Brooks Cambium C19

[Dbrad]

Hi all,
Considering a Brooks C19 but have a few questions as it is a far outlay of money, especially if it doesn’t suit my purpose or fit.

I currently have a B17 carved which doesn’t work to well for me, a B17 aged which fits quite well but lacks the cut out. Technically the C17 is the Cambium equivalent of the B17 but I have read reviews on the internet that people have found that not to be true as it is a slightly different shape. Some have suggested even though wider the C19 is more like the B17.

My bike is a Marin Four Corners which I have converted to a Jones H-Bar. My posture is still angled due to the long reach of the frame.

I have asked RonK for his experience but like to hear others as well.

Thanks,
Damon

[elantra]

Can’t help you much, but I do have a query.
I can appreciate that many people favour the saddle brands/models that have a cutout, for comfort reasons.
But the obvious “tradeoff” is that on a gravel bike, it will allow more mud and dirt to end up where we don’t want it, on the back of our pants…
I spose comfort still trumps appearance and time spent washing pants…

[Mr Purple]

I have a Cambium C17 that I originally used on my old bike but have since migrated to the indoor trainer.

Because there's so much flex in it I've found the width and position doesn't matter too much. For reference it's technically far too wide for me at 164mm; on my good bike I use a Supacaz Scorch at 124mm. So I think they're very forgiving for width - I found a Fabric Scoop too wide at 135mm.

In short I'm not really sure the size and shape of a Brooks Cambium makes a huge amount of difference. They tend to be very comfortable either way.

[RonK]

Can’t help you much, but I do have a query.
I can appreciate that many people favour the saddle brands/models that have a cutout, for comfort reasons.
But the obvious “tradeoff” is that on a gravel bike, it will allow more mud and dirt to end up where we don’t want it, on the back of our pants…
I spose comfort still trumps appearance and time spent washing pants…

Some saddle makers have though of that...

https://www.bikeradar.com/news/fizik-te ... el-saddle/

but I have one but don't find it at all comfortable.

[AndrewCowley]

In the rain or when the surface is wet, a saddle with a cutout really doesn’t make any difference in terms of how dirty you get. All it takes is a few out of the saddle efforts and you have crap all over your arse. Not just gravel but on the road too. I doubt anyone shied away from a cutout saddle because of this.

[RonK]

In the rain or when the surface is wet, a saddle with a cutout really doesn’t make any difference in terms of how dirty you get. All it takes is a few out of the saddle efforts and you have crap all over your arse. Not just gravel but on the road too. I doubt anyone shied away from a cutout saddle because of this.

Nope - somebody thought of that too. I’ve had an ass-saver in my kit for years. Even got an oversized one for my gravel bike.

https://ass-savers.com/

[Dbrad]

Well I ordered a C19 and it arrived the other day. Finally put it on my bike and went for a short ride. Feels pretty comfortable so far just worry it might be a bit wide for my thighs but I haven’t tried to fine tune the saddle adjustment and it also could not be an issue. Hopefully a little longer ride will tell me how I will go with it.

[DavidS]

Thought about a Cambium but didn't like the reviews so I just got a B17 Imperial with the cut out. I tried one of the narrow ones, a swallow I think, and after a few thousand KMs I could never get it just right. Have really liked the B17 on my other bike so hoping the B17 Imperial will work well. First ride today, will need to break it in a little, but also it is taller so still getting the height right.

It really is a matter of preference, I know some who really like the Cambium saddles, but I have had success with leather saddles.

Brooks aren't for everyone but when they work for you they are very comfortable.

DS

[cancan64]

I had a C13, was comfortable straight away and had no issues on multi 250km bikepacking days, until the carbon rails snapped, then went the C15 Carved but just kept having pressure points on multi day rides, figured it was a bit to wide, then tried a B17 carved which molded well and quickly but again a couple of pressure points causing blisters over long multi day rides (I think I was sitting to far back and pressure from a metal tab under the leather where the rivets connect to. This was a freeby from Brooks to test and report back so may or may not be production model), went back to C15 but just couldnt get used to it so back to Charge Spoon, no issues

[caneye]

My regular go-to saddle is the Selle Italia SLR (130mm width).
A few years back, I decided to try the Cambium C13. Took me a while before finding a used one on fleabay.

First ride ~50km .. hmm .. ok. Not the most comfortable. But tolerable.
Next day, I had to commute to work. The 15km commute on the C13 became really uncomfortable. I was actually surprised by how unpleasant it was. And then I had to ride home .. man, that was painful!!
I sold it not long after that. Couldn't bear another ride on the Cambium.

Looking back, trying to unpick the whole experience
- the C13 padding was minimal (as expected)
- I'm trying out a Selle SMP Evolution (130mm width) at the moment. The SMP padding is comparable to the Cambium. However, I've been able to use it on much longer rides, including an Audax ride.
- same width, same padding but different profile/shape .. the C13 just didn't suit me
- another saddle that I like is the Fabric Scoop flat profile. Maybe I need saddles with a "flat" profile as opposed to the Cambium which is curved on both sides