I thought the models with brass rivets (eg select and special lines) were made in the UK, and the others (with smaller steel rivets) were made elsewhere.
On Nov 24, 7:38 am, Matt Beebe <matthiasbe...@gmail.com> wrote: > *"While I'm sure Brooks must have some UK-made lines, the majority of all > their products are made in China, so there really isn't a labor cost issue > built into Brooks price."* > > Brooks saddles are made in England. Maybe some of their other offerings > are made elsewhere, I don't know. The "made in England" stamp is a key > element to their marketing AFAIK. > > > > > > > > On Saturday, November 24, 2012 8:58:38 AM UTC-5, Ron Mc wrote: > > > my buddy is very fond of his Bertoud, though he put Brooks Aged, B17 and > > B68S, on his tandem. > > While I'm sure Brooks must have some UK-made lines, the majority of all > > their products are made in China, so there really isn't a labor cost issue > > built into Brooks price. Most of what we're paying for is marketing cost. > > Hence the ability of Brooks to unload mass product that we see selling at > > $50 below retail. It takes a lot of money to keep up that Rapha-esque > > image, but that may be what is required to get their name out to a younger > > market. > > > A very similar business model must be Hardy (Brothers), the fly reel maker > > By Appointment to HRH, who has survived more than a couple of reboots. The > > cost of UK labor was destroying their market. In the end, other than woes > > for the unemployed, what's the difference between Korea-CNC and UK-CNC? > > But they have survived by keeping a select line of English-made products, > > while the bulk of their line is made offshore - they sell these as > > "designed and engineered in England". I personally am very happy to see > > them keep these traditional models alive that would have otherwise priced > > themselves out of the market. > > > On Saturday, November 24, 2012 6:11:54 AM UTC-6, Fullylugged wrote: > > >> Like Matt, I find leather saddles more comfortable without padding in my > >> pants. Wool Boxers under riding shorts or pants- I like MUSA fine, as well > >> as ZOIC. Selle Anatomicas saddles are comfortable from the start, while > >> Brooks B17s take about 300 - 500 miles for me to feel that "ahh" sensation. > >> I ride with the nose uptilted, as many other riders do (with bars at or > >> higher than the saddle). I have never liked the Brooks Team Pro. I have > >> one but haven't liked it enough to sit on it long enough to break it in. As > >> Grant noted, Brooks lasts longer than Selle Anatomica. I've worn out one > >> Selle, and zero Brooks saddles in the past 10 years of riding. Since you're > >> more likely to ride if you're comfortable on your bike, a pleasant saddle > >> set up is worth the money. Saddles do go on sale (another post noted > >> Selle's current one) if price is a sensitive issue or you can buy from a > >> vendor you want to support realizing that it's not a huge deal in the long > >> run. I've gotten one of each from RBW as it happens. > > >> I picked up a Taiwan saddle to try, a Gyes, and do not recommend it. Not > >> well shaped and not comfortable. Have not tried any of the Berthoud > >> saddles. Talk about Rapha-esque prices... > > >> Was given an old Italian leather saddle by Saffati which I haven't gotten > >> around to yet. Letting some Obenauf's work its magic presently on that one. > > >> On Sat, Nov 24, 2012 at 5:51 AM, Matt Beebe <matthi...@gmail.com> wrote: > > >>> A brooks or similar metal-frame/leather saddle takes time to break in, > >>> but once it is, it becomes obviously worth the money. I've never ridden > >>> in special shorts or padding, just normal pants, and I can ride 135 mile > >>> days on this type of saddle. BUT not straight out of the box- it needs > >>> to break-in time, probably the first 1000 or so miles, plus a few rain > >>> showers. After that you'll never think about the saddle again. > > >>> Some folks try, but don't like, brooks saddles because they have heard > >>> the hype and expect them to be more comfortable right away- but this is > >>> not true in my experience- especially not with very thick hides like on > >>> the specials or professionals. People who ride regularly will find any > >>> saddle comfortable sooner, because their legs are a bit stronger so the > >>> saddle does not bear as much of their weight. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en.
