Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Brooks B-17 width

I just bought a "new" old bike and then sold some junk that's exactly the price of a green Brooks to match the new bike, and I'm going to take the plunge. I was about to order from my shop when I did a search to find that the B-17 is a full 3cm wider than my current favorite saddle (on all my bikes), the Selle Italia Flite.

I know a Brooks is going to be different and take some getting used to, but should I really only go for the narrow version, which is still a cm wider?

It's possible that the Flite isn't really the ideal width, but just that it was my introduction to non-cheapo, non-padded saddles, but it's was enough that I haven't ridden another saddle on any bike for 2 or 3 years now. I also ride in a very forward, stretched out position typically, but this bike has more relaxed geometry, if that makes a big difference.

Is this a roadie or MTB? Wide saddles on mtbs are worthless.

Road bike.

Hows your saddle to bars drop? If there's a really big drop between saddle and bars, I'd say go for the narrow. I had a regular old B17 with a lot of saddle to bar drop and ditched it... but it'd probably be a decent saddle now that I have risers.

it's bigger than the average rider around here it seems, but I'm both very tall, very flexible, and have a very long torso. Maybe 3-4 inches drop from nose to the tops on this bike.

One thing I like about the width of the standard B17 specfic for FG/SS is that when seated cranking up a hill, the width gives some resistance to push the back of ones very upper legs/lower butt into. When I've swapped to narrower saddles I've felt like I could push myself over the back of the saddle.

Al

the 3 cms will make it your NEW favorite saddle.

There's also a green Brooks Team Pro available. I really like mine.
http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/48/48/4/69/93/2357469930068014369ISyCwl_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2357469930068014369ISyCwl)
Get it from wallbike.com and you have up to 6 months to return it if you don't like it. Mine is one of the returns.

Give it a try, I'd say. FWIW I have a Pro and a B17 and like the B17 the best over long distances. It may be the brooks that's most deserving of its cultish admiration.

There's also a green Brooks Team Pro available. I really like mine.
http://thumb9.webshots.net/t/48/48/4/69/93/2357469930068014369ISyCwl_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/2357469930068014369ISyCwl)
Get it from wallbike.com and you have up to 6 months to return it if you don't like it. Mine is one of the returns.

Ha, 90 bucks is about as high as I'd go for any part that's not a frame or a pair of wheels, so no team pro for me. I'll check those returns though.

Ha, 90 bucks is about as high as I'd go for any part that's not a frame or a pair of wheels, so no team pro for me. I'll check those returns though.


ouch to all professional owners *embarrassed*