Brookes leather saddle failure! - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-03-2007, 03:26 PM

I have been riding on Brookes Professional leather
saddles for nearly fifty years without a problem.
My oldest saddle is still servicable.

But my newest saddle, purchased about ten years
ago, but not having seen very many miles yet, failed
suddenly and catastrophically recently.

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

I tried finding either a company address or a web
site for "Brookes" but without success. I can find
all sorts of bicycle shops that sell Brookes, but
I need to write or email the company directly with
my complaint.They are an English company, or at least
the saddle is made in England (so stamped).

Anyone know where I can find the company? Thanks
in advance.

01-03-2007, 03:42 PM

Baker Mann wrote:
> Anyone know where I can find the company? Thanks
> in advance.

korrect spelling is your frend

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

best wishes
james

01-03-2007, 04:55 PM

Baker Mann wrote:
> I have been riding on Brookes Professional leather
> saddles for nearly fifty years without a problem.
> My oldest saddle is still servicable.
>
> But my newest saddle, purchased about ten years
> ago, but not having seen very many miles yet, failed
> suddenly and catastrophically recently.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> I tried finding either a company address or a web
> site for "Brookes" but without success. I can find
> all sorts of bicycle shops that sell Brookes, but
> I need to write or email the company directly with
> my complaint.They are an English company, or at least
> the saddle is made in England (so stamped).
>
> Anyone know where I can find the company? Thanks
> in advance.
>
>
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. You'll have better luck if you spell it
correctly, without the "e".
mark

01-03-2007, 06:20 PM

Baker Mann wrote:
> I have been riding on Brookes Professional leather
> saddles for nearly fifty years without a problem.
> My oldest saddle is still servicable.
>
> But my newest saddle, purchased about ten years
> ago, but not having seen very many miles yet, failed
> suddenly and catastrophically recently.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> I tried finding either a company address or a web
> site for "Brookes" but without success. I can find
> all sorts of bicycle shops that sell Brookes, but
> I need to write or email the company directly with
> my complaint.They are an English company, or at least
> the saddle is made in England (so stamped).
>
> Anyone know where I can find the company? Thanks
> in advance.

Curious. I have a Brooks of about the same vintage and it too
fractured a rail on the front left side of the seatpost clamp.

However, I don't blame Brooks, i blame the crappy seatpost clamp*.

I had a buddy weld it back together ... and i'm now reminded that maybe
i shoudl put it back on the bike.

..max
*and certainly not my fat*ss.

01-03-2007, 08:18 PM

On Wed, 03 Jan 2007 18:26:21 -0500, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (Baker
Mann) wrote:

>I have been riding on Brookes Professional leather
>saddles for nearly fifty years without a problem.
>My oldest saddle is still servicable.
>
>But my newest saddle, purchased about ten years
>ago, but not having seen very many miles yet, failed
>suddenly and catastrophically recently.
>
>[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
>I tried finding either a company address or a web
>site for "Brookes" but without success. I can find
>all sorts of bicycle shops that sell Brookes, but
>I need to write or email the company directly with
>my complaint.They are an English company, or at least
>the saddle is made in England (so stamped).
>
>Anyone know where I can find the company? Thanks
>in advance.
>

My B17 brooks was 10 years old and broke that same way. I bought a
new seat frame for 20 bucks and installed it with new hand hammered
copper rivets I bought at the local hardware store for .22 cents each.

I bought the frame from
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Maybe they can help you.

01-04-2007, 05:03 AM

In article <10d4a$459c3b9d$48102ef8$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]>, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
says...
>
>I have been riding on Brookes Professional leather
>saddles for nearly fifty years without a problem.

Thanks to you all for correcting my spelling.
I had seen it spelled both ways and don't know
why my reading skills suddenly failed me because
the saddle is clearly labeled BROOKS.

01-04-2007, 05:15 AM

Baker Mann wrote:
> But my newest saddle, purchased about ten years
> ago, but not having seen very many miles yet, failed
> suddenly and catastrophically recently.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

Are those Ti rails? I'd stick to CrMo.

Art Harris

01-04-2007, 05:23 AM

In article <1167916506.096803.23240@11g2000cwr.googlegroups.c om>,
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] says...

>Are those Ti rails? I'd stick to CrMo.

I don't think they're either. Look to me
like ordinary chrome plated steel. I am
guessing it's too brittle a grade.

THANKS TO ALL who commented. I have now
found the actual Brooks site thanks to
the reference from Mark ([Only registered and activated users can see links. ].

I have sent them an email, and mentioned
that others have had this same problem. I'll
post back to this thread any response I receive
from them, and THANK YOU AGAIN.

I knew I could count on fellow bike enthusiasts
to come through with a quick fix!

Imagine something like this happening if you're
on a long-distance tour, as I quite frequently
have been. I've still got a perfectly serviceable
Brooks Professional saddle purchased about 1974,
over thirty years ago. That saddle has actually
been around the world - literally - including
riding the English countryside where it came from.

01-04-2007, 08:43 AM

Baker Mann wrote:

> I have sent them an email, and mentioned
> that others have had this same problem. I'll
> post back to this thread any response I receive
> from them, and THANK YOU AGAIN.

Please do keep us informed on this.

Three of my four bikes have Brooks' on them of one sort
or another so I'd like to know just how responsive the
company is to what appears to be a common defect.

I think Brooks was "reconstituted" anew as a company not
too long ago so I'm curious to know how the new
management handles this sort of thing.

SMH

01-04-2007, 10:26 AM

I've broken a couple in alot of years....both chrome. Shipped one to
England to Tony Colgrave for repair. Nice chap with some connections at
least for part with Brooks, and has repaired numerous leather saddles
for many. He confirmed what I'd suspected of hydrogen embrittlement,
which is a byproduct of chroming. Many blame it on sharp edges on the
seatpost clamp or having the seat pushed all the way back. I've tried
filing the clamps, but still broke the rails. I've used several makes
of leather saddles, but only the Brooks had chrome rails, and only the
chrome ones have broken. I think it's just the nature of the beast.
Still riding a couple with chrome rails with no problems, but buy the
black painted ones if I have a choice, since riding home standing can
be a chore.....though great for conversation.

Baker Mann wrote:
> I have been riding on Brookes Professional leather
> saddles for nearly fifty years without a problem.
> My oldest saddle is still servicable.
>
> But my newest saddle, purchased about ten years
> ago, but not having seen very many miles yet, failed
> suddenly and catastrophically recently.
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> I tried finding either a company address or a web
> site for "Brookes" but without success. I can find
> all sorts of bicycle shops that sell Brookes, but
> I need to write or email the company directly with
> my complaint.They are an English company, or at least
> the saddle is made in England (so stamped).
>
> Anyone know where I can find the company? Thanks
> in advance.