Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - saddle suggestions?

I do wonder about the gel padded saddles, and I know I should have a hole in the saddle for my prostate. But, as always, there are too many choices and I can't decide. I hope some guys out there have experienced different saddles, and can recommend a good saddle. I'd even take advice for saddles that I shouldn't buy. Anything would help me really. TIA
-Dan

This is a place where DIY is the only real answer, though Brooks (particularly 17) doesn't
seem to have any detractors. Best bet is to ask around local clubs or shops for some
used castoff sadddles that can be borrowed and try them out. FWIW other saddles
people seem to like are the Specialized Alias or variants there of, but Specialized is
proud of these and they are not readily available outside the shop, and not all shops
and they aren't cheap. I find some Terrys to be quite nice but there is some variability
I can't explain. The other problem with saddles is that what feels ok for 30 or 100mi
might not for 150 or 200mi. Borrowing a saddle is your best bet, but be aware that
some saddles 'wear out' or wear in and can't be compared to new. Others don't
change much with time. Gel tends to leak out at some point making the gel part
useless. This is an unpredictable event but a friend has a gel saddle with one side
gel less. My saddle collection was upto 10 when I cleared out some oldies a year
or so back. Tried a Unicanitor from the '70s and it was terrible but I used to ride
one all the time then with 'little problem' if IIRC. I have a brand new Brooks
Professional I am not sure what I am going to do with from the same time frame.

I know I should have a hole in the saddle for my prostate.

Not necessarily. Personally, I can't stand saddles with holes in them; I feel like I'm being "squashed" into the hole all the time. Saddles are a personal thing and nobody can tell you which one will be right for you. And please don't restrict yourself to saddles with holes unless you really "know" that you need one.

I have been using a butchered Brooks B-17 in antique brown I picked up from Nashbar on sale on my MTB Niner for the as several months. I cannot tell you how much I love it.

I currently have a Specialized Alias on my road bike and have a few thousand miles on it. It's ok, but just ok. Based on my recent experience with my Brooks I just received delivery of a Selle An-Atomic for my road bike. I will be trying it out this weekend. Bike leather saddle on my full carbon bike, I love the juxtaposition.

Before:
http://i11.tinypic.com/6txaqds.jpg

After:
http://i14.tinypic.com/6qe27m8.jpg

http://i14.tinypic.com/6urf383.jpg

Additional resources:
http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=145726
http://www.wallbike.com/content/butchering.html
http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/articles/brooks.htm

MTB: I like the butchered look. How did you do the cutting? Razor or grinder?

MTB: I like the butchered look.
Seconded. That's a hella sweet chop job you've done. Very clean looking.

One question about it: Do you notice any additional sagging problems with the removal of the skirts? I've been thinking about putting a chop-job B.17 on my fixed gear, but I worry that I'd run into the same issues (more rapidly) that I did with my standard B.17; which was needing to lace the skirts to stiffen up the mid-body of the saddle.

I'm a heavy rider at 240'ish. I've done several centuries on a Terry Fly without much discomfort. When you weigh as much as I do, I think everything is going to be somewhat uncomfy. At 220, it's much better os I know that weight is a factor.

I have the Terry on my Lemond but have a WTB (actuallyu an mtb saddle)on my Cannondale. I like the swoosh shape of the saddle. Keeps me from sliding forward. It also has a cut out but not noticeable as it is covered unlike the Terry. More like a hammock for the boys.

I did trya Sell Italia gel flite. Expensive at $100 but too hard for my sensitive tushy. I put about a grand on it but it remained rock hard. Had to ditch the sucker.

I did purchase the Terry saddles at Performance shops. They allow you to use the saddle for 60 days (not sure of time frame), if you don't like it, you can return it or exchange.

@ SesameCrunch Thanks I used a box cutter with new blade. I when nice and easy the first few passes to get a nice groove. The tape helps get provide a pattern to follow. Once one side was successfully cut off I used the removed section as the pattern on the other side. I did this because I realized after the first side was removed the tape on the other side was not exactly the same pattern.

@ CliftonGK1 Thanks I butchered it before ever mounted it and this is my first Brooks so I had no idea it it droops more or less than non-butchered. My hypothesis is that the Swallow has a similar shape and doesn't droop. But on the other hand why add it in the first place then? Maybe to prevent chaffing? Either way I love it. I'm totally sold on the leather saddle thing.

I've been using the B17 & Flyer for all my distance riding, well for all my riding in general. Last fall I got a B67 for the Campus Fixie, I'm curious how it would work for distance riding.

And I'm real stoked on trying out the new Brooks Imperial.

+1 on the Terry Fly

I've been using the B17 & Flyer for all my distance riding, well for all my riding in general. Last fall I got a B67 for the Campus Fixie, I'm curious how it would work for distance riding.

And I'm real stoked on trying out the new Brooks Imperial.

Dobber, com'on man, get on that saddle and let us know how it compares!
Not that I have any issues with my B17 saddle, comfortable since Day 2 (Day 1 was more like 'What the hell?')