Commuting - Brooks B17 or B68?

I know these saddles have been much discussed on these forums, but if people can bear a bit more...

I'm very far from a racer: I ride my bike every day, but not too far, not too hard. In the summer I use a Bianchi with swept bars, but I usually hold the tops. In the winter I use a bike with mountain style bars.

So, I'm thinking a B68 is the way to go.

Question: is there any down side to the extra width of the B68? Would it get in the way on my Bianchi? Alternatively, is the B17 fine in the more upright stance?

Thanks for your patience and help.

I have a b17 on my Breezer Uptown 8 which is moderately upright. I am still breaking it in (I have about 700 km on it), but I would say it will be okay for your geometry. That said, the b68 might be the better way to go.

What sort of saddle are you riding now and what do you think of it? I ride a mostly upright commuter which sounds similar to yours - an old MTB with a high stem and Albatross bars - with an old Avocet racing saddle. A B17 would be fine for me. A more sensitive posterior might prefer the B68, however.

Chris

The B68 has a different top from the B17. The B68 is for an upright bicycle (the B67 has a single rail BTW and can be mounted on modern seat posts more easily than the b68).
The Champion Flyer has the same top as the B17 but with springs.
The B17 and Champ Flyer are for a more aggressive riding posture.

Chris: I've bean using an old Sella Italia Anatomica "San Monico", but I'm finding it makes me numb.

Allen:
I thought the B68 could be mounted on modern rails. Am I wrong?

If memory serves me correct, the B-68 has double rails,and requires a clamp for doubles.

This ebay offering shows the b-68 on modern rails (of course, ebay is NOT a unimpeachable source: perhaps the saddle's mis-identified?)

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220273580131

Chris: I've bean using an old Sella Italia Anatomica "San Monico", but I'm finding it makes me numb.

Allen:
I thought the B68 could be mounted on modern rails. Am I wrong?

Sorry, you are right. I was confusing the B66 with the B68.

Here is the Brooks line up as I know it:

B66 = double rails + springs
B67 = single rail + springs
B68 = single rail, no springs
B72 = double rail + loop springs
B73 = B66 with third spring under the nose
B135 = double rail + double springs + nose coil (second most comfortable I've owned, good work saddle)
^^^
All have the same top, which is flatter and wider than the B17 top and has a textured surface, these are for an upright riding position.

B17 = no springs, single rail
Champion Flyer = B17 top + springs, single rail (my favorite, A Champ Flyer Imperial would be the bee's knees)
B66 Champion = Double rail Champ Flyer
Brooks Imperial = B17 top with cutout, no springs, single rail (no numbness, very nice, I may butcher some of my other saddles after owning this one)
B17N = slightly more narrow top
B17S = slightly shorter nose
^^^
These are for a more aggressive riding position, the surface of the top is smooth.

B33 = wider top than the B66-67-68-etc. + triple rail + springs and nose coil, heaviest duty of the Brooks (most comfortable Brooks I've owned)
B190 = widest of the Brooks tops + double rails + double springs and nose coil
^^^
These two are work saddles, bolt upright riding only, textured surface.

Brooks Swallow and Brooks Swift are racing saddles, basically the same top, the Swift has side skirts, the Swallow has tucked skirts.

I ride on both B-17 and B-68, not at the same time however.
The B-17 is on a CrossCheck with Albatross handlebars that are level or slightly above the stem, so I sit fairly upright.- it is pretty comfortable.
The B-68 has been on several bikes. The above CrossCheck. A Trek MTN bike converted to commuting with handle bars slightly above the stem. Also on a Schwinn tandem as a pilot with the geometry similar to a comfort bike, handlebars above seat.
B-17 was better on the CrossCheck. B-68 better on the MTN bike, my teenage son grew into this bike and now claims it for his own. He has ridden it a couple thousand km, tried other seats, wants to stay with the B-68. The B-17 has a smooth surface, which I personally like better than the slightly pebbled surface of the B-68. Hard to tell which is more effective, until you actually try both. While I have slight preferences, either have been pretty comfortable on any of the bikes I've tried them on.

I think memory is the first thing to go!

Now, what's second?????

Thanks for that martianone, sounds like I can't go too far wrong with either one.

I'm very far from a racer: I ride my bike every day, but not too far, not too hard. In the summer I use a Bianchi with swept bars, but I usually hold the tops. In the winter I use a bike with mountain style bars.


Is this a road bike frame? When you say swept bars do you mean road drop bars? If the answer is yes to either of these, go B17. Get the women's version for a little more width and also you can get this saddle with springs for more comfort.

B67/68 as stated earlier is a saddle true up right riding of a Dutch or English Roadster style bike like this one: http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=449

It's a touring frame with drop bars. Thanks for the tips.

I think I'll go with the B17. I measured all the other saddles around the house, and none of them were wider than about 170, so I should be good.

Personally, I really like the saddles with springs. I have leather saddles with springs and without and the springer saddles are the most comfortable by far. Unfortunately, the neither the B17 nor the B68 have springs.

The saddles with the wider shovel like the Brooks B68 are very comfortable. Many people who do not like the ride of the B17 DO like the ride of the B68 because the B68 has more area of butt support.

Also, I think the flatter top of the B68 is more comfortable for a lot of people than the B17.

Agree with Mike. The flat top on the B68 is very comfortable for me. I have one on my drop bar touring bike and love it. My favorite Brooks by far.

I also gave the B17 a good try but never did like it. I don't know if it is the too soft leather or the goofy little seam between the top and sides. That seam didn't like me. My wife doesn't find the B17 uncomfortable but prefers the Champion Flyer S (sprung) or the Professional S (unsprung) which are identical other than the springs.

It's a touring frame with drop bars. Thanks for the tips.

I think I'll go with the B17. I measured all the other saddles around the house, and none of them were wider than about 170, so I should be good.

I think you're right - when I read swept bars I was thinking bars like my Albatross bars. Drop bars - B17.

I just got the Champion Flyer S to replace my B17 and its great. The springs aren't bouncy at all, they just take the edge off the harsh bumps.

Unfortunately, the neither the B17 nor the B68 have springs.


Not correct. The Flyer model is the B17 with springs: http://www.brooksengland.com/shop/shopProductDetail.aspx?id=uid-20070521.173925.578.1250-14-00145E457A63------------------42

The B67 is the B68 with springs as reviewed here: http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=261

Same saddle shape just different product names.

Not correct. The Flyer model is the B17 with springs: http://www.brooksengland.com/shop/shopProductDetail.aspx?id=uid-20070521.173925.578.1250-14-00145E457A63------------------42

The B67 is the B68 with springs as reviewed here: http://austinbikeblog.org/?p=261

Same saddle shape just different product names.

Excellent. Thanks for pointing that out.

Well... Those (the ones with springs) are the saddles I recommend.

I don't know which models have the springs UNDER the saddle as a support for the leather, but I strongly recommend those too. It keeps the leather from getting the hammock shape.

B17S = slightly wider top

Wrong. B17S has the same width top as a plain B17. It *just* has a shorter nose. It's pretty easy to check if you're shopping in person.

(makes a nice saddle for a city bike by the way...)

I know these saddles have been much discussed on these forums, but if people can bear a bit more...

I'm very far from a racer: I ride my bike every day, but not too far, not too hard. In the summer I use a Bianchi with swept bars, but I usually hold the tops. In the winter I use a bike with mountain style bars.

So, I'm thinking a B68 is the way to go.

Question: is there any down side to the extra width of the B68? Would it get in the way on my Bianchi? Alternatively, is the B17 fine in the more upright stance?

Thanks for your patience and help.

There is a difference, but not significant. You will probably be fine with either one; conversely, if you don't like one, the other probably won't be good either. Which to pick? If it were me, I would go with the B-68 if I had upright bars and the B-17 if I had drop bars. The B-68 gives you about a 40mm wider "seat" when you are sitting up.

I also recommend the Flyer, as mentioned above, and the Conquest. Both are single-rail spingers.

I have a new B-17 on my Crosstrail Hybrid, with flat bars. The bars are above the seat, but not by much.

The B-17 is one fine, comfortable, saddle. Even new!

Wrong. B17S has the same width top as a plain B17. It *just* has a shorter nose. It's pretty easy to check if you're shopping in person.

(makes a nice saddle for a city bike by the way...)

Thanks, corrected that in my post