Brooks Saddles
Xmas is out there and everywhere at the moment. The bland commercialism of it all has thankfully been muffled a little this year in the UK by some rather ‘seasonal’ weather. Perhaps people have done all their shopping online or perhaps gifts have taken a backseat in exchange for practical items like wellies and sherry this year. Either way, I was thinking about the idea of Xmas gifts and how vulgar it can all get. With so much disposable tat out there, I struggle to figure out what it all means. Surely a gift that keeps on giving is a more thoughtful thing – perahps even worth missing a few years of xmas gifts for? I would (probably) miss a decade of Xmas gifts for a Brooks Saddle.
These reassuringly expensive and beautifully made English saddles have been the pinnacle of finesse and quality for cyclists since 1866. I have looked carefully and although there some nice bike seats out there, only a Brooks deserves the accolade of being called a ‘saddle’. Famously, the leather tops can be finely re-tensioned by a movable nose-piece. At the back, a neat row of trademark rivets give a traditional finish and even their most restrained designs maintain an inimitable ‘sport’ aesthetic. People wistfully recount the ‘bedding in’ process with a Brooks saddle. They are known to mould to their masters’ physical shape after a certain length of time making the ride more even personal. Indeed, owners have to treat their Brooks saddle’s with the same respect as an equine Saddle – they must have a tallow-based dressing applied to them periodically. When looked after they can last for decades and it is said that once you ride on a Brooks you never return to anything else if you can help it.
Brooks represent a level of niche craftsmanship and engineering that appeals to me greatly. When their owners, Sturmey Archer went under, Italian seat giants Selle Royal were straight in there to rescue them. A testament to your trade if an Italian seat maker believes in what you do. But I love their honesty and refusal to blend into the plethora of functional but lack-lustre synthetic cycle components. They’re a damned pricey gift, but the recipient will thank you forever. These guys are on the ball with social media and I was heartened to see that they take great pains over responding to questions and suggestions. Check out their online catalogue and maybe take a peek at their curious blog too.