Brooks C19 Carved Cambium Saddle Review

I have been riding the Brooks C19 Carved Cambium Saddle for 8 months now. How does it rate in terms of durability, practicality and comfort? I'm reviewing all that, plus why I've found it to be a truly one-of-a-kind saddle, in this video.
VIDEOS MENTIONED
Switching to the Brooks C19 Carved Cambium Saddle: • Is this a MISTAKE? Las...
Zach Gallardo's Brooks Cambium vs. Brooks Leather Saddles video: • Brooks Cambium vs. Bro...
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[@4nderone]

Brilliant review. I’m glad this video came up in my feed.

[@dannidenvermint212]

Great review! Im going to get one for my Brompton S6L. Thank you and take care!

[@ricachuuuu]

love this! love your vibe

[@SheelaghDaly]

Aww thanks so much 😊

[@briantyhy4880]

I have the brooks leather b67 with springs on the back. It's nice but the best saddle I have came with my electric bike, super soft wide seat with a suspension seat post. I am thinking of getting another suspension seat post for my other bike. thanks for posting

[@Cinnabuns2009]

YMMV but i have probably 2000 worth of saddles in a box and by far and away the most comfortable over long distances and supportive, flatish saddle I have on my road bike is the Ergon sm pro 155. I can ride any amount of time on it and never feel any different. Absolutely love it. I've looked at the Cambium before and am eyeing a gum colored one for a 'rasta' mtb build which is why I'm here. Just thought I'd share but I'm sure you have your prefs. Happy trails.

[@theunriddenadventures8126]

Love my brooks leather saddle! I also carry a shower cap to cover it when camping over night!

[@SheelaghDaly]

That’s great to know!

[@ucanskixc568]

I use Brooks Pro and B17, Shower cap at first and then grabbed a proper Brooks seat cover, :) Never had problems with breaking in a Brooks leather. Yes I do have 10,000's of hours on the saddles on different bikes through the decades, literally.

[@MKELUTHERIE]

I just ordered this one, I have been using a fizik saddle.

[@NickWeissMusic]

cool video, I'm trying out a c67 before I try leather, just because I don't need more maintenance lol. I was unaware of the pants ripping issue, which is a concern. Totally agree on the padded seat thing, they really start to hurt after 20 miles or so once the padding in your butt bottoms out lol, I don't dislike the cloud 9 I'm currently trying but I'm feeling that need for more overall support.

[@daveebert7747]

I also committed the mistake of putting on a new saddle a few days before a tour. I cycled from Pickering to the Quebec border along the Water Front trail, great trip. By day three I couldn't stay seated, so much pain, bought a new saddle in Kingston. Still not much better, bought a BIG gel seat cover in Gananoque and made in the rest of the way. Once home I purchased a Brooks B17 leather saddle and never looked back. That was 5 years ago.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Glad you found the right solution! 🙌

[@davidcostello2818]

I’ve just brought one only rode about 50 miles ,it’s feels a little hard ,not what I expected ,hopefully then it will feel more comfortable in time,thank you

[@grahambonner508]

I use a Brooks B66S, I do sit very upright, it's sprung so quite heavy and over the years I have had a couple of issues (one spring failure and a back plate failure) but the parts are available and I fixed it without too much trouble for little cost. I purchased it second hand and have used it for many years, it's very comfortable in all temperatures. I am currently riding 60 to 70 km with no comfort issues. If I had to replace it I would probably buy the same model again.

[@SheelaghDaly]

That's great to hear! I've seen the B66S around but haven't had a chance to try it. Thanks for sharing your experience with it!

[@misstubbie1313]

I bought a B17 leather saddle and even after a year I couldn't break it in. I never found it as comfortable as people said. It was okay but it was a bit on the hard side and a bit slippery which made me change positions while riding all the time. I could never get the imprint of my butt LOL! I changed it for a Cambium C17s (the short version supposedly for the ladies. I don't know why is it not available anymore) and I've been on it for over 7 years and I've loved every minute. The few times I have felt some numbness in the back of my thighs it's usually due the saddle sliding off its position. It has certainly stood the test of time. I'm just wondering if the C19 would fit me even better. I guess I'll have to try to be sure

[@SheelaghDaly]

That’s great to hear the cambium has been working so well for you! One of my local bike shops had brooks “trial” saddles where you pay a deposit and you can ride it for a few weeks and then decide if you actually want to buy one. Maybe a shop near you might do something similar? It’s a great way to try it without having to commit until you know it will work :)

[@elpretender1357]

Is this the version of the Cambium with a cotton outer layer or the one with nylon?

[@achrafnouri6591]

it's Good to the VTT practice?

[@ett1970]

I’m going to use it on my Strida folding. I will tell you about my impressions and grade.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Nice! Can’t wait to hear :)

[@ett1970]

@@SheelaghDaly is it to be used with bibs or it is good also with regular dresses? what do you think?

[@StarEssences]

Suspension adds more riding comfort too; Suspension seatposts, suspension stems (for bikes with stiff front forks) front fork suspensions and getting the correct size of frame and type, and maybe even get professionally fitted to your bicycle to help lessen wear and tear on the human body.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Yes a professional fit can make all the difference!!

[@barrymullen5242]

The Brooks Cambium All Weather Saddle is not the that wears out your pants. The Brooks Cambium will the embedded linen cover is the one that Zach was referring to.

[@SzekelyPerspective]

As a male on a C17, I'm a also finding it comfortable for around 60 km, wearing no padding and angled at 60°. At 100 km my ass forms what feels like dimples and aches a bit. I have ordered an Ergon ST gel saddle S/M size which is 172mm instead of the ~160 of the C17 so we'll see if that feels better in the long run.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Thanks for sharing your experience with it!

[@Hootyhoo-jq9vq]

Great video review. ❤ Do you still like the saddle? I use ergotec comfort bars, similar to yours. I can sit somewhat upright and in a more aero position. Would there be a downside to the wide saddle while in an aero position? I have been using a B17 for 4 years, but it gives me saddle sores these days. It has 20k miles on it. I tried the c17 carved, but it felt like it was made of wood. I gave it away. I am curious about the c19 carved now. If not, another b17 will be my choice. Thanks.

[@SheelaghDaly]

A wide saddle in an arrow position could cause some chafing on the backs of your legs as they hit the flared saddle. I still really enjoy my c19 but it is a stiffer feel and if the c17 didn't feel comfortable for you I don't imagine the c19 would feel any better unfortunately. Sorry, I wish I had better thoughts to share!

[@marcgasper8226]

I also have B17 for a couple of years now on my fixie bike. I bought it on account of numerous positive reviews on-line. The saddle is not good for me because of my wide sit bones. They rub directly on the big copper rivets on the saddle. I still ride on it, but now I am thinking of buying C19 carved. That might be the right size for me. I also have B67 but unfortunately the siting area sagged too much pushing the nose of the saddle too much on my sensitive parts. Adjusting the tension did nothing to fix that. So may be the C19 will do the job right.

[@marcgasper8226]

First short ride done. Saddle in totally horizontal position, 20km ride. The size fits me. The shape not so much. Part of the saddle that support sitting bones is curved, and considering my wide sitting bones, they still rub with inner parts on the saddle flanks. When I move back on the saddle enough to sit on the saddle, then I sit almost on the rivets. But I still don't give up on this Brooks. Micro positioning of the saddle could help, i.e. tilting it a bit nose-down as I usually ride release the pain on the bones.

[@marcgasper8226]

Tried various positions and forth-back movement. Rode more than 100-200 km on it. I have a pretty good idea by now, and it is likely that C-19 goes off of my bike. The size of the saddle is good, but it is too hard on the sitting area. It might get softer during the hot weather but not by much in the area around the rivets, and that is my main siting position. Two things are limiting here, my skinny behind which puts my sitting bones directly on the hard surface of the saddle, and I do not like to wear padded bike pants.

[@darya.1808]

Какое у вас расстояние между седалищных костей?

[@mclyde6266]

The cotton canvas version creates a lot of friction, which is what chewed through Zach’s pants in his video. I’m not sure about the nylon version. It appears to be smoother in the video, but there’s still a woven texture, which might still ruin some pants.

[@belgen]

03:26 Haha I live 10 minutes from here. 😄

[@SheelaghDaly]

No way!! So beautiful.

[@belgen]

@@SheelaghDaly Unfortunately, the locals of the region indiscriminately throw their garbage everywhere except in the trash bins. I feel ashamed to be a part of this community.

[@welshbikepackingadventures]

Great review! After much money and sore bottoms, iv come to the opinion that there's no saddle to fit my anatomy perfectly..

[@SheelaghDaly]

Ooof it's so tough sometimes!

[@NameNaameNameeNaamee]

Tested one - really not for me. Build quality is...weird...not exactly what I would call great...for that kind of money I simply expect a saddle to not arrive fuzzy around the edges out of the box. But the major two things that I just couldn't get over was the "rubberiness" of the surface (I could hear it chewing away on my trousers the second I sat on it) and the hardness of the saddle. The latter clearly is a matter of taste, but I really don't get why Brooks went this way. This is marketed as a weatherproof and "out of the box comfortable" alternative to the B series. And it literally combines the downside of a new leather saddle (it's frkn HARD) with none of the benefits. Neither will it conform over time, nor does it offer the low friction surface of a leather saddle. So all that is left is the weather proofing, and I get that on pretty much ANY saddle that is not leather. I will not spend 110 bucks on this, if I can get a Selle Italia Max Flite for 10 bucks more.

[@stevemullin1195]

For the brooks leather saddle....get a shower cap to cover it overnight while on tour to keep it dry.

[@SheelaghDaly]

Thanks for the tip!