Commuting - Which Brooks for Breezer?

I having been commuting to work on my Breezer Villager for about 6 months now and would like to upgrade to a Brooks saddle.

I live in South Jersey and work in Philly. For the morning commute, I combine cycling about a mile or so with the train. Going home, however, several days a week I ride all (maybe 8 miles give or take). :)

I am 5"7" and weigh around 190 lbs.

I'm thinking of either the Champion Flyer, the Conquest, or the B67. I'll buy it from Wallbike (together with a new fixed seatpost to replace the suspension seatpost the Breezer comes with).

Thanks in advance!

Rob

I'm thinking of either the Champion Flyer, the Conquest, or the B67. I'll buy it from Wallbike (together with a new fixed seatpost to replace the suspension seatpost the Breezer comes with).
Rob

That's a tough call. Since all three are suited for a more upright position and are sprung, I think it's a matter of personal preference and how wide your sit bones are.

Flyer = medium width, same as the B17

Conquest = narrow

B67 = super wide

I personally have many B17s, but I bought the Flyer on a whim and really like it. Just enough give to take the edge off of big bumps without being too bouncy.

Since you're buying at Wallbike, why don't you try the Flyer first...then if you don't like it, you can easily exchange for another. (FWIW, aebike.com has the Flyer for $59.99)

I think the Flyer is probably the best bet. A nice sized saddle with some spring shock absorbation. I use a B-17 (same size saddle) on my commuter and a B-67 on my cruiser. My commuter has a more aggressive riding position than a Breezer and the Cruiser is more upright. I'm 6'2" and about 220. So I think the Flyer will probably be a good call for a Breezer.
Craig

Thanks. A big reason I'll buy at Wallbike is the exchange policy.

Since I ride upright on the Breezer, I'm wondering if the B67 wouldn't be more appropriate than the Flyer? (I see that it's between those two.) Shouldn't I embrace my Fred-dom?

I have a flyer, a B66 Champion (the same as the flyer but a double rail as opposed to a single rail), a B66 standard (same as a B67 but a double rail and not a single), a B33, and a B135. The B67 is not super wide, that would be my B33, it is wider than the champ and flyer, and the same top as the B135. Upright as the Breezers are the B67 would be a good choice, the others are for a more aggressive posture (very aggressive posture you would want the swallow), although they would work. The Flyer and Champ are made of a thicker leather and take longer to break in. The thinner, flatter, models (B66) become more comfortable after the break in, but are less comfortable during the break in process.

Thanks, Allen. I think I'll try to B67. That's what I was thinking before my post, and this confirms my thinking.

Good to know you point about B67 being less comfortable during break-in, but more comfortable afterward.

B.17

No finer saddle exists. Except maybe the B.17 special with copper bling.

B.17

No finer saddle exists. Except maybe the B.17 special with copper bling.
golftdi is riding an upright bicycle. The B17 is a fine saddle, but in this case a sprung saddle is going to be the superior ride. The B17 is more appropriate on a bicycle with drops or a long top tube.

B-67 completely trumps the B-17 or the Flyer, although they are very good saddles. At 5'7" and 190, you probably have a tad wider dimension at the sitbones - much like me at 6' and 235. The 67 is not super wide at 230mm. Your sitbones and the fleshy pad that surrounds them will fit nicely inside the steel frame under the rear of the saddle. Grampa's rocker, baby.

~ at 2300 miles, including several centuries:
http://i16.tinypic.com/4kdxxew.jpg
http://i9.tinypic.com/4ttlrmx.jpg

Grampa? ouch! I'm getting close to 50, but that still hurt. ;)

Wallbike is out of stock on the B-67. They told me they should have them by end of next week or so. I'm tempted to get it elsewhere for less (or at my LBS out of loyalty), but I like Wallbike's exchange/return policy and I'm willing to pay more for it.

The 67 is not super wide at 230mm. Your sitbones and the fleshy pad that surrounds them will fit nicely inside the steel frame under the rear of the saddle. Grampa's rocker, baby.


Hey, it's super wide for me...I'm 6 foot, 160lbs with a skinny butt. :p

Grampa? ouch! I'm getting close to 50, but that still hurt. ;)

Wallbike is out of stock on the B-67. They told me they should have them by end of next week or so. I'm tempted to get it elsewhere for less (or at my LBS out of loyalty), but I like Wallbike's exchange/return policy and I'm willing to pay more for it.
I love Wallingford. They are great folks.
May I suggest a B66. Double rails, but that makes no difference if you are getting a new seat post as well. And no difference if you get a seat sandwich and use your micro adjust seat post.
Basically they (B66-B67) are the same animal, the only difference being the double vs. single rail. I can't tell a difference between the two riding them.

Because Wallingford was out of stock, I got my B-67 at Universal Cycles (http://www.universalcycles.com/). Nice for me, as they're based here in Portland and have a place to pick up your order and not pay shipping. Due to my sit bones' need for a certain saddle width, I wasn't too concerned about needing to return it. :o

http://i166.photobucket.com/albums/u94/donnambr/donnasbikemar07.jpg

At 6'4" and 200lbs give or take, I put a Flyer on my Breezer and love, love, love it. My bars are only a little higher than my saddle, because of my height I had to replace the stock Breezer stem with a nitto dirtdrop to get them higher than the saddle. Other riders probably ride a bit more upright on their Breezers so I could see where a wider saddle would be nice.

Thanks for all the posts, and Donna that's a nice looking bike you have there.

On the ride home from work yesterday I stopped by my LBS and ordered a B-67 and seatpost. I'm confidnet that's the right saddle for me. I'll post after I get it.

Happy holiday weekend to all!

Got the B67 last evening on my way home from work. I put some Proofide on, and I've ridden it maybe 5 or so miles yesterday and today.

It took a little tweaking to get "in the pocket"--I did some searching at a few Brooks threads, and as a result I first tipped up a bit at the nose, and then adjusted the fore & aft so that the the seat post clamps are centered on the rails. That last adjustment made a big improvement, and now I feel as if I am riding with a true saddle. :)

..