Brooks is Closed.
photo Roxy Erickson
On Monday 1st August 2011, Brooks England will close its factory doors again after 145 years in business. We wish to take this opportunity to express our gratitude to you, our loyal customers, whose patronage has kept us going from the height of the Industrial Revolution, onward through two world wars, and up to the contemporary ravages of globalisation.
photo Roxy Erickson
This decision comes as no surprise to us, and is furthermore unavoidable. Therefore we will shut down our factory and offices – for two weeks - as we do each and every Summer. We require this pause that we may re-tool our machines and regain our collective physical strength before having a go at our 146th year making the world’s finest leather saddles, bags, and accessories for cycling.
photo Roxy Erickson
We will re-open our doors again on 16th August 2011. Please note that during this time, our online shop will be closed and all other communication outlets placed on standby, including this portal for social interaction. Thank you for your patience and sense of humour.
All the Best,
The Brooks Team
Posted 2:21 pm
29 Jul 2011
Don’t scare me like that. I was all set to buy the last saddle Brooks made.
Posted 2:22 pm
29 Jul 2011
Very good…..caught me getting a tad angry for a second or two. I’m saying” Brooks?? Closing?? What is going on in this world?? Caught me with the jab, you did. Enjoy the retooling machine and otherwise. I will return the whiskey to the shelf now
Posted 3:20 pm
29 Jul 2011
WHAT?! My favorite saddles gone forever?! Hoarding, price spikes?! AAAHH! Oh. Holiday. Good one, Brooks. Very cute. I’m sure you intended this to be funny. Perhaps I’ll see it that way after I lie down for a bit to let my pulse come back to resting pace.
Posted 3:55 pm
29 Jul 2011
You rotters you had me fooled, I nearly left the country. Britain without Brooks never.
Posted 3:56 pm
29 Jul 2011
As an ancient cyclist and user of Brooks saddles for many years I nearly had a heart attack at the first reading!
Posted 4:49 pm
29 Jul 2011
yes…
it did send a SCARY SHIVER down my spine
enjoy your break
Posted 5:16 pm
29 Jul 2011
Are you crazy??? My heart!
“Bonnes vacances”
Posted 6:45 pm
29 Jul 2011
Heart skipped a beat!
Posted 7:31 pm
29 Jul 2011
All in a day’s news. You guys could have a job in the US congress… inventing a crisis that doesn’t exist!!!
Posted 8:05 pm
29 Jul 2011
Brooks,
The panic from your “humorous” press release affected the colonies, too: the USA’s pending crisis over raising the national debt ceiling pales in comparison to the possibility of Brooks ending production…
I’m just glad that my heart is strong and healthy after decades of cycling on English leather…….
Jon Spangler
beginning to recover in Alameda, California USA
Posted 8:06 pm
29 Jul 2011
its not funny fooling people like that
hahahahahhaha
Posted 8:21 pm
29 Jul 2011
I’m afraid with this bad news…..but where I can buy your stock
Posted 8:30 pm
29 Jul 2011
Hahaha Ahh haha
This is one of the best executed online hoaxes ever .
Great job Brooks I was about to buy a plane ticket to the U.K. In hope of a factory liquidation sale .
Keep it up guys , two weeks isn’t enough time for all your hard work .
Posted 8:52 pm
29 Jul 2011
April Fools in July? My heartrate jumped! Where would I get Brooks saddles for my bikes & what would they cost? Have a good vacation.
Posted 9:09 pm
29 Jul 2011
Noooo…. That wasn’t even funny, I was about to get on the phone to friends in the Uk to ask them to buy everything they could find (not sure why as I haven’t managed to wear out a Brooks product yet – my current saddle and bar tape will outlast any bike in the garage).
Anyway, next summer don’t do that to me..
Posted 9:15 pm
29 Jul 2011
Warning: Profanity below..
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You bastards.
Posted 9:42 pm
29 Jul 2011
It says something that so many people were upset to read the headline!
Posted 10:01 pm
29 Jul 2011
Excellent prank. Y’all really had me going, and made me realize just how much I appreciate your saddles.
Posted 10:10 pm
29 Jul 2011
Have a super holiday!
Posted 10:12 pm
29 Jul 2011
I hope the nad who stole my bike with my perfectly broken-in saddle enjoys the shape of my perineum. Could I ever break another in? Perhaps. Loved that saddle.
Posted 10:12 pm
29 Jul 2011
I was thinking of ways to pay for 10 or more saddles before supply dried up. I guess I can put the credit card away now …. thankfully.
Posted 10:30 pm
29 Jul 2011
I had a moment of panic there, I too was about to run out and buy several more B17′s.
Brooks Forever!
Posted 10:46 pm
29 Jul 2011
April 1st comes late in Downing Street!
Posted 11:14 pm
29 Jul 2011
That was a proper wind-up – well done and enjoy your holidays.
Posted 11:15 pm
29 Jul 2011
Oh Crikey…..
I bought a B67 today after reading the first part (only) of this news thinking it was the end of the line! Thank goodness…….
Posted 11:21 pm
29 Jul 2011
Ha! You almost had me (very convincing at first). However, had Brooks really been closing, EcoVelo would have announced the closing in bold letters and in an obituarial style.
I did pull out the credit card and was getting ready to order at least 3 new saddles. I’m really happy they are reopening for their 146th year.
Posted 12:08 am
30 Jul 2011
I swear I was just trying to entertain! Long live Brooks!
Posted 12:09 am
30 Jul 2011
Ok, next summer we promise something less creative
Posted 12:15 am
30 Jul 2011
I had to go out for a fresh pair of Depends, so shocking was this news. But enjoy the holiday and come back better than ever.
Posted 12:17 am
30 Jul 2011
Holy jumping Jehoshaphat! I nearly dropped my teeth! I have to say I was utterly dismayed by the opening statement.” Where will I go for the finest saddles on earth now” I asked myself? Of course no answer was forthcoming. Good one BROOKS and a very good 147th year to all your fine folk. Keep up the fabulous work OK? BFN.
.
Posted 1:00 am
30 Jul 2011
Cruel! And mean! But a good one. What a relief.
Posted 1:28 am
30 Jul 2011
Shock horror! Another gasp, then phew! from Alameda, California.
Posted 1:33 am
30 Jul 2011
In the back of my mind while reading this I was saying glad I just bought and installed my new Brooks Flyer yesterday. You guys.
Oh by the way I noticed on the Brooks Bugle in the picture of the factory picnic ride on the third page. Out of the 50 or so employees only four had safety helmets. That would be totally unacceptable in California. We’d be naked.
Posted 1:40 am
30 Jul 2011
guys, i have a wicked bump on my head after i fell out of my chair and hit my head on the table then the floor where i knocked my pint from the table which fell on to my head. damn. what a waste of a freshly poured pint. you should be ashamed of yourselves! thank god i had another! pint that is.
Posted 2:18 am
30 Jul 2011
If you are going to claim 145 years of being in business (read English history) can you please spell in English. Globalization is spelt globalizsation
Nice work but.
Thanks
Andrew
Posted 2:19 am
30 Jul 2011
Whoops, that should be globalisation not globalizsation. Now I am just as bad
Posted 3:52 am
30 Jul 2011
WTF?! Almost shed a tear… Good one, guys! But, more importantly, glad you’re going to be around for another 145 years. Cheers!
Posted 4:18 am
30 Jul 2011
Bloody hell ! I’ve enough grey hairs already ! But..enjoy your hols ! X
Posted 5:25 am
30 Jul 2011
[...] is closed Is this a joke? The Brooks England Blog Brknteeth Reply With Quote + Reply to Thread « [...]
Posted 5:37 am
30 Jul 2011
There was me about to empty my bank account stocking up on Brooks saddles for my current, planned and barely even conceived bike builds!
Posted 5:38 am
30 Jul 2011
You you ^%%^&%$$$ horrid horrid little grrrr. When I saw the tweet and jumped to the blog I was already calculating what on-line stores I could immediately order 3 brooks saddles from as they would have to last me the rest of my life in case anything happened to the ones I already have!
That was really lowwwwww you guys
Although made me realise how important it is to know there is still a brooks saddle factory in this world. Have a lovely well deserved vacation. Your saddles, plus a brompton, are a big part of my daily life.
Posted 9:56 am
30 Jul 2011
Never Close! Your Empire Needs You!
Brooks, live forever..
I ride
B83 (’55 Raleigh 4-speed)
Flyer Special (2010)
B66 (2009)
B18 (yes, I’m male, but it looks good on my ’39 loop frame)
.. and a Professional – in a box for 20 years, not sure where..
Posted 11:10 am
30 Jul 2011
[...] blog de Brooks, l’historique fabricant de selles cultes, annonce une nouvelle terrible : l’usine ferme. La suite dès que vous avez repris vos esprits (je sais un infarctus la première fois ça fait [...]
Posted 11:14 am
30 Jul 2011
Holy shit, why would you do that?
Posted 11:20 am
30 Jul 2011
I shall not describe the odd feeling in my disgestive system I had when I read the first paragraphs…ooo, gotta go.
aj
Posted 11:45 am
30 Jul 2011
Oh, oh, oh… this is perfect for guys who don’t read all articles…. That’s good !!!
Have nice holidays !
Posted 12:33 pm
30 Jul 2011
[...] der Hersteller der berühmten Leder-Fahrradsättel am 29. Juli in seinem Blog. Also noch schnell einkaufen gehen und ein paar Sättel auf Halde legen, es wird ja keine mehr [...]
Posted 3:54 pm
30 Jul 2011
You buggers
Good luck for next year.
Posted 4:14 pm
30 Jul 2011
I have a Brooks on my new bike, I had a Brooks on the bike that was stolen (that’s why I have a new bike), and I have a 20 year old Brooks on my old bike which I have logged thousands of miles and hours in. Hopefully in 3 years I will be able to buy a 150th anniversary Brooks saddle to replace this faithful friend and servant
Your products are a shining example of what craftsmanship and artistry can do in the 21st century!
Posted 5:12 pm
30 Jul 2011
No publicity like bad publicity. I was put into damage control mode over this because your publicity stunt is propagating. Thanks. You guys stink!
Posted 5:35 pm
30 Jul 2011
My first B17 lasted for 35 years on my (single) road bike, but the replacement B17 proved to be more than my aging butt could tolerate on the stoker’s seat of the tandem that had become my daily ride; however the “new” saddle and that single bike now are permanently set in a trainer-stand for winter conditioning riding indoors and our “family car” is a pair of linked Greenspeed recumbent trikes… even so, the horror that I felt at that headline !!! was NOT what I needed, first thing in the morning ! Have a good vacation, y’all.
Posted 6:30 pm
30 Jul 2011
I almost died
Posted 6:39 pm
30 Jul 2011
Everyone Deserves a vacation, even our machines!
Posted 9:25 pm
30 Jul 2011
Everyone knows that England is famous for “The Pub”, “Fish’n'chips” and best of all “Brooks”!!
I only read the headline then headed to the online shop!!
Posted 9:53 pm
30 Jul 2011
…sheesh !!!…saw the headline & immediately looked into my ‘checking account’ with an intent to purchase for a future bike…
…whew, safe for now…
…may you folks (& your machines) enjoy the break…
Posted 11:44 pm
30 Jul 2011
With five small children in the house, I won’t know the joy and passion that you all are eluding to for many years to come! When my childrn are grown, I will begin saving for my first Brooks!
Enjoy.
Posted 1:41 am
31 Jul 2011
A bit of Proofhide may have made that less traumatic.
Enjoy your hols.
Posted 4:34 am
31 Jul 2011
Are you Kidding, this has to be a Joke!
I worked for Raleigh Bicycles of England,
and was introduced to the “Brooks” saddle.
It is truly the “best seat in house”, there is
no comparison, period!!!!!!!!!!
All I have to say is, “Please Don’t Do This, Reconsider”
Posted 10:44 am
31 Jul 2011
What we posted is completely accurate, we are not kidding.
Posted 11:09 am
31 Jul 2011
[...] Brooks is closing down [...]
Posted 11:40 am
31 Jul 2011
bastids!
Let’s see you try that again next year!
Posted 12:08 pm
31 Jul 2011
Bloody hell! What would I have ordered for my Moulton later this year? I was shattered but now am laughing.
Good one!!!!!!
Posted 3:03 pm
31 Jul 2011
Crikey!! You scared the hell out of me! Been riding Brooks saddled ever since the 60s, First bike was a Raleigh International that had a Brooks Pro, Unfortunately it was stolen. I now own a Witcomb, a rare Dunelt 10 speed and a Bob Jackson. All with Brooks Pros. I am looking for a Swallow for my Claud Butler track bike! Best saddles ever made!
Posted 5:56 pm
31 Jul 2011
this wasn’t funny at all! and then, i laught…
Posted 11:49 pm
31 Jul 2011
Volio farme far un colpo ? Son in ferie , per piaser go una certa eta , xe caldo , no xe da dar set notissie in sta maniera !!
ghe scometo che xe na idea de Andrea , va a remengo !
D
Posted 3:30 am
1 Aug 2011
For a moment, I thought I was not just some idiot with an addiction to purchasing and hoarding your saddles, but a very rich man.
Posted 8:08 am
1 Aug 2011
He he HA ha ! Brooks goes east ? Please no.
Had me for a moment.
Happy holidays people. I hope your holidays involve cycling ?
Posted 4:36 pm
2 Aug 2011
Hah! Fooled a lot of people there you rascals! I was hoping to snag a Swallow on clearance for my 1953 Claud and get a 1952 B17 recovered and now I’m going to have to wait a whole two more weeks. Never mind, I’m in no rush, enjoy the holidays and the maintenance.
Posted 7:56 pm
2 Aug 2011
That’s as good as spaghetti growing on trees…..you have to be older than 45 to have any idea about that! Tho’ I almost downed a bottle of scotch with the headline. Think I’ll take the rest as medicine to calm me down…phew!
Posted 11:08 am
6 Aug 2011
Rat bags, swines, toe rags, rotters, scoundrels, rapscallions, scallywags. Was just about to launch a full frontal attack on George Osborne and the rest of the politicians and bankers that have landed us in the current mess… Now where’s me blood pressure tablets???
Posted 11:33 am
6 Aug 2011
What a poor joke. I nearly got a stroke. Have a good time and greetings from Germany.
Posted 11:45 am
6 Aug 2011
You know my heart dropped when I read that. When you get to be my age when something shuts down that means the end… Thank God a corner stone of the biking community just pulling a joke on us.. Okay carry on..:)))
Posted 1:05 pm
6 Aug 2011
My heart almost stopped when I read “Brooks Closed.”
Posted 1:10 pm
6 Aug 2011
I was almost out the door to see if there were any saddles left to purchase! Got me!
Posted 1:39 pm
6 Aug 2011
Puh…. I was foxed for some seconds… and happy that you will go on, to make the best saddles in the world!
Posted 2:05 pm
6 Aug 2011
I thought, “Just when I was going to buy my first Brooks saddle…%#@*&!”
See you when you get back
Posted 3:13 pm
6 Aug 2011
Children of unmarried parentage. Nearly put me into Ventricular Fibrillation. Have a good holiday. (DONT do that to me again).
Posted 4:02 pm
6 Aug 2011
You cannot close a Brook. You can however dam it, divert it, pipe it or pump it.
I do not wish to saddle you with any more worthless information
Posted 5:15 pm
6 Aug 2011
Headline sure made us skip a few heartbeats here in Taiwan!
Posted 7:19 pm
6 Aug 2011
i just pooped a little bit !!
Posted 12:51 am
7 Aug 2011
Bugger, had me nervous in NZ!
Posted 6:03 am
7 Aug 2011
For those who can’t read Venetian dialect, here is a translation of what renowned Italian frame builder Dario Pegoretti wrote:
“Do you want me to have a heart attack? I’m on holiday, I am rather old, it’s hot, and this is not the way to release news! I guess it’s Andrea’s idea, go to hell!”
Here is the original:
“Volio farme far un colpo ? Son in ferie , per piaser go una certa eta , xe caldo , no xe da dar set notissie in sta maniera !! ghe scometo che xe na idea de Andrea , va a remengo!”
But this post was not my idea.
Posted 2:25 pm
9 Aug 2011
BAD FORM!!! BAD FORM!!! My heart sank so low. As a stuck my head into the gas oven on full blast, I thought I should double check…whew!
Posted 3:53 pm
9 Aug 2011
Very funny. You scared the living s**t out of me! Before having read the entire text, my first thought was to rush and buy a Team Pro before it was too late and they were all sold out, to accompany my lovely B17 Special and gorgeous Titanium Swift. And even now, with normalized heart rate and my living s**t back on the inside, I think i gotta get myself a Team Pro. I won´t be able to relax before I´ve got one. Keep up the good work and stop fooling people like that!
Posted 9:37 pm
22 Aug 2011
Just found the most comfy saddle Iv’e ever had, then read that the factory was closing! had to read the rest as I was going to remortgage so I could get a job lot! FUNNNYYY………..
Posted 6:01 pm
24 Aug 2011
After spending inumerable hours at this computer, researching potential saddle replacements…..and after coming to the conclusion that a Brooks Saddle would win the day……I saw this blog entry. Like all the others, my heart sunk until I read on……..I think I will send you my old, uncomfortable saddle……just to get even
Posted 8:18 pm
26 Aug 2011
I’m a little late in reading the announcement, nevertheless, I, too, immmediately thought of buying several saddles in order to hoard them.
I applaud the humour and intelligence of whomever wrote the announcement. Not bad for a Brit!
Posted 4:10 pm
30 Aug 2011
I remember the fire at the Raleigh works in 1969 , i was 9 years old and walked from Great Arthur street to watch the fire.its stuck in my mind to this day watching the fire brigade fighting the blaze, the power of the hoses was breaking the windows.Does anybody else remember this fire?
Posted 12:02 pm
1 Sep 2011
Christ on a bike, I nearly had a heart attack.
My delightfully cossetted buttocks would miss their arseful of leathery goodness if you ever were to close. Cycling without a brooks saddle is for the lower orders only.
Posted 5:56 pm
1 Sep 2011
Please don’t scare me like this again. I aged 145 years when I read this.
Hope you enjoyed your two weeks off.
Posted 10:29 pm
12 Sep 2011
Sólo van a cerrar por unos días… Leí la noticia en forma incompleta y pensé que la globalización se había impuesto al criterio de calidad de la empresa y a la tradición que representa. Los ciclistas de alma acompañamos los, por lo menos, 150 años más de esos sillines extraordinarios.
Posted 10:37 am
13 Sep 2011
british humour……..
Posted 8:37 pm
15 Sep 2011
har, har. your scheme to see who loves you worked. we gushed for you on queue. fine, you deserve it. now please, don’t kid us like that again. some of us, myself included, have hearts made only of flesh, not of flint or iron as you imagine.
Posted 1:58 pm
20 Sep 2011
The gushing took us completely by surprise and we were genuinely touched. However, for the future:
“note to self”…
Posted 8:43 pm
22 Sep 2011
Phew…..
I was shocked then actually getting rather emotional and nearly teary so I went to and fro looking for more information. Would I have to stock up on a 5th Brooks and more just incase 1 dies before me (Iam 46 after all- one has to think of my retirement world tour). Then ahh it’s just a holiday, happy again for the best saddle manufacturer in the universe and happy for my rear side.
We love you.
Posted 12:49 pm
27 Sep 2011
Mit sowas scherzt man nicht! Ich hatte fast Tränen in den Augen!
Posted 10:27 pm
6 Dec 2011
Ha ha ha not funny. Almost have me a stroke.
Posted 6:32 pm
20 Jan 2012
Thank goodness you are still in business as I was about to buy yet another saddle. You had me worried
Posted 12:16 am
28 Feb 2012
That’s it. I’m not taking this c**p. Once I die, I will never buy another item from Brooks!! My decision is final!!
Posted 7:10 pm
24 Jul 2012
ye. had to stop and think about that one.lol
Posted 4:57 am
3 Aug 2012
Bonne blague. Vous m’avez bien eu, même si l’annonce datait d’un an. Je me demandais comment j’avais pu rater cette désolante et fracassante nouvelle et j’étais sur le point de me précipiter à ma boutique de vélo pour mettre la main sur ce qui lui restait.
Sacripants!