cormacf

Could someone who's knowledgable about Brooks saddles please take a look at the Trekking page on Permaco and tell me if there's any difference between the "Champion" model and the Flyer? The dimensions look identical, and I know the Flyer was "based on the Champion" design, but I don't see any sprung "Champion" saddle on the Brooks site.

For the money, I may just try it out on my city / touring bike – it seems like I could sell it on eBay for close to the retail price.

cormacf

Sounds like it's just old stock from the CHampion Flyer of several years ago. Giving it a shot. $89 including shipping sounds more than worth it.

fietsbob

"Flyer" is what they called a sprung version of the B17

cormacf

Yeah. I got confused because the site listed it as just a "Champion." I guess a few years ago, they had a previous incarnation of the Flyer called the Champion, and this is one of those. As it turns out, the site isn't accepting credit cards or PayPal right now (I think their business is mostly wholesale, and the site, which exists mainly to sell off random old stock, might be kind of ignored), but I called and emailed with the owner, and he's going to see what stock he has left and give me the details.

tony colegrave

The only practical difference between the Champion and the Flyer is that the former has a twin-rail frame and the latter is single wired.

Permaco (previously Persons Majestic) were the exclusive US importer of Brooks' saddles, etc. until the Italians took over Brooks in 2001, and I expect that they've still got a quantity of old stock 'knocking around'. So far as I'm aware Charlie Persons still runs the outfit.

cormacf

That's good to hear. The email I got was from a Charlie.