you, you should stop looking.