Mountain Biking - Brooks Saddle?

Okay I posted something in the "Oh Little Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooo" thread to the effect of:

Brooks are ugly, heavy, and look uncomfortable.

I did some research (tiny bit) and they look pretty kewl. The leather is not really wrapped around a shell. More like it's riveted to the nose and tail & there is no shell underneath. You sit on a "banana hammock" type thingy.



Who's got one that can tell me about it?

go ask the single speed/fixed gear forum, i know a lot of riders over there have them. I've never seen one on an mtb though.

I use B17's on my MTB and the Professional on my road bikes.. Once you get used to the feel the extra weight is not an issue.. I would rather be comfortable than worry about an extra 6 ounces..

I have a B-17 and I ordered a Champion flyer this week for my Giant Rincon. I found the B-17 comfortable right out of the box and it gets even more comfortable as I put more miles on it.

I have a Brooks Conquest ATB sprung saddle. It's basically a Pro with springs. Very comfortable...

I have a swift (ti rails) and a b17. If you lace up the swift it could take the offroad, it would deffinatly provide suspension (a small few mm where it counts). B17 are much wider, available with ti rails and will last you the rest of your life. It is not a cult thing, they are just wicked comfortable.

I have a B-17 that is breaking in nicely (approx. 700 miles on it). It is currently on my Surly Cross Check, but for the first 200 miles or so it was on my Kona Caldera. Very comfortable from the start. However, I ride mostly diffcult trails the average Joe would probably struggle a bit with. The B-17 was too wide for me to be confident about getting behind it on the steeps. If you ride technical trails I would not get the normal B-17, but opt for one of Brooks' narrower offerings. Hope this helps!

Brooks are too wide for my tastes.

Yeah, Im just gonna go across -the- grain and put a roadie seat on my MTB! Hell, it's light, comfy, and ITALIAN! OOOHHHH!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/mystikmax6969/Jekyll/nov0706019.jpg

BMX saddle on my trailbike, couch on the DH bike.

I wreck a lot, so the saddle sees a lot of abuse. My mtb saddles are all sale bin specials.

Yeah, Im just gonna go across -the- grain and put a roadie seat on my MTB! Hell, it's light, comfy, and ITALIAN! OOOHHHH!

Do you attach a picture of your bike with every post?

Okay I posted something in the "Oh Little Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeoooooooooo" thread to the effect of:

Brooks are ugly, heavy, and look uncomfortable.

I did some research (tiny bit) and they look pretty kewl. The leather is not really wrapped around a shell. More like it's riveted to the nose and tail & there is no shell underneath. You sit on a "banana hammock" type thingy.



Who's got one that can tell me about it?

Brooks are everything you've listed. Ugly, heavy and look uncomfortable. But once you're on one, they are plain heaven. Hey! I think there's a dirty joke in there somewhere;)

Brooks B17 on my touring/city bike. I love it, but am hapy with my WTB seat on my Mountain Bike.

http://www.theghoulishgallery.com/framed/pageportraits/BeerGoggles-2F.jpg

Ugly, heavy and look uncomfortable. But once you're on one, they are plain heaven.

Who me, willfully misquote you? Nah!

Edit: The original pic above no longer worked so another was found.

Well, I've got a SanMarco Arami and Bontrager Race Lux right now. I put a WTB Rocket V Team on my Christmas list. I think they're all similar in width.

I think though in the future, when I replace what I've got...I'll either go with a Brooks Swift or a B17N (narrow).

Brooks are good. They can take a lot of abuse and emerge with nothing more than a scuffed surface.
The extra weight is countered by the ability to fit substantial luggage without any additional racks.
The Conquest sprung MTB model is probably lighter than a typicla sprung seatpost/plastic saddle combo and a lot more durable.

"The Conquest sprung MTB model is probably lighter than a typicla sprung seatpost/plastic saddle combo and a lot more durable."


I would never use a typical sprung saddle on anything but maybe my wife's bike. I'm used to a 250g narrow crotch-chopper with a love channel. I had always thought the wide springy stuff was best left for the commuters.


Maybe I'm wrong. I think a B-17 could possibly be too wide...may need to check the B17n, swift, or team.

The limited edition Swallow looks closer to what I'm used to. It was limited to under 1000 units and they've been going on ebay for $400+.

http://www.amba-marketing.com/smsimg/170swallow.jpeg

Yeah, but you don't need to get the Ltd Ed. swallow. You can just get the regular one.

The $135 "Team" is only 8mm wider than the Swallow.
The $250 "Swift" is the same width as the swallow, but 8mm shorter.
The $94 B17n is the same size as the Swift, just flatter.

Yeah, but you don't need to get the Ltd Ed. swallow. You can just get the regular one.

The $135 "Team" is only 8mm wider than the Swallow.
The $250 "Swift" is the same width as the swallow, but 8mm shorter.
The $94 B17n is the same size as the Swift, just flatter.


Sounds like someone is this close ---> <---
to getting a Brooks saddle.

Do you attach a picture of your bike with every post?

nope, every other one just to piss people off:beer:

Sounds like someone is this close ---> <---
to getting a Brooks saddle.

Well...probably the next saddle I get will be a Brooks b/c I'm getting to the point these days where I'm tired of replacing my components.

It really got me thinking the other day:
My next drivetrain will most likely be a Rohloff...should last avg. 15yrs.
My next saddle, a Brooks...some have lasted 30yrs.
I'm still wearing my Dr. Martens and they're 8yrs old.
My next ink Pen will be a Fisher Mellinium...they're guarentee'd to write forever.
My next furnace filter will be an electrostatic lifetime filter.
My next seatpost will be a Thomson...as well as stem.
My King headset has a 10yr warranty.

I just have to try to remember to keep my reciepts and warranty papers all together, hehe.

OP: You're asking a question about Brooks- this has only got to be the most discussed saddle on these bikeforums :rolleyes:

FWIW, Brooks suck for MTB usage (I've used one)- they weigh half a kilo and the leather is slippery, which gives very poor traction for controlling the bike through the seatpost.

OP: You're asking a question about Brooks- this has only got to be the most discussed saddle on these bikeforums :rolleyes:

FWIW, Brooks suck for MTB usage (I've used one)- they weigh half a kilo and the leather is slippery, which gives very poor traction for controlling the bike through the seatpost.

(take the tone of Mum and Dad) Don't roll your eyes at me young man!!!:D

Actually, the Brooks saddle hasn't been discussed in the MTB forum since I have been around here. I don't spend any time in other forums. I don't want a Commuter's opinion on a saddle that will be on my MTB. I want a MTB'ers opinion. Thank you for yours though. I don't control my bike very much via the saddle. When I'm on the trail, I don't spend much time in the saddle...too much climbing around here. Occasionally, I spend a little "saddle time" on some smoother trails around, but not generally.

I have a sticky butt anyway.:o

Seriously...I appreciate your opinion on how slick it is. Makes me wonder how well it would work out b/c sometimes I wear lycra, sometimes I wear baggy's.

Understood. From the original post, I had no idea what you were actually asking.

On descents out of the saddle, do you grip the saddle between your legs to help control the bike? If you do, the Brooks is too slippery for that too (not just when you are seated). I wear baggies, and the Brooks is too slick even with those.

If climbing is important, are you seriously going to put a 1+ pound saddle on your bike? And if you don't spend much time in the saddle anyway, why do you want such a fancy saddle? Surely some standard thing with kevlar wings would be sufficiently durable.


On the issue of durability, leather and rain/mud are not a good combination. If your saddle becomes soaked during usage, you can permanently stretch the leather. The commuter solution to this is to put a plastic bag over it during rain- hardly suitable for trail riding.

And if you let mud dry on/under the saddle, the mud will leach the oils out of the leather, causing it to go brittle. Continual cleaning or reapplying Proofride becomes boring.

These are all worst case examples- I've used a Brooks for occasional MTB in dry conditions for a couple of years. But these saddles are just fundamentally not suited to mountain biking. The only good reason I can think of for a Brooks on a mountain bike is to look different.

BTW, Sheldon Brown has a good article on Brooks. Not MTB specific, of course, bit it should give you an idea of the maintenance required to look after one.

Well, on descents I am usually behind the saddle...I don't pinch anything.

I'm not terribly concerned with the extra weight (1/2 pound actually b/c mine now is 300g the Brooks I was looking at was 530g).

The real reason I was looking at a Brooks was the same that I'm researching Rohloff drivetrains. I have read about Brooks saddles lasting 30yrs. Lately I'm replacing my saddle every 1.5 yrs or so.

As I posted before, there are occasions when I skip the trail and hammer out a road ride...or do a smoother trail now and then. I think a comfortable saddle would be nice instead of making my peepee go to sleep.:D

I don't care too much about looking different, though I feel the Brooks are kinda uglish. The more I look at them, the more I don't mind.





I do agree on the rain/mud durability though. I don't get into rain/mud much. Occasionally, I go out when it's sloppy but I can throw my beat up Bontrager or SanMarco on it for that. I will have three posts, four saddles, and only two bikes at that point.

I've used a Brooks for occasional MTB in dry conditions for a couple of years. But these saddles are just fundamentally not suited to mountain biking. The only good reason I can think of for a Brooks on a mountain bike is to look different.

I ride my Brooks Champion flyer in dry conditions and have absolutely no problems with it. It's a sprung saddle so it weighs more than the B-17, but I never notice the weight. On the trails I ride I spend a good amount of time seated and with a sprung saddle it is much, much more comfortable staying in the saddle when I climb and when I go over rougher terrain. My back thanks me. :D

I've got a B17 on my MTB and love it. I haven't had any problems with it being slippery.

The real reason I was looking at a Brooks was the same that I'm researching Rohloff drivetrains. I have read about Brooks saddles lasting 30yrs. Lately I'm replacing my saddle every 1.5 yrs or so.


I don't believe that a brooks saddle will last anywhere near that on a Mtn Bike if you actually mountain bike. I have a B-17 on my road bike and I really like it, but I've never thought about putting one on a mountain bike. I have seen one person who had a B17 on a mountain bike, I asked the guy about it and he said that was the only saddle he would use and he had one on every bike he owns. The one I saw was dried out and cracked up.

Who me, willfully misquote you? Nah!

Edit: The original pic above no longer worked so another was found.

Joke works better with the picture:D

Joke works better with the picture:D

Now I know what your "search for pie" is a euphemism for.

I have Brooks B-17 on everything I ride. And, I have, I think, every version of the B-17 that Brooks makes....Champion Standard, Champion Special and Champion Flyer. The only difference between the Standard and the Special is the copper rivets and rails that the Special has. And, the Flyer is a saddle with springs that I have on a vintage Schwinn Varsity. My MTBs are a '94 Schwinn Sidewinder and a '96-ish Trek 830 Mountain Track. They both sport unsprung B-17s. I think Brooks actually recommends sprung saddles for MTBs. Having said all that, I will say that I don't really mountain bike. My bikes are used on the greenway, streets, rails-to-trails and general use bike trails. Brooks B-17 saddles are the most comfortable saddle I have EVER used! I love the B-17!

If you want to try a Brooks, get on this site

www.wallbike.com

This is Wallingford Bikes in New Orleans, and they have a 6 month return policy. So, you can try it, and if you don't like it, you can return it. Read more about their policy on their site. They are also very good about returning emails that you send to them.

Brooks, like baseball mitts, will last as long and be as comfortable as you make them. In the road or SS forum, there's how-to's on break-in and conditioning procedures, weatherproofing, cleaning, and routine maintenance. If you don't oil them occasionally (like all leather products that are in constant exposure to sweat and the elements), they will dry and crack. Keep it in good shape, and it will stay in good shape.

I use a Team Pro on my roadie, and swap it to my MTB all the time. Never had a problem with slipping...ever. Cleans up with a rag, and looks good, too.

Now I know what your "search for pie" is a euphemism for.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.;)

I have a B-17 that is breaking in nicely (approx. 700 miles on it). It is currently on my Surly Cross Check, but for the first 200 miles or so it was on my Kona Caldera. Very comfortable from the start. However, I ride mostly diffcult trails the average Joe would probably struggle a bit with. The B-17 was too wide for me to be confident about getting behind it on the steeps. If you ride technical trails I would not get the normal B-17, but opt for one of Brooks' narrower offerings. Hope this helps!

So far, the only complaints I'm hearing are that the saddles are too wide. That's due to the fact you bought the wrong model. The Professional and Conquest are the models you should have gotten. The Conquest is basically a Professional top on a sprung base. It gives you some suspension but is narrow enough to slide easily back and forth on. Brooks even states that in their literature. It was designed specifically for the MTB rider. Good luck

Tim

So far, the only complaints I'm hearing are that the saddles are too wide. That's due to the fact you bought the wrong model. The Professional and Conquest are the models you should have gotten. The Conquest is basically a Professional top on a sprung base. It gives you some suspension but is narrow enough to slide easily back and forth on. Brooks even states that in their literature. It was designed specifically for the MTB rider. Good luck

Tim

For the casual recreational rider, yes. But for someone who is at a higher level of riding, then the wide saddle tends to get in the way.

I have a Brooks B17 on each of my road bikes and I have a Flyer (B17 with springs) that I use whenever I make a Frankenbike multi-purpose bike from an old MTB frame. I wouldn't think of using anything else on long road rides. But I don't use a Brooks on the Rockhopper I use for singletrack. It just doesn't seem like a good application to me. But I don't see anything wrong with it if that's what someone wants to do. It's just not what I choose to do.

I wouldn't think of using anything else on long road rides. But I don't use a Brooks on the Rockhopper I use for singletrack. It just doesn't seem like a good application to me.

What seems out of place to you...specifically? Just saddle width? Leather:elements issue?

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/mystikmax6969/Jekyll/nov0706019.jpg


So I'm not the only one...:D (I have a Selle Italia)

But I must say....that is one loooooooooooooooooooooooooong saddle you got there.

So I'm not the only one...:D (I have a Selle Italia)

But I must say....that is one loooooooooooooooooooooooooong saddle you got there.


you know what they say about guys with longs saddles, right??.................................


they have long butts:p

What seems out of place to you...specifically? Just saddle width? Leather:elements issue?

Hard to say. Since I don't sit for hours on the MTB, the reasons I prefer Brooks on my road bikes don't really come into play. Part of it is style, I guess. I'm a bit of a retrogrouch with my road bike preferences, lugged steel frames, friction shifting, etc. On a 27 speed, beer can framed MTB with suspension front fork and a Thudbuster seatpost that I rarely ride for more than 3 hours, it just doesn't cry out for a leather seat.

Yeah, Im just gonna go across -the- grain and put a roadie seat on my MTB! Hell, it's light, comfy, and ITALIAN! OOOHHHH!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b358/mystikmax6969/Jekyll/nov0706019.jpg
Yah - I've got a Selle Italia Trans Am on my mtn bike, and it suits me quite well. I'm moving to a more padded seat on my road bike, but it's got a love canal and ti rails too. I have a sprung Brooks sitting on a shelf at home. It came on a CX bike I got a few years back, and it was one of the least comfortable things I've had to sit on in a long time. I might make it into a wheel truing stool or something, but i'm sure as hell not going to put it on a bike.

I'm using Terry Fly saddle on my MTB. It worked fine for a couple of hours on the road bike, but on longer rides it started to get painful. Seems to be fine for offroad work.

One man's trash is another man's treasure. My 3 Brooks saddles are by far the most comfortable bike saddles I've ever used. Nothing else comes close.