crosscountry08

I'm sure that I can probably find my answer in another thread on this forum, but i was having trouble so i figured i'd just start a new one. First of all, is the Brooks B17 as incredible as most people I read claim it to be. And secondly, do you use it on touring where theres always the possibility of getting it wet and not being able to get out of the rain.

kk4df

To me it is. But I understand that some don't care for the Brooks.

It can get a little wet, but I do keep a rainproof seat cover in my seat bag. I use it if it's going to rain really hard.

linux_author

shame you missed aebike's $49 Brooks Flyer sale a couple weeks ago... i use Brooks on all my rides, and i have to say that i would only consider a Brooks for touring...

worried about rain? just stick a couple cheap plastic grocery bags underneath in the saddle's rails...

i'd break in the saddle before taking off on a tour, although i have two black B17s that were good to go out of the box... OTOH, i have a honey brown B17 Special (copper rails and rivets) that is just now broken in after more than 1,800 miles!

i use SnoSeal on my Brooks, so i'm not really worried about rain...

sth

You wont find a better seat. Mine took a couple thousand rather uncomfortable km's to grow into me, or was it the other way around? But now it just gets better and better with every ride. As for the rain, I think people here fuss too much about that. After all, most of the time you are riding the bike your butt is covering the seat. At night, and if you plan to be away from the bike when the weather is poor, simply slip a plastic bag over the seat. I have coated the bottom with sno-seal and keep the upper surface supple with Lexol. Get one, you wont regret it...once its broken in.

wahoonc

I use a Wrights 5N which is very similar to the Brooks B17, I have had mine for over 30 years and it has gotten ridden in all types of weather. I just bought a couple of Brooks Champion Flyers for other bikes that I am building up, body is getting old so I am going with the extra comfort of the springs. I always treat mine with Proofhide. I coat the bottom of the saddle very heavy and leave it. I also carry those cheap shower caps you get free from the motels to use as a saddle cover in the rain when the bike is parked. I usually wear a rain cape so the saddle stays dry when I am riding in the rain. Also all of my bikes have fenders. I also have Brooks saddles on my Raleigh and my Staiger Florida city bike, but those are B-66s's also sprung. My wife has a B-18 on her Raleigh. Not eveyone likes the Brooks but it seems to be a all or nothing proposition.

Aaron

jcm

To those who like them - they're great. To those who have never tried them - they're an inigma; how can something so hard be so favored by so many? To those that have given up on them - I say most probably quit too soon, or didn't understand the unique set up that alot of people require with a Brooks, i.e., they bought the wrong model, had the bars all wrong, had expectations of a love-seat experience, etc.

A bicycle is a system of mutually supporting parts. The saddle is just one aspect, and not dialing-in the system as a whole can effectively sour a rider on any one of it's components.

wahoonc

+1 on that! I have one bike that I am still messing around with settings on, I am going to swap the stem out this weekend for a different one to see if it will fit a bit better. The best bet IMHO is to buy you a Brooks from Wallingford Bike and give it a shot. Bill has a very liberal return policy, that way you can get miles on it and decide if it is for you or if want a different type. I have only returned one item of the many that I have bought from Bill and it was no problem. I continue to buy from him even though his prices aren't the absolute cheapest (there is much more to life than cheap prices) his service can't be beat and I want to continue to support that.

Aaron

jcm

+1 on Wallbike. I just recieved my 5th saddle from them a week ago. Naturally, a honey B17. Bill sells the returned saddles on e-bay. People should check them out as they have almost no use since most people who return them are the ones who give up too soon.

To those who like the idea of springs: It's all good. I have two B67's and I love them. The springs are very firm, intended to give very subtle suspension. The Flyer may be my next saddle for my 520. Bill Laine will get the nod again.

NoReg

Maybe not so many people have been in the leather boot and shoe business these days. Breaking in is a simple process of using sufficient force to render flexible the hard leather in your object. The problem is most often we have fit problems say in the toes, and it's a missmatch leaving it up to the toes to stretch out something like the doubled toe cap in a pair of boots. Same thing with the Brooks you can use your ass for 1800 miles or a hammer, or golfball for 20 seconds, up to you. Personally I prefer not to use an ass to do a hammer's job. Just thinking of building a deck makes my eyes water.

xilios

You wouldn't use a hammer on a good pair of leather shoes so why use one on a leather saddle?
Leather works best when it's used by the owner and over time it molds to his/hers body form, then it fits perfect.
Some saddles fit great from day one (like my wifes Champion Flyer S) others like my Champion Flyer needed about 800kms to get there, and now its just perfect, we ride 7/8 hours a day without any problems. And thats after a couple of years.

jcm

There's a few different ways to speed up the process of "breaking - in" a Brooks. I just ride 'em. They never seem uncomfortable, even right out of the box. They just feel better the more I ride over time. Eventually, they take a form. By then I've long forgotten what they felt like when new. So, I just got a new 17 to remind myself. Again, no discomfort at the start.

FXjohn

Do any of you guys use the Brooks saddles with the springs? No one ever mentions them.

xilios

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/s...oks-flyer.html

wahoonc

Posts 3,5 & 8 are all talking about the Brooks with springs. I have 6 or 7 leather saddles on various bikes, only one is not sprung...

Aaron

FXjohn

thanks guys. I think the springs will be worth their weight.
That's what I'm getting.
There are also some extreme looking brooks with springs in front too. Any comments

wahoonc

I have never ridden the "big" Brooks saddles. But I am considering getting one for my rat rod bike that I am building up, just because. The B66 is what I use on my Raleigh 3 speeds, wife uses the Lady's B18, I use the Champion Flyer on my tour bike(s) and fixed gear. I have had a bike with a suspension seatpost but didn't like it at all. The sprung Brooks have just enough spring to soften the really harsh stuff, but don't bounce when you are riding like a suspension seat post does.

Aaron

NormanF

I ride a B-67 on my Trek 520. In inclement weather, the solution is a bonnet to keep the saddle dry. They are readily available from Brooks dealers. YMMV; some people love Brooks and some hate 'em. I think they are superior to plastic gel saddles simply because the hard leather keeps your soft tissue from getting chapped. Its the same reason hard benches are more comfortable than soft cushioned seats; a hard surface can be comfortable in some circumstances.

jcm

The only saddle I can recommend with three springs is the B73. The top is the same as the B67 almost, actually more like the B72. I have a B73, but an old one. I ruined it by over-oiling. Back then, the rear springs were .084" gage wire. Brooks no longer makes that gage. The newer springs are .093" and are the same as the B67's. Quite firm. The ride on the older B73 is absolutley decadent. It's made for an upright posture, like on a 3-speed, but I've actually used it on a Trek 520 with North Road handlebars. You can ride down a railroad on that thing. I took the springs off the ruined 73 and put them under a 67 because they are so luxurious. That 67 is now on a 3-speed I restored. Very nice leisure bike.

All the other multiple spring models are too large to be considered for general recreational riding, IMO.

Cave

B17 for about 1000km, overall happy with it, the benefit is only on longer rides though. I don't find it a magical saddle for short rides, but once I hit 3-4 + hours it is more comfortable than others I have tried, because it dosen't seem to chafe or get too hot.

I haven't had any problem with rain/getting it wet. I use mudguards, and I cover it when I'm off the bike if it is raining a lot. I dubbined it early on, haven't used anything since, probably now due for another coat.

Be careful with the width - I think the B17 is too wide for the way I ride, but it is fine if sitting upright. I gather the ones that are shaped like a B17 are designed for an upright posture rather than tilting the hips forward.

Breaking in was not a problem for me, I started with it 2 days before a tour (old saddle broke!) and it was fine on day 1 and great by day 3 (sore when first getting on but worth it after a few hours)

wahoonc

Cave,
You are right about the B17 not being for an aggressive riding position, it is more for the older style of tour bike. Remember when the bars used to be at or slightly above saddle height That is where it excels.

Aaron

kipibenkipod

Good to here it from experience, because the B17 defined as a saddle for people that put the bar lower then the saddle.

Juha

As mentioned, this is highly subjective. You will have to try one out, maybe for several hundred kms to find out for sure. For me the B17 Narrow has been very, very good with surprisingly short break-in period.

They're made in UK, and lots of them are sold in UK as well. It's not exactly the sunshine beach of the world. Treat the saddle properly, maybe cover it if you suspect it's going to rain when you're not riding, and it will last decades they say. I've only had one for a couple of years, but so far I have no reason to believe it isn't so.

--J

crosscountry08

so if you I'm riding in a more aggressive position rather then an upright would you go with a more narrow B17? and what about the champion flyer? do the springs make that much of a difference? thanks for all the responses

wrobertdavis

You described my problem!!!! Wow, after all the techno-garble I've read, you hit it square on the head. I did expect a love-seat experience and never got it with a Brooks or any other saddle. Then I found the Selle An-atomica. Ah, the love-seat experience finally realized.

Bob

wahoonc

For the more aggressive position I would suggest Team Pro, Swallow, or the Swift and then the B17N YMMV Those are all more narrow saddles.

The Champion Flyer is identical to the regular B-17 except it has springs. I use a Champion Flyer on my touring bike.

Aaron