Brooks C15 Cambium Carved All Weather Saddle Review

The Cambium saddles has been a useful way for Brooks to expand beyond their well-known leather range, whilst maintaining something with a classic look.

The Cambium was originally promoted by Brooks as a saddle you didn’t need to worry about in the wet, unlike its leather saddles. The fact that the latest version comes with a different surface called “all weather” is perhaps an admission that the original Cambiums weren’t as hard-wearing as they could have been. Nevertheless, the new covering looks good and seems wear resistant. It’s also cheaper than the original Cambium at around £80 if you shop around.

The Cambium comes in different widths and I’d say this one, the C15, is a “standard” road bike width. Although you wouldn’t buy this saddle as a lightweight choice, it does feel pretty heavy when you pick it up, so it really needs to be comfortable to be worth it.

The “carved” version means it has a central cutout, and I think this is where the issues lie with this saddle for me. My usual road saddle is a Specialized Toupe, which is a firm saddle with a full length cutout which does a good job of making sure your sit-bones take most of the pressure. The Cambium is a surprisingly soft saddle: you can easily move the central section by pressing it with your thumb. There’s no padding in the saddle, all the flex comes from the rubber structure of the saddle moving. For me this flexibility negates a lot of the adavantage of the cutout and ultimately makes the saddle uncomfortable for me in the long run.

It’s a shame as I really wanted to like this saddle. I like the link to the heritage of Brooks (even though Cambiums are made in Italy rather than Brooks’ Birmingham factory). I also think it looks great on the bike, with the visible rivets a particularly nice feature. I also like the fact you can completely take it apart for cleaning/maintenance and can customize it if you want (google “crivets”: very cool).

Ultimately though, if it doesn’t fit it doesn’t fit, but worth trying one out as I still think it’s a great saddle if it suits you.

Comments

Nitto S83 v Thomson Elite seatpost

If you're looking for a high quality alloy seatpost then two that stand out are the Nitto S83 and the Thomson Elite. I own both, so how do they compare? Looks The S83 is a smooth, classic looking seatpost which is similar to road seatposts of a few decades ago. The Thomson has more of an industrial look, particularly with its textured machined surface. Versions Thomson have loads of different versions available: in just about every combination of length and diameter you could want. The S83 is more limited, but if you like something a bit different you won't see so many of them out there on other bikes. Weight Thomson is a clear winner here. Depending on the exact version you get it's around 200 grams, which is pretty good for an alloy post. The Nitto is around 100 grams heavier. Saddle clamp The Thomson uses a tried and tested two bolt design which uses surprisingly small diameter bolts, but grips securely. The S83 uses large diameter bolts and is probab

Nitto S83 Seatpost Review

So, first things first: if you judge a seatpost by maximum lightness for minimum money then you might as well stop reading now, this isn't for you. However, if you're looking for a quality seatpost and weight is a secondary issue then read on. The S83 is a beautifully crafted piece of engineering that has a quality finish. It's a nice alternative to all the black carbon out there and looks particularly good on a steel or titanium bike. Most of the ones you'll find have got a silver finish, although black ones are available, you might need to search a bit on the internet and perhaps order directly from Japan. One issue that frustrates me with some seatposts is the poor quality of the saddle clamps, which can be flexy, with poor quality easily rounded bolts, often in the name of reducing weight. No such issues with the S83, which has large, high quality bolts that grip the saddle firmly. Both of the bolts are accessed from below making adjustment straig

Rapha Classic Gloves Review

These full-fingered gloves from Rapha have quite a different feel to any other cycling gloves you might try. Slipping them on you feel like you should be getting ready to drive a classic MG rather than ride a bike. They have a great soft feel, the leather palms in particular are beautifuly made and surprisingly supple. The gloves are thinner and more grippy than most full winter gloves, which definitely helps to give a better feel on the bars and better control of the gears and brakes. Despite the thin construction they are warm enough for most UK autumn and winter conditions, and only when the temperature has been around freezing have I wanted something warmer. There’s not a lot of padding in these gloves, just a small pad on the palm. This suits me as I think it gives a better feel. The gloves also have a close, fitted feel which works well without being constricting or making the gloves difficult to take on and off. The workmanship on these gloves is first rate, with detail

Justcyclingstuff

Search This Blog