mercator

A quick review of that list shows a pretty wide range of equipment, with less than 50% sporting brooks saddles and a similarly small fraction with drop bars.
Not sure what point you are trying to make?

As for the topic, I like my B17 on a bike with the bars at the same level as the saddle - very comfy. The looks are of no importance to me.

wolfchild

It seems that carrying a plastic bag is a necessity in case it rains, but what happens to the Brooks when somebody doesn't cover it with plastic bag and the saddle gets exposed to a lot of heavy rain ??

TroN0074

Just get one, you will see why other people use them

If you dont care about your bicycle to bring it inside if it rains, than you shouldn't put a brooks on it.

TransitBiker

I dunno. I've never understood it either. I guess some folks like that "old school" look.

- Andy

Archwhorides 

**** happens, and bikes get caught in the rain. When I was rolling on a B-17, which I loved, I had an inexpensive waterproof stretch saddle cover in my pannier, and it worked fine.

I'm even happier with the Selle Anatomica saddle with "watershed" leather. Doesn't need to be protected from the rain at all, and the break-in period is even shorter than Brooks.

SouthFLpix

A few Brooks alternatives:

Rivet Cycle Works - Hand Crafted Leather Saddles (365 day return/exchange policy. Impressive)

Berthoud Saddles from Peter White Cycles

Saddles - Components

spare_wheel

Wah????

I bought all of my 190-200 gm microfiber saddles for $50-60.

spare_wheel

I see bikes parked without saddles and water-filled seat tubes far too often in PDX. I just assume someone nabbed their brooks...

bonner1040

My saddle cover is stuffed underneath the saddle. It takes approx 2 seconds to put on and is attached to the rails.

Pit Lock can deter whichever type of saddle from getting stolen.
Pitlock

Bike Gremlin

Coming from Europe. Brooks Flyer cost me around 60e, while quality synth saddles are around 50e.

NormanF

Leather saddles weigh more than plastic saddles. But they have one advantage over them - they are much more comfortable because when your butt presses down, the saddle gradually conforms to your anatomy. And the hard surface protects your soft parts from unnecessary pressure experienced on softer saddles.

The principle behind a leather saddle is the same reason people buy a hard mattress: you eventually get used to it and after awhile you forget it was hard in the first place. That why Brooks has a cult following amongst cyclists.

lostarchitect 

It gets wet!

But seriously, if you don't ride it while it's soaked, it'll be fine as long as you don't make a habit of it.

at_hiker59

+1

Reynolds 

There's brand prestige too. The other day I was looking at a friend's bike, he had Brooks, Rohloff, Ortlieb and MSR on the back. Now he needs Schmidt, Edelux, Schwalbe...

winston63 

Yeah, in my experience this issue is overblown (and mostly trumpeted by folks who don't own a leather saddle). I do carry a plastic bag to cover my B17, but on occasion it has gotten rained on and it hasn't ruined it at all.

I have a Brooks on my touring bike, but I'm fine with a plastic saddle on my cross bike. I found that my riding posture (handlebars about the same height as the seat) and the longer miles I put in on the touring bike lead to a huge amount of pain and discomfort until I tried a Brooks. It was comfortable right from the get-go.

I'm not tempted to put a Brooks on the cross bike though - I ride that bike differently and I don't really see the need there.

Colorado Kid

30 years ago I had a short commute. (Under 5 miles.) Today I'm riding 20 miles per day. The cheap seats wouldn't hold up but a Brooks will. I've have mine for 10+ years and at 50,000 miles it still looks good.

RR3

Probably a majority of ultra endurance type riders use an ugly leather saddle for the comfort. The leather tension can be adjusted and the leather shell will eventually conform to YOUR uglies. The comfort is probably only apparent to those who routinely ride more than 120 miles at time. Just that simple.

spare_wheel

Hmmm...the cheapest I can find are ~100e/$. I have noticed that bike stuff is often much cheaper in europe -- even shimano.

spare_wheel

I would not get used to it because I find floppy saddles (leather or rubber) that mold to your buttocks to be uncomfortable. My preference when it comes to saddles is narrow, long, and rock hard with as little give or padding as possible. I'm not putting down anyone else's choice -- my point is that comfort is relative and idiosyncratic.

lostarchitect 

The only "floppy" Brooks saddles I've ever seen were ones that had been ruined by their owners with oils and fiddling with the tension.

spare_wheel

Once again comfort is relative. I find the give in brooks saddles unpleasant. For example, I recently tested the cambium and decided it felt too much like leather brooks saddles. In other words, I hated it. Many of the top end racing saddles are leather so it's not a matter of leather or synthetic -- it has to do with design.

Beth W

Brooks saddles are incredibly trendy in San Francisco -- I see a lot of them. I've tried a couple of "Brooks-like" saddles that were hard leather and found them incredibly painful even after a few minutes, and was sore for days after. Given that, plus the fact that they are a giant theft magnet in the city, I'm opting not to follow the trend.

PaulH

I got my Brooks for long-turn durability and low maintenance, and was pleasantly surprised to find it comfortable as well.

D1andonlyDman

It was apparent to me the first 100 yards I rode on my Brooks Swift. I had gone through 3 conventional plastic and gel/foam padded saddles on my Trek Y-foil, and could not get the bike dialed in to me. As soon as I mounted the Brooks, it was instantly far more comfortable, and my lap times on that bike were 3-4% faster than they had been with the less comfortable saddles.

jade408

I ride slow on a "townie" step-through, and found my brooks to be infinitely more comfy than the wide padded saddle that came stock on my bike after a few minutes.
Literally night and day. I think I am a lifer, and I do not put in much saddle time. The first time I had a 340 minute ride I got a new saddle the next week! So much better! But not all Brooks are comfy for all riding types. The more upright you are, the wider the saddle should be!