Cambium C19's?

[John Phillips]

I ordered one this week to try out on my Hunqapillar.

Has anyone ridden one of these wider Cambium's yet?

Thanks,

John

[Lungimsam]

Im waiting for the sprung Cambium to come out this year.

Hopefully slotted.

[Keith Muller]

I put a C19 on my wife's Cheviot and she has been pretty pleased with it.

Keith

[drew]

Are there links to see the sprung one?

[Lungimsam]

Not that ive found.
Someone at Brooks told me it was coming out in 2016.
I sent them an email asking when a sprung version would be made.

[Kevin Lindsey]

What're the advantages of the Cambiums over the normal Brooks leather saddles?

Thanks,

Kevin

[Lungimsam]

Never used one but from what I gather:
1. No leather maintenance
2. Waterproof
3. Possible less shape change with use for less wonkiness.

[Pondero]

Hey John,

I've been wondering the same thing.  I'm actually pretty much satisfied with my C17, but wonder if a little extra width might be even better with my more upright positioning lately.

In addition to the non-leather benefits that have already been mentioned, I actually prefer the more rounded profile of the C17 over the B17.  I believe, for me, there is a larger "sweet spot" so that I can move for and aft to accommodate different circumstances with greater comfort.

Chris Johnson

Sanger, Texas

[Mike in WA]

Has anybody who's been riding a C17 ridden a C19 yet? If so, thoughts? I like my C17, but it does feel a bit harsh at times and I wonder if a little extra width is what I need. Backcountry will let you try a saddle and return it within 30 days if you don't like it, and this is an option I'm considering. 

[Garth]

Mike, what does "feels harsh " mean to you, and what leads you to assume that a little wider one would be less so ? Where is harsh feeling , the front, middle, back, aĺl of it ? I FIND Cambiums harsh everywhere myself, an no width can cure that as it is the nature of the material and construction in relationship to my sènse of "unison" if you will. A good saddle literally feels like nothing at all, meaning it does not add to or tàke away from the experience of the ride. It is the feeling we all inherently know and can never describe in words.

[Chris Birkenmaier]

Not sure how to convey the feeling of harsh but that is a word I would also use to describe the saddle. I have the c17 and also wondered if the c19 might work better. Although there is some flex to the saddle I find it less yielding under my sit bones.

[Mike in WA]

What I'm saying is that I need to properly measure my sit bones, add 20mm and see if it's the case that I'm likely sitting on (rather than in between) the frame edges. It feels like there's pretty distinct and uncomfortable pressure points at times and a properly wide saddle would be the simplest solution. It doesn't seem like a materials issue so much as a geometry issue. 

[John Phillips]

My C19 arrived in the mail, but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet. In the hand, it is wider but seems no more flexible than a C17.

If your bones are wider, the C19 might fit you better. Sitting upright, my sit bones are about 15cm wide.

My C17 isn't comfortable on my Hunqapillar with Alba bars, but is very comfortable on my AHH with Noodle drops set a hair above the saddle. Leaning forward, my sit bones are narrower.

I fear this whole riding more upright with albatross bars may not really be my thing, though. I'm not giving up on my Albatross bars yet, but I am finding riding to be much more fun with my 48 cm Noodles than with my Albatross bars.

Maybe I just need to full retro with my Hunqapillar and order a completely sprung out Brooks B135, a travel tea service & pith helmet.  :)

John

[Mike in WA]

I ordered a C19 and will be getting it on Thursday, will report back with my opinion. FWIW, I emailed Brooks and asked about  a slotted C19, but they have no current plans for one (though they said it's a possibility in the vague future). If the saddle fits better for me, I may try to improvise my own slot for better flexibility. -- Mike 

[Jim Bronson]

For my friends that ride Brooks saddles, the shape change signals that the saddle is broken in to their rando-ing satisfaction.

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[Mike in WA]

I got my C19 today and took it for a short ride. Initial impressions: the additional width and support was much needed for my very upright position and it feels better than my C17 carved. I feel like my sit bones now have a reasonable area to rest on, whereas the C17 has been starting to get uncomfortable (pressure points)  in just a couple miles. I think I was convincing myself that a C17 had to work on this bike because a Berthoud worked for years on my Rivendells... but the Jones position is much more upright and I'm sure my sitbones are set wider on this bike. I also think I fell for the marketing that the C17 is similar to a B17, when in reality, the C19 is closer in dimensions and feel to a B17, IMO. 

There is a marked difference (in the hand) in flexibility between the C19 and C17 carved. Assuming this saddle makes it through the trial period of the next few weeks, I'm thinking of sending it to Selle Anatomica to get the slit cut. I really liked the SA I had, it just wouldn't hold it's shape/tension, so I think this might make a big difference in better flexibility. Included is a pic of a C17 atop the C19.

[Kieran J]

Mike, how would you say the SA compared to the C17 Carved in terms of flexibility/butt feel?

The SA is my go-to saddle, in spite of its well-known drawbacks. I tried a regular C17 for about 5 minutes and hated it; too hard and too rounded a top. Being a vegetarian/almost-vegan, the Cambium design appeals to be on that level, and I'd love for it to work for me anatomically. 

KJ

[Mike in WA]

Kieran,

I would say the C17 carved is noticeably less flexible, owing to the shorter slot. The SA Titanico X felt good to me in the first few miles, but I would develop the same problem as the C17, where it feels like the saddle is migrating into soft tissue because it's too narrow. Also possible that I'm sitting on rather than between the frame structure. Hardness isn't so much a concern for me, as I rode comfortably for years on a very hard and unslotted Berthoud saddle. I think it's more matching up the body-saddle geometries for me, but I like the flex and possible pressure relief of a slot. 

I need to take some long rides and see how the C19 fares in this regard, but I think it's going to be much improved based on the absence of discomfort on short rides. Assuming there's no pain/numbness on long rides, I think the C19 might be the perfect saddle for me with an SA-style slot. I've also contacted Rivet to see if they'll do this, since I haven't heard back from SA. I learned a lot about saddle fit just by reading the Rivet site! 

[Chris Birkenmaier]

Mike this was the type of feedback I was hoping to hear.  I own more Brooks saddles than a normal person should and I jumped in on a C-17 shortly after they were introduced.  Just did not work for me in the same ways you described.  Too narrow and the top was too rounded.  I was wondering if the extra width did give a "flatter" surface area for the sit bones or if it was still very curved but over a wider area.  I don't need another saddle but I am drawn to the weather feature of it.

On Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 3:00:45 PM UTC-4, John Phillips wrote:

[Mike in WA]

Update: I've come to find that I just can't find a sweet spot on the Cambium and I think it's got to do with the super weird rounded shape others have mentioned, not the width. There is more support with the wider shape, but it's still an odd fit. There's also the knowledge that it will always feel like this, unlike a leather saddle that conforms to your anatomy a little. The uncarved Cambium has a distinctly harsher ride quality (less flex). I also noticed that I'm really uncomfortable in the forward tuck position on the H-bar, probably because the nose section is too wide. 

I just ordered a Rivet Pearl (after reading many reviews on here and elsewhere) and I'm hoping this will be the cure to my saddle woes. I'm going to return the C19 soon.