Brooks Cambium Saddles.. thoughts?

[Jameshow]

Looks too narrow for me and in reality is a modern saddle.
I prefer a wider saddle like a turbo or rolls or b17.

 

[Baldy]

I tried a Brooks Cambium saddle, like sitting on an oak block. No give at all.

 

[Tenkaykev]

My bum really likes the C17, fitted them on my Brommies. Tried really hard to get on with the B17 but ended up selling it.

 

[Baldy]

My bum really likes the C17, fitted them on my Brommies. Tried really hard to get on with the B17 but ended up selling it.

Interesting, I'll have to have a look and see which one mine is.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I have had my Brooks since November 1987.

Didn’t think the Cambian came out that long ago

 

[Randomnerd]

I've a couple of C17s for winter use, to save wear on Berthoud leather saddles.

Find the C17 comfortable, compared to what I think are the best I've ever ridden.

One thing to watch is the wear on bib shorts. When new, I found the canvas along the edge of the saddle wore a hole through my shorts. Brooks didn't agree, despite that being a quite well-documented "fault" (that I hadn't read about until too late).

(Edit, mine are the wider ones, I think)

 

[EltonFrog]

While the Fizik saddle on the Brompton is useable and light (IIRC 230g), I'm not hugely impressed as it feels a bit cheap, and not amazingly comfortable as the padding seems a bit less resileant than I'm used to.

I'm tempted to indulge in some faux-patriotic badge-tartery with a Brooks Cambium (prob. a C17) as they seem to be available for reasonable money used if you bide your time.

I've never really been sold on Brooks stuff however - part of me thinks it's overpriced and fashion-led, while I wasn't very impressed by the Flyer I had on the Fuji for a while.

What to the CC massive think of the Cambium? It looks nice on paper, although is heavy (464g, apparently) and at £100+ new I wonder how much better (if any) it is in terms of comfort and functionality over a £25 Velo alternative..

I'd also considered the Swift but am a bit skeptical of the leather and all the hide offerings from Brooks seem to have really short, rear-biased rails meaning I can't get the layback I need.

Ta

Can’t help with the C17, but the Swift on the Brompton will probably be horrible. I had on on my road bike ( the stolen one) and it was fab, I put another on my hybrid and it was bloody awful, probably something to do with the different riding position.

Get a B17 you won’t regret it, if you do you’ll get most of your money back if you sell it.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Mrs Tenkaykev has fitted Selle SMP saddles to her brommies, it's the same as what she had fitted on her touring bike and she finds the saddle supremely comfortable.

 

[Once a Wheeler]

Does anyone know if those triangular bag-strap holes in the Brooks Cambium…

…will take the fixing tags on the Carradice saddlebag rack?

Personal experience especially welcome.
Thanks for comments and opinions.

 

[GuyBoden]

Off topic a bit, I bought a Brooks copy a couple of years ago - a Spa Nidd. It cost under £40 at the time; the rails have a longer parallel section so it's much more adjustable. It weighs a ton and was hard as granite.

This week I've started experimenting with ways of softening it. I soaked the rear half in water for ten minutes, put it on the bike and rode 10 miles. Dried it out and proofided it. There's a definite improvement- it only feels like limestone now.

Interestingly, I have a Spa Calder, it's the embossed version of the Nidd.

Yes, it's hard, but I've rode all day on the saddle many, many times, it's the comfiest saddle I've found yet.

 

[Jameshow]

Interestingly, I have a Spa Calder, it's the embossed version of the Nidd.

Yes, it's hard, but I've rode all day on the saddle many, many times, it's the comfiest saddle I've found yet.

I have one rode lejog on it still rock hard....
My brooks is much more comfy!

 

[GuyBoden]

I have one rode lejog on it still rock hard....
My brooks is much more comfy!

Because, the Spa Nidd was relatively inexpensive, I regularly buttered it with Granger's boot wax for the first year.

I like my Brooks leather B17, but maybe it will be great in another 5-10 years.

 

[Elybazza61]

Have them on all four 'proper' bikes.
Narrow on the Stayer all road and the Ridley Helium,wider on the Stayer OG and All-City.

Finally found a saddle after trying various saddles (Fizik,Fabric,San Marco + others) plus trying different widths on different bikes.

 

[geocycle]

I quite like my Cambium, it’s well shaped for an upright posture on the folder, seems reasonably durable and looks ok. But, it’s not the same as the leather ones I ride 90% of the time and I’d not want to do long distances on it. Better to compare with other synthetic saddles than other Brooks saddles IMO.

 

[chris667]

The thing that put me off Cambium saddles is the fact that Brooks guarantees their leather saddles for ten years, but only offers two for the rubber saddles. Not a great endorsement.