Touring - Brooks B17 or Champion Flyer?

I'm ordering a Brooks for my Trek 520. I've read good points on both saddles. Any comments or reccomendations?

Mike..

The B17 Special has very good leather. But I also have a Flyer and like that too.
It is great on crappy roads.

The Flyer is better for the ever expanding network of rail trails. I got mine from here: www.lickbike.com (http://www.lickbike.com/productpage.aspx?PART_NUM_SUB=%270956-05%27)

It was only $59 plus shipping. Better move fast though, the prices are going up on other sites. The honey colored one is beautiful.

Champion Flyer...I used to use the B17 but the Flyer is much more comfortable IMHO.

Aaron:)

as for the Champion Flyer, I am over 200lbs, and i noticed that when riding on uneven pavement, or when pedaling hard, that i would start to bounce. I guess that's the point, but it was kind of annoying. I just traded it in for a B.17 special. I highly recommend purchasing through Wallingford Bike Parts (www.wallbike.com), because they have a 6 months no questions asked guarantee. I had 4 months a about 500 miles on mine when I traded it in, and they had no problem with trading it out for the B.17. I did however fork out a few more $ for the special model in "Racing Green"

Champion Flyer.

I ordered the Brooks Flyer from Nashbar on sale for $63 on a 20% off sale. I hope my 185 lb tookis likes it. Nice looking set up you have there. I had one some what like it with my Cannondale Silkpath. I wanted to try the Chrom moly frame and longer chainstays for comfort for my old body. I hope to be happy with my Trek 520 and Brooks saddle for a long time. At 55, I hope to have 15 to 20 good years left to play. I retire in 7 years, but I want to do some short supported touring in Maine where I grew up with my younger brother. I t will be in 150 to 200 mile round trip range.

If the extra weight isn't a consideration, and it really shouldn't be, the sprung Champion Flyer or Brooks Conquest are good choices.

I bought a Champion Flyer because I thought the springs would help prevent sore butt. I've taken about 6 rides with it so far, gradually increasing mileage to a 40-mile day. I have a century coming up in 6 weeks, so I'm trying to increase my mileage to something approaching 100 to make sure I won't suffer too much. It has been an interesting process. It felt rock hard when I first installed it. On my first couple of short rides - up to 15 miles - it felt like I was on the verge of sore butt, but it never materialized. On my recent 40 mile ride I still had that feeling, but, again, it never materialized. My butt felt fine at the end.

Another thing: the springs felt so stiff that I wasn't sure that they were doing anything. Then I started hearing a phantom noise. It's a new bike that I'm trying to dial in, so I had all sorts of ideas as to what was causing the noise. Then it hit me - could it be the springs? I discovered that the noise went away when I stood up. Then I got off the bike and tried to flex the springs with my hand. It was hard, but I got them to move a tiny bit, and heard the noise again.

Now I'm wondering how to grease or oil them to make the squeaking go away.

Final word: the Champion Flyer has proven quite satisfactory so far.

I had the squeaking problem as well. A bit of teflon lube spray on the joints fixed it up. Mine is developing a rich patina that is quite nice looking.... okay, it's just butt sweat but it looks good. :)

I had the squeaking problem as well. A bit of teflon lube spray on the joints fixed it up. Mine is developing a rich patina that is quite nice looking.... okay, it's just butt sweat but it looks good. :)

I rode my new 520 for a cuple of 5 to 10 mile rides so far. I'm waiting for the the brooks to come in. The stock Bontrager lux in a bit stiffer than I'm used too but It will only be until next week. It takes 5 to 7 days to get my new one through the mail. The 520 is a lot faster than my hybrid I was riding. I only fell over once getting used to the clipless pedals. I will need to get a shorter or adjustable stem. It is a 19 inch frame and everything fits nice but the height of the bars by about 1 inch. The LBS said to ride it about a week before we start tweaking it.