Just bought this Brooks Competition saddle, but I can't find it any any of the old Brooks catalogs I've looked at online:
There was another one on eBay recently decribed as a "B17 Competition" which looked much different, with much larger rivets. Anyone know when this model was made and where it fit into the Brooks lineup at the time?
BTW, my commuting bike this week is a 1972 Follis mode 172, bought from a list member nearly 10 years ago now, I think. Currently fitted with original HS, Pivo stem, Weinmann 500 SP's, Nervar Sport crank, Simplex Criterium RD and shifters, and a SunTour Seven FD, which believe it or not I think is original, as another CR member reported having a mod 172 the same age with the same FD. Non-original bits include TA pedals, lights, SKS mudguards, Galli badged Maillard hubs, Sun CR18 rims with Conti 700x28, Wald chromed steel rack with Carradice panniers, Ale chromed steel cages on a Minoura handlebar mount.
And an Ideale mod 42 saddle. This bike recently had a Brooks Pro, but I had several unused Ideales and decided I really should be using them on French bikes when possible. Anyone have an opinion of the model 42? I don't think I've ever ridden this Ideale model before. It seems to be roughly the equivalent of the Brooks B17 Narrow, both in quailty of finish and in width. I have a B17 Narrow on an early 70's Raleigh Competition, and find it comfortable enough despite being narrower than a B17 Standard, or even a Pro. So I thought it was worth giving the Ideale mod 42 a try, although this one is NOS, so I won't be able to judge the comfort until I get it broken in.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA