Gebo

I quit riding 20 years ago because of numb hands, numb genitalia, aching back and pain in the butt. I was reading one of Grant Petersen's books and got a revelation! I need to make my bike comfortable. DUH....

Well, let me tell you, as for me and my butt, my Brooks B-17 had finally made my bike worth riding again at 20 years later. I can't believe I paid what I did for it but considering how much I had spent on so many saddles before, it is a bargain. Now your results may not be the same as mine, ok.

It may be enough to bring my 26 year old son into cycling. Hey, maybe my wife as well????

MZilliox

Great to hear it, I am considering one too. super feedback, thanks for sharing.

Northwestrider

I've a bit over 10,000 miles on my B17 it's the most comfortable saddle I have, and it looks almost new

BluesDawg

I read Grant's ravings on the B-17 in an issue of the BOB Gazette back in the 90s and called and spoke to the man himself when I ordered my first one. They were a bit cheaper then than now, like everything else. Many thousands of happy miles on that saddle and another, they are both still on bikes in the rotation. I also have the sprung version of the B-17, the Flyer, that I ride less often. Recently I bought the new Cambium model which is shaped and suspended over its rails like a B-17, but is made of rubber with a canvas covering instead of leather. I am finding that to also be a very comfortable saddle.

RideMyWheel

I've only had mine ten months or so, but I love it. I'll never ride anything else.

Sheldon said to soak it in neatsfoot oil, but that seemed severe to me. I did use some sparingly during the first month. It does help hasten the process, just like a baseball glove.

qcpmsame 

From my personal experiences with Brooks saddles (Team Professional and B-17): Don't over do the Proofhide (sp?), or any other treatment, you an get the leather too soft. And, don't go nuts with the tensioning wrench (spanner, for you Brits, and anglophiles here,) you can ruin a saddle with the stretching, or even tear something up. Enjoy the B-17, or whichever Brooks saddle you choose, they are good, quality items.

Bill

BluesDawg

Please just ride it and adjust the position. Leave all the soaking and tightening stuff in the "bad advice I'm glad I didn't follow" bucket.

dmanthree

Last year I tried an alternative saddle, thinking I might be missing something. I got measured, fit, and selected the so-called "perfect fit" saddle. I rode it for nearly 1,000 miles and it got worse with every mile. I'm back on my Brooks B17 imperial, and will never look back. It's what works for me, and has for thousands of miles.

randyjawa 

The Brooks B-17, or Brooks B-17 Special (nicer looking that the Standard B-17) is an absolute perfect saddle for me. I have rode many other Brooks saddles (Professional, B-17, B-66, B17 Narrow and, most likely a couple that don't come to mind right now. The best of the bunch, comfort wise is, without doubt, the B-17 (for me - that does not mean it will be just right for others). Anyway...

Brooks B-15...



Brooks B-17 Standard...



Brooks B-17 Special...



Brooks B-17 Narrow...



Brooks Professional...



Brooks B-66...



Brooks saddles are not for everyone and certainly not for all riding intents/styles. But for the average situation, it is hard to beat a vintage Brooks. Not too sure about the modern offerings from the Brooks company, though, since I have had few opportunities to use them.

Wanderer

Just goes to show you that some of Sheldon's stuff is just opinion. Please don't wreck a good Brooks with any kind of oil!

randyjawa 

+1

rumrunn6

+1 for Brooks. My bike has a Brooks and integrated shift levers. So totally rocks.

blt

I'll second that. I'm getting close to 5,000 miles on my Brooks B17 Imperial. I am about as happy as I can imagine being with it. Perhaps that is because I don't have a great imagination, but compared to everything else I have ridden, it is luxurious comfort.

I tried out a handful of demo saddles at my LBS, when they offered to order me the Imperial and not charge me if I didn't like it, well, that was an offer I couldn't refuse. Even without being broken in, it was more comfortable than any of the demos I rode (and all the demos I rode were a lot more comfortable than the stock saddle that came with my bike). It was an easy decision to go ahead and buy it. Don't know how much of the increased comfort is due to breaking in, an how much is just my butt getting married to the saddle, but it certainly is better today than when I bought it.

2 disclaimers -- 1) compared to my recliner chair at home, it is not luxurious comfort, it is a bike saddle, but it is "luxurious comfort" compared to all other saddles I have ridden. 2) My butt is not your butt, and only your butt can tell you which saddle is right for you.

aubiecat

The line of the week.

Ayers

I'm running a B17 Imperial. It's the first saddle that I've ever ridden that makes me forget about it. Other saddles before had me constantly repositioning myself due to pain or caused me to "be out of action in the marital way" for a day or so after any decent length ride. Now, I may suffer from pains or discomforts here and there, but none of it is in the saddle area. Money well spent...