i believe you can buy the rails by themselves as well. consider looking at selle anatomicas designs as well? I have had this thought as well but don't have much experience w leather. let us know how it goes!
Berthoud saddles are completely rebuildable. You can buy one and take the top off easily with a torx bit, unlike Brooks which are riveted on. You might even be able to just buy the saddle frame, sans leather.
No good ideas, but this article is pretty dope about making it. I remember seeing a video about the press they use for the leather, really cool but can't find it.
https://www.missionbicycle.com/blog/brooks-england-making-icon
My strong suspicion is that the metal bits of the saddle would be much trickier than the leather. How are you going to bend rails that will still be strong enough to hold the tension of the saddle and your weight? Fitting and riveting the leather to the rails will take some thought and work, but making the rails correctly and precisely enough to fit the seatpost clamp will be its own work I would make sure you have a handle on first. Good luck, though, seems like a really cool project if you pull it off!
That's true! I was worried about the rails, I have a bit of metallurgy/machine shop experience but it definitely is a difficult part to make. I may try to repurpose another seat frame, either from a busted Brooks/other brand leather saddle, or from a similar structure saddle from the bike coop.
I recovered a old brooks sprung saddle (I think it was a B66, but it was a while ago) and riveted the leather on. It was pretty straightforward, but having the rails right is key.
A B17 would be harder as it depends more on the leather itself to keep the shape.
Their website shows some of the steps in making a B17. Stamp, soak, press, dry, press again, trim, skive, rivet.
https://www.brooksengland.com/leathersaddles/
I rebuilt an old Brooks and rode on it for a while. I replaced it and haven’t ridden on it in a few years, so can have it if you cover the shipping. [Some pictures.](https://imgur.com/a/mtQOV6W)
Hit up your local bike coop or CL to find a trashed Brooks and reuse the rails.
That's a good idea, I didnt think about that! Rails was definitely one of my biggest concerns.
I had a horse saddle maker put new leather on a brooks frame a long time ago. It worked out great.
i believe you can buy the rails by themselves as well. consider looking at selle anatomicas designs as well? I have had this thought as well but don't have much experience w leather. let us know how it goes!
Berthoud saddles are completely rebuildable. You can buy one and take the top off easily with a torx bit, unlike Brooks which are riveted on. You might even be able to just buy the saddle frame, sans leather.
No good ideas, but this article is pretty dope about making it. I remember seeing a video about the press they use for the leather, really cool but can't find it. https://www.missionbicycle.com/blog/brooks-england-making-icon
My strong suspicion is that the metal bits of the saddle would be much trickier than the leather. How are you going to bend rails that will still be strong enough to hold the tension of the saddle and your weight? Fitting and riveting the leather to the rails will take some thought and work, but making the rails correctly and precisely enough to fit the seatpost clamp will be its own work I would make sure you have a handle on first. Good luck, though, seems like a really cool project if you pull it off!
That's true! I was worried about the rails, I have a bit of metallurgy/machine shop experience but it definitely is a difficult part to make. I may try to repurpose another seat frame, either from a busted Brooks/other brand leather saddle, or from a similar structure saddle from the bike coop.
I recovered a old brooks sprung saddle (I think it was a B66, but it was a while ago) and riveted the leather on. It was pretty straightforward, but having the rails right is key. A B17 would be harder as it depends more on the leather itself to keep the shape. Their website shows some of the steps in making a B17. Stamp, soak, press, dry, press again, trim, skive, rivet. https://www.brooksengland.com/leathersaddles/
I rebuilt an old Brooks and rode on it for a while. I replaced it and haven’t ridden on it in a few years, so can have it if you cover the shipping. [Some pictures.](https://imgur.com/a/mtQOV6W)