REV PRODUCT REVIEW - Unboxing Gilles Berthoud Galibier Leather Saddle how does it compare to Brooks
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- Опубліковано 6 жов 2024
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I have the Gilles Berthoud Soulor Saddle and it's pretty comfortable. My classic steel framed bike came with it. It complements the retro style of the bike. The saddle started out hard as a rock, but is much more supple and soft with use and breaking in.😊
Thank you for sharing your personal experience! I appreciate you posting a comment.
They work really well. Bought the Aravis/ Aspin 3x. (3 different bikes) They are great despite the added weight and $ cost. I always put on the conditioner on first, let it dry, then ride it. Sometimes you can reduce break in by loosening the tension then adding more tension as you begin to form into the leather.
Wow three of them! I conditioned it yesterday I hope to ride tomorrow with my Indiana guest. About 40 ish miles about 3ish hours. Then a bigger ride Saturday.
You'll be good. I usually don't wear padded shorts and it's good. Not sure if anything would feel good after 600km's. 🙂Good luck.
@@briankingsley4534 good to know! Here’s the thing I guess people forget the original usage of leather saddles were before all this high tech shorts with chamois, or paved roads even 😂
I've had the Solour (steel rail of the Galibier) for quite a few years and upwards of 4000 miles. Break-in happens fairly quickly, especially with a few wet rides in the mix. I find that like the typical advice for a Brooks, a bit of nose-up tilt works best (the front tension adjustment bolt is approximately horizontal as a point of reference). I trust the Obenauf's LP is a good choice, but I have sparingly applied Berthoud's own dressing whenever the leather starts to look quite dry. The user serviceability and availability of every part at a reasonable price were big factors in my decision, though I also find the aesthetic suited to my retro-modern steel frame fixed gear. Durability seems quite good, have only ever adjusted tension once, and a crash that would have torn a fabric saddle left only a bit of character in the leather.
Nose up on leather saddles seems to work best. A lot of non leather saddle riders always want to comment that "hey man the nose is up" lol! I was following the suggestion of Rene Herse website to purchase the Obenauf's LP. I will look for the Berthoud treatment and see if there is a significant difference. Thanks for watching!
I recently acquired a Berthoud Aravis open saddle. I have about a 100-plus miles on it. I had tried S Works Power Arc and Selle Italia SLR Carbon. Neither saddle offered any relief from pain. I suffer from chronic ischial bursitis (I am 61 years old and I am trim). Any seated position results in pain.
The Berthoud does not aggravate my bursitis. The smooth leather allows me to easily shift in small increments to a new position when pain starts to creep up. The open saddle flexes, though the leather is firm to the touch. I believe this also contributes to more ride comfort (I have substantial hip pivot). For leather treatment, I use Chemical Guys leather cleaner and protectant.
Thank you for your comment! Sorry to hear about your chronic ischial bursitis. I hope the Berhoud keeps working out for you. Thanks for watching please consider subscribing
Hey George, thanks for the review, one of the most Informative iv'e seen so far and has really made my mind up to purchase a Galibier. keep up the great reviews.........Pete from Australia
Hello Pete thanks for watching from Australia 🇦🇺
I did a follow up video as well
Here you go
REV REVIEW - Gilles Berthoud Galibier Leather Saddle first impressions
ua-cam.com/video/9xOh3y61vjk/v-deo.html
Never tried any Giles Berthoud products, but I have suffered through the break in period on numerous Brooks, including Team pro, Colt and currently a Swallow. I think they actually break the rider in rather than vice versa. I actually prefer the Selle Italia Storica leather saddles, and have two that I occasionally fit on some of my retro steel or titanium bikes. To be honest, I've always gone back to my favourite San Marco Regal saddles, or the numerous Selle Italia SLRs that I have on various carbon bikes. I've never got on with the saddles with gaps or channels, but I'm persevering with a Fabric one on my Zwift setup. Indoor cycling is a surefire way to reveal any saddle discomfort. Although I don't work in the trade, I did for about 10 years, and often do bike fits and maintenance tutorials. It's astonishing how many riders get relief from simply having the saddle nose tilted down a couple of degrees.
Ha ha Brooks breaking a rider in lol! I haven't ridden cutout saddles long term a few rides here and there. Agreed saddle tilt ever so slight can provide enormous relief and increased comfort.
Thanks for watching!
Hi George, As a fellow owner of a Gilles Berthoud I can assure you the saddle is very hard in the beginning but gets supple fast. I really like the fact that you can adjust the saddle with a hex-key. @StokedOnSpokes is the one who alerted me to this great product, he has a good channel. Tough I like the saddle a big concern of mine is the wax used will stain light collored shorts. On your recommendation I now mostly use the SQ-lab saddle as I find it more comfortable in my racy and aero position on the bike. As long as I ride less than 5 hours I prefer the more bent over fast body position, but for cycle travelling I use the GB.
You were right! I’ve only done 4 rides, albeit one was a rainy ride, totaling 17.5 hours. The saddle is already braking in. I shot a first impressions video today. I was so happy to just use a 4mm wrench to tighten it 😊
Hi George
We pronounce Jil for Gilles 🙂
My friends use Brooks B17 for Pbp and long distance évents. Selle Idéale is also an alternative. Company restarted and they relaunched the 90 model. Exoensive but beautiful saddle.
No doubt that after some miles you will enjoy your new Berthoud saddle😁
For the 612 Sqlab you recommand, so far no issue on 100k rides. Great saddle also but yes, maybe more suitable for shorter rides than Pbp.
Hello Mathieu - so the G sounds like a J and the S is silent? I will tough it out and I hope to have it ready by next spring for my early season brevets. Thank you for your support sir!
I'm excited to see how this Berthoud works for you G! I think its 'top shelf amongst the many leather saddle manufacturers. In particular, I'm interested in hearing about if you can avoid the 'hamocking' effect adjustment bolt' leather often tries to remedy, and if you can still achieve enough mobility on the saddle surfaces throughout the 5+ hr training rides. I always miss the option nose-forward full tuck-in of a poly carb race saddle.
I've used non poly-shelled Brooks, Selle Anatomica (currently), Ideale full leather and over the course of multi day rides, or just over time moisture and temperature naturally cause them to sag. Of the course the main advantage of plastics, Poly-form saddles is the 'designed in' amount of surface deflection while being much less sensitive to temp, But ya saddle height too high, rocking will outrun you chamois butt'r😢
Also, I'm wondering if re-skinning is going to be a thing in the future. Re skinning leather until lately was counter-consumeristic , but it costs about 2/3 of new, and the lighter guage railing of newer leather models trying to be 'lite' is probably more fatigue sensitive, or at least not the same lifespan like the 800 gram brooks of the past. I know one guy who swears by his randonneur practices always rotates two broken in leather saddles so if one expires so-to-speak , he isn't stuck on a new-new one for the next ride.
My Ideale, which was the 'Equipe' model, their equivalent of a race / swallow, had the least stretch, and yet thankfully sit bone marks were very evident. Comfortable ways i cant describe except the leather had a roundness and uniformity, it was like sitting on a swiss ball. At the time Ideale claimed they used bull hide instead of cow hide which apparently won't stretch whereas cowhides often you don't know if have been from a calf bearing source which affects leather stretch longevity because, well, pregnant cows prestretch but weaken their leather (Who knew?) But now apparently bull hide is too costly and all the bull leather is bought up by Rolls Royce)
Also, really glad you pointed out the rivets facing backwards, because my experience has been lycra and riveted leather constructed saddles don't mix. At all. Leather Saddles I've used have semi smooth edges, hammered rivets, and even expose snag points on the inner thigh, from which some manufacturers leather saddle seem oblivious to. All part of lower volume, bespoke manufacturing environments. ❤❤❤
Long time ago a French frame builder told me to use unsalted butter on the hide side to shorten the break in period 👍
Interesting the old timers always have a simple solution to things don't they? I was following Rene Herse recommendation -
this is from the Rene Herse site "Treat only the top surface with Obenauf’s or a similar leather preservative. With the narrow shape, if you treat the underside as well, the saddle may become too soft to hold its shape."
Butt - er. have you tried it ? 😊
FYI The Brooks saddle you show is the Swallow not the Swift
Thanks I bought them nearly 20 years ago. I couldn’t remember 😂
get me on a nice steal frame, (Ritchey) comfy saddle, and a pair of wool underwear.. all I need. I'm older, slow, but love to ride.
You have all the essentials for a classic day on the bike! Thanks for watching!!
Gilles is a common French name, pronounced "jeel" the G is pronounced as a J and the S is silent. Your grumpy French server in Rambouillet would have corrected you. As well as teaching some spicy French vocabulary to use when you break that boat anchor in!
Ha ha thank you for the phonetic pronunciation ! Thanks for watching
Looks awesome George be great to see what you think of the Galibier.. I’d also like to try one of these looks beautifully made 😊 👍🚴🏻🥇😍 Pete
I Will definitely keep everyone posted. They beautifully made!
i have a berthoud aravis saddle on the way so well see..
Please let us know what you think of it!
What was the issue with the 612. I thought you were extremely happy with the SQ? I’m not understanding the need to switch after you’ve ridden thousands of miles on it.
I’m pretty sure I mentioned in the video that the SQ Lab saddle was awesome for 600 km but for 1200 km I think I can be more comfortable
ass-er-tain 😮 #dadhumor
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