Honey vs Black

01

Images

—01. Team Pro saddle & bar tape.

Words

I finally got a new bike this week. After months of ebay and Craigslist scouring, I felt like I found a good deal and got what I was looking for. It's even the right size for me, which is an added bonus. Now, I am torn over whether to go with black or honey leather goods for the seat, bar tape and anything else leather I would put on it. For me, it was brown or honey all the way, but the red and chrome tones of the bike makes me think black might just be the easiest and most classic. Yet, I can't shake the fact that I love the look of the light color leather - tough times...

—Brooks England

Comments

[JSP]

Can you let your readers know a bit more about your ride ? Maker ? SS, fixed or internal gear hub ?

While I'm sure the saddle is a good investment, I find the price for the bar tape a bit high for something that will get destroyed by wear and / or rain.

[Roger Miller]

Can we see a picture of the new steed?

[kpr]

you just won't get the same amount of patina out of the black saddle. gotta go honey. you won't regret it.

[Tim]

Get both. In the words of Eliza Dushku... Go big or go home

[marky]

what kind of bike?

[Ryan Willms]

Wow, fastest 5 nice comments ever! I'm still cleaning it up and getting a the brake and gear cables fixed as it was in somebody's basement for the last 8 years.
It's a 10 speed, early 80s I believe. Italian, Columbus steel, chrome fork, red pant, small clover logo.

I think I might have to go with honey for that patina indeed.

I agree the price for the tape is a bit high, definitely will be on a mission for a deal somehow.

[Trevor]

Honey all the way. I put it on my vintage white/ red polka dot Pinarello, never regretted it. It keep looking better and better with age.

[corkgrips]

clover? colnago?
red frame + chrome parts + honey leather = success

[runkmc]

Why don't you get parts that will actually improve the bike before you worry about these details?

[wayne pate]

1970 / Cinelli / Gun Metal / Track Frame / Single Speed / Honey seat and grips / Campy cranks and brakes

[jp]

go green? http://www.entro.com.sg/images/brooks_special_swift-tit_green.jpg

i did.

[Adam]

+1 on honey. I've owned both and the honey is way more interesting, developing patina that gets deeper every year. The black just stays the same.

[Connor]

Honey for sure. I've got honey on a light blue apollo and haven't for a second looked back.

[Jorden]

It sounds like a Colnago to me too. Personally, I'd go black. I only seem to like the honey on earth tone frames. My own black saddle (going on 5 years) has faded nicely around the edges.

I also agree that the bar tape is overpriced. If you want classic I would use cloth tape and then apply shellac for a nice sheen and weatherproofing.

Do you have a good lock?

[eMaté]

Forgive me for saying this, but Brooks saddles aren't exactly suited to 80's Italian racing bikes - no matter what the colour. You would be wise to find a nice Concor Supercorsa, Selle Italia Turbo, or - if you want to be the cool kid on the block - OG Cinelli Unicanitor. Plus the quality of the new Brooks saddles - thanks to new owner Selle Royal and a colossal advertising budget - has been average at best. If you insist on going with leather, look into getting a Gilles Berthoud saddle - way better bang for the buck.

[JRyder]

I have to agree here, honey patina is the only way to ride vintage steel. Are you going to keep it geared or go single speed?

[matt]

brooks on a colnago? better with a concor or a regal.

[V6B 0C5]

It really doesnt matter which color as at the end of the day, it's comfort. Brooks will last you a lifetime. I got the black for my all black bike. Black or honey will look good on red but make sure you get the ultra narrow ones as it suits old road bikes better.

[JerseyBro]

The Brooks saddle is a classic. Buy black and it might match the bike. Buy Honey and people will go, "Hey, cool seat!" It's more of the European way of wearing brown shoes with a black suit. Let the seat stand out!

[..]

You don't know what brand you bought?

[Jorden]

"Forgive me for saying this, but Brooks saddles aren't exactly suited to 80's Italian racing bikes"

I used to be more fastidious about a bike's components, but now I would disagree. It's a practical machine. I don't think he's racing it.

Vancouver being Vancouver, you might consider getting fenders, Ryan. Honjo fenders are a beautiful Japanese made chrome accessory that look and work great on classic bikes regardless of country of origin.

Anyways, congratulations on the new ride. Everyone agrees that you found a nice bike.

[J.S]

Holy bike nerds

[Ryan]

^Hey, watch the name calling! Don't make me ban you.

[J.S]

Nerds are cool now, everyone knows that. Don't sweat it. Anyway I'm pro nerd, and really just impressed 21 comments came up about saddles...

Strokes and Folks and Folks Who Stroke To Spokes I Suppose.

What's that? Blog Comment Rhyming Enders? Yeah. Crushed it.

[Ryan]

BCREs, new trend. You just started it. Definitely impressed.