Brooks Bicycle Saddles

Brooks saddles on this page: B17 | Team Professional | Swift w/Titanium rails | Brown B72 | Countess All Terrain | Torelli Tipo Uno leather saddle conditioner

We don't have an on-line shopping cart. If you see something that interests you or if you have a question, please call us at (503) 480-2001 or email: sscycleworks@comcast.net

Brooks England is one of the oldest companies in cycling. Though the English company had been making leather goods since 1866, it began making bicycle saddles in the 1880s.

The story is that saddle manufacturer John Boultbee Brooks found the wooden seat on his bicycle very uncomfortable, and figured out how to make a leather saddle by stretching leather between a rear plate and a nose piece which were attached to a pair of steel rails.

The firm thrived and was purchased by Raleigh, then the largest bicycle company in the world, in 1962. The Raleigh Bicycle Company failed in 1999. Brooks was purchased from the collapsed company and production continued in England.

A couple of years later Selle Royal of Italy bought Brooks. The factory remains in West Midlands, England, though it is managed from Selle Royal's headquarters in Pozzoleone, Italy.

Though a leather saddle is hardly the lightest seat one can put on a bike, it has one huge advantage. A properly cared for leather saddle will mould itself to the rider's body. For some riders there is no saddle comfort like that of a well-made leather saddle that has shaped itself to the rider after he has ridden it for thousands of miles.

---

Brooks B17 Honey leather saddle. New, $150.00

Part# 40148

• We believe the Brooks B17 leather saddle to be the oldest continually manufactured bicycle part in the world. The first B17s were made in the mid 1890s. Those early B17s were wider than current production. The design has been refined over the many decades of its production.
• The B17 was the saddle of choice for many pro racers from the 1920s and into the early 1970s. It remains the flagship Brooks saddle.
• This is a honey-colored B17.

New, in the box

Out of the box. The embossed Books logo can be seen. The saddle comes with a tension wrench.

---

Brooks Team Professional leather saddle. Used, $90.00

Brooks describes the saddle thus: The Team Professional is the classic Brooks racing saddle, still a perfect saddle for road cycling, gravel riding and fast touring. In production for half a century and originating from the earlier B17 Competition, the Team Pro is Brooks’ toughest, longest-lasting leather saddle that truly deserves the description 'timeless classic'. Finished with large, hand-hammered copper rivets for added longevity, hand-skived lower flaps and a chromed steel frame assembly. Made in England.

A classic.

Here is is turned around to show the other side.

From behind.

Rails and base.

Close-up, showing some defects in the surface.

The other side

---

Brooks Swift Titanium-rail saddle with cover. New, $300.00

Part# 40206

• Rails are Titanium
• Weight: Around 390-400 grams
• Honey colored

Brooks describes the Swift saddle thus:
The handsome Swift is the youngest gentleman's racing saddle in the Brooks range. It features delicately hand skived lower sides, where a thin stripe of the leather top surface is cut back, thus exposing the lighter coloured suede beneath which makes for an attractive visual accent and greater comfort when pedalling.

The large copper rivets at the nose and tail are also hammered by hand, commensurate with Brooks' usual high level of attention to detail. As is the case with all of their hand manufactured saddles, the Swift proudly sports a metal nameplate at the rear and two embossed graphic details on the sides featuring the saddle name and incorporating an icon of a Swift in flight.

New, in the box.

The famous Brooks name-plate can be seen riveted to the back.

And it comes with a saddle cover.

---

Brooks B72 Brown double-rail sprung leather saddle. Used, $90.00

Brooks B72 saddle production began in 1935 and for decades was the saddle that came with Raleigh Sports 3-speed bicycles. The wide design makes for comfortable riding in a 3-speed's upright position.

Its spring loops to gives the saddle lots of compliance and shock absorption.

Important: The double-sprung design requires either a special clamp for a regular straight seat post or an adapter for a modern post. We currently have both and can supply either one when you purchase one of our B72 saddles.

A wide saddle, designed to be comfortable for upright riding.

Here it is turned around so you can see the other side.

From behind, You can it has saddle loops on the back for a rear saddlebag.

Here's the underside

---

Brooks Countess All Terrain sprung leather saddle. Used, $150

The Countess All Terrain is the women's version of the Brooks Conquest saddle. The maker posted this description of the Conquest saddle:

Long popular as a sportier equivalent to the legendary Brooks Flyer, the Conquest is more similar in length to a racing saddle, but with springs for long distance comfort. Finished off with hand-hammered rivets, the Conquest is a must for Randonneurs, ultra marathon cyclists, and dedicated commuters when comfort is a priority. 

First made in 1988, this slimline, sporty, sprung saddle was designed to bridge the gap between our lighter racing pieces and those equipped with suspension coils. Through the late '80s and early '90s the Conquest was well regarded among mountain bikers. The Conquest has plenty to offer any riders who tend to sit up straight, regardless of whether they're ploughing through icy forests or simply getting around town. The relatively narrow bridge and backplate allow its spring coils sit much closer together than any of our other sprung saddles. It's a feature which contributes to its suitability for high performance off-road cycling, but also one which, when taken together with the unridged tapering leather top and hand hammered copper rivets, gives it a distinguished attractive look.

Wider at the back

Turned around to show the other side.

Close-up of the model name stamped into the leather.

From behind.

Flipped over to give a good look at the springs and rails. That is factory paint.

---

Torelli Tipo Uno leather saddle conditioner. New, $15.00

Part# 16152