Brooks

Brooks produces durable, handcrafted leather saddles with a sophisticated look and distinctive design. Brooks was once the place to go for anyone looking for leather goods and harnesses and is now a byword for absolutely excellent cycling accessories. Brooks stands for English branded goods for all aspects of cycling. High-quality bicycle saddles, handlebar grips and various (bicycle) bags with innovative carrying straps are manufactured by Brooks England for worldwide distribution. The high-quality saddles are not only particularly durable and comfortable, but have also become genuine, timeless design objects. Brooks was founded in Birmingham in 1866 as a craft business with a focus on leather processing. The leather merchant John Boultbee Brooks bought his first bicycle, whose saddle left such unpleasant marks that he decided to put an end to the problem. He designed the pelvic-friendly Brooks saddle, which was to go down in cycling history. As the company grew under the leadership of the Brooks family until 1958, traditional techniques in the manufacture of leather saddles were passed down from generation to generation. Brooks England is steeped in history, a prestige brand that has almost 150 years of tradition and experience. But quality and style never age with this brand. In 2002, Brooks was taken over by the Selle Royal Group, a successful company in the bicycle industry based in Italy. The special feature: the saddles have to be broken in over a certain period of time. This ensures optimum seating comfort, individually adapted to the rider's anatomy, and good pressure distribution. The leather cover stretched over a steel frame can swing freely and absorb shocks. The entire production process, from processing the leather to assembly on the workbench, is carried out by hand. The steel saddle frames are cut and bent in the factory. Special machines, some of which are over 90 years old, with old tool sets are used for these operations. The leather used for saddle production must have a uniform thickness (approx. 5 mm) and structure. It is also vegetable tanned (without chrome residues). Leather absorbs perspiration and moisture does not accumulate. The aim is to provide a comfortable riding experience in all weathers and for any length of ride. In contrast to saddles made of split or artificial leather, Brooks saddles are core leather saddles. All models have a single-wire frame, which makes them compatible with modern seat posts. All saddles are studded and equipped with eyelets for panniers. Cycling legends such as Girardengo, Eddy Merckx and Anquetil have ridden Brooks saddles. Today, Brooks England's handmade range includes not only high-quality leather bicycle saddles, but also saddles made of rubber combined with organic cotton; the Cambium saddle is one such product and was awarded the Eurobike Gold Award 2013. Brooks first thought about a rubber saddle back in 1928. The original patent for the Cambium saddle dates back to this year.