dim

awaiting delivery on my Surly Long Haul Trucker. I need to add/change a few things, one of them being the saddle

I will need need to change the saddle, and had my mind set on a Brooks B17. However, I have read that a GILLES BERTHOUD Aspin saddle is better? Costs a a few ponds more, but would like to hear from those who have used both saddles. My bars and saddle height will we equal (saddle may be a bit higher than bar height)

fietsbob

You Pick its Your butt sitting on it.. My Bike uses Brooks Professional . got it in 1976.

cyccommute 

I can't speak to the actual saddle but based on width, they really aren't comparable. The B17 (175mm at back) is quite a bit wider than the Aspin (157mm). The Aspin is more like the B17 Narrow (151mm) or the Pro (160mm). However, it's up to you to decide if that is an important parameter.

Personally, I don't find saddle width to be that important nor that much of a problem. I have, and ride, the Pro, the B17N, the B17 as well as a Swift (150mm). I can't say which is better, which is worse or which, for that matter, is different. They all feel about the same to me.

dim

I've read many posts on google stating that the quality of Brooks saddles has declined of late. Issues include the quality and thickness of the leather on the Brooks saddles aswell as rails breaking. Some say they are not as good as the older ones?

The Berthout are also apparantly much better than the brooks in wet conditions

RJD253

Not to muddy the waters here, but check out the Selle Anatomica saddles:
https://selleanatomica.com
I ordered an X series about a month ago and it's phenomenal. Comes with a 30 day comfort guarantee.

demoncyclist

I have a B17N Imperial on my Lynskey- love it. My wife has a Selle Anatomica X (she got a factory 2nd for a song) on her Madone, and finds it to be very comfy as well.

fietsbob

AFAIK, Berthoud has no thinner less select leather line like Brooks does in their saddles.

dim

Hmmmm .... thanks for that. I will have a very close look at these

dim

cannot seem to find a UK dealer for the NSX series (without the cutout) .... add international shipping and import charges if I buy from the US, and it becomes very expensive

I will contact them directly and find out if there any UK suppliers

martianone

all of my upright bikes have a leather saddle, different models for different rides. Bikefriday NWT has the b17, trek 520 a Brooks imperial, my commuter a sella anatomica, my custom steel road bike a GB Aravis, Electra beach bike Brooks B68. I don't think the B17 and Aspin/Aravis as being interchangeable, the B17 is a little less "sporty" than the GB. Each saddle is comfortable in its application, however among them I like the Aravis best. It broke in easily, feels great and has held up well.

agmetal

Berthoud! Many thousand happy miles on mine, with plans to get another for another bike. Thicker, more water-resistant leather than the Brooks, and doesn't get so saggy. I think it looks better, too...

jamesdak 

But how is that cutout when you ride in the drops? It looks painful to me. Do you use the drops and what would you say your saddle to bar drop distance is?