Originally Posted by Wanderer

We are willing to share our opinions.

Originally Posted by Wanderer

What better place to ask, than old farts? We are willing to share our opinions.

Currently, I ride Brooks B-17, regular, and love them.

However, I am always willing to try new things, and Selle's sale has me interested.

Considering a Selle Anatomica X or NSX, for my Sirrus. I'm leaning toward an X Watershed Graphite.

Of those who have had them, or both, which is recommended by us, and why? How do they compare to Brooks? Quality, Longevity, Customer Service?

Thanks for any help you care to share, as this hundred bucks is burning a hole in my shorts.............

Yes, I have searched out MANY threads, just looking for a fresh perspective.

Originally Posted by Cyclosaurus

I have both a B17 and a Selle Anatomica Truleather. The SA felt broken-in comfortable right away (compared to the B17).

Originally Posted by Rick@OCRR

Note from post #34 above, Sella Anatomica had the saddle for two days and got it back to me neatly laced up and no more flare at the sides!

Tried it out on a 58 mile ride today and found it to be super-comfortable again. Thank you Sella Anatomica!

Rick / OCRR

Originally Posted by smoore

What kind of laces? Does it look OK? Wonder if it is the kind of think a shoe repair shop could do?

Originally Posted by Wanderer

You may be misunderstanding leather saddles......a very common misconception. They are hammocks, by no means. All of my Brooks have stayed really hard, and slippery, except where they form slightly to your sit bones. If you sat on mine (B-17), you would say it is as hard as a rock. But, now it fits me. If they ever do lose their stiffness, you lace the sides to bring it back. Kinda like adding an upright beam along the sides. Being able to move around on them easily, while still having a "perch" to sit on them, is most of their usefulness.

As far as I'm concerned, anyone using an oily concoction on Brooks, completely ruins them quickly. They are supposed to be stiff, not like a soft baseball glove, or soft slippers. They are work boots for your butt..... support and protection.

I have only ever used Proofhide on my Brooks', and put it on kinda thick on the underside - only once, when new. I even used a flux brush to work it around the contact points to do away with leather squeeks. The top gets a minimal annual coat, (think shining boots with Kiwi) when I put my bike away for the winter (yeah, it snows up here for about 4 months.) Then it gets a good buffing in the spring when I GI the bikes, to bring them out of storage.

Seldom, have I ever tightened a Brooks saddle, and then only a half turn, maximum..... I'll bet I haven't put a grand total of five complete revolutions on all my Brooks seats over forty years. TOTAL! You might be surprised how little maintenance they really need. Resist the urge to do anything!

I'll soon find out how the Selle AnAtomica compares. If it turns out to be too soft, I have a skinny granddaughter who would take it off my hands. I can always go buy another Brooks.

You know, Jinx, I really think these leather saddles start out harder and stiffer than a lot of OEM plastic seats. Have you ever noticed how much they actually flex when riding? My Brooks' have stayed hard and stiff, but they (and me) form to each other. (not the stiff part)

I'm really going to research leather care for this AnAtomica, because their saddle sauce sure looks and smells like Lexol, which gets absorbed into leather and is water based. Proofhide is a protective coating more than anything, like boot wax. I know leather loves Lexol, but it also softens it over time (and sure makes it heavy). I may just go the Proofhide route, as I know that works on leather saddles.

If you get a chance to try one, you really should, as it is usually pretty eye opening. One thing to remember, different styles for different styles. A race saddle ain't a touring saddle, and a springer wouldn't work very well on a Roubaix....... B-17 seems to split the difference on a lot of bikes, and is as close to a jack of all trades, as you will find. But I'd lean more toward a Pro for a road bike.

Originally Posted by guidoStow

My concern with Selle Anatomica saddle is that the clamp-able portion of the rails is fairly short and well forward on the saddle which promotes a lot of setback. I need the opposite and need to sit more forward (short Femurs) so even though it felt good it just would not work for me.
I found the Rivet while a bit harder than the SA is much easier to break in that a Brooks, available in 3 widths and in the middle widths a non-slotted "All-Roads" version... And much longer rails!

Originally Posted by Road Fan

Re Proofide: I really don't think it protects or waterproofs. I know my Brooks Pro from my high school bike (1971 ... ) was out in the rain without having been Proofided and again after being Proofided, and the tendency to absorb water seemed the same (I didn't destroy the saddle because I didn't sit on it while it was soaked; I pedaled home off the saddle.).

I don't think much leather care research is needed, SA tells you what they think works. Nor is much leather care needed, IMO. At least with Brooks', there have been as many horror stories about saddle treatment causing destruction as there have about it doing nothing, or actually helping. I would look for a "shower cap" for the saddle, and add fenders to keep the underside dry, if you can.

I tried Proofide on one of my SAs, and it didn't absorb at all, unlike a Brooks. I would not further waste $$ Proofide on an SA. Keep it for a baseball glove or a briefcase. It does seem to improve flexibility, but not a great deal.

Originally Posted by Wanderer

I think you got it a little mixed up. We used to use Lexol on motorcycle clothes, back when leather was popular. It drank it up, and did soften it, and made it really heavy and stretchy to form to your body. Selle AnAtomica's concoction looks, smells, and feels like Lexol. Brooks Proofhide is more like your typical wax boot polish. It is more of a topical dressing, and doesn't seem to get down into the leateher. As you buff it off as it dries. Leaves the leather more in it's manufactured shape and consistency.

With the abuse baseball gloves get, almost anything is an improvement.

Proofhide doesn't make leather wet upon application. Saddle Juice (and Lexol) does. As do most other leather treatments which are oil or water based. Sno Seal, Mink Oil, Boot Oil, Olive oil, and even motor oil would be included among these.

Proofhide seems to make things last longer, but they do take considerably longer to wear into the users shape.

That's not always a bad thing. I like 'em hard, as it allows you ease of moving around on the saddle, for comfort or use.

I will continue to use Proofhide on my leather saddles, and time will tell as to the correct procedure. In six, or ten, or fifteen, or twenty years (if I'm still around) I let you know.....

I also agree with you - don't ride a wet leather saddle, as it is much easier to stretch leather when it is wet.

MHO