Brooks saddle: which should I get?
 

Hi, After reading many positive comments about them on this forum, I'm looking into getting a Brooks saddle for my Specialized Sirrus. I do day trips, and 2-5 day tours (CC or sustained).

Any recommendations on which to look at? I've heard much good about the B-17. I saw that they have narrower B-17 available. Any thoughts on that one? Which one do you have and why did you choose that one?

For what it's worth I'm 5'11" and weigh around 185 lbs.

Thanks for taking the time!

P.S.: If you know of a shop around Montreal (Québec) that sells them, please let me know.

i got the b17 standard as it was the msot storied and i kinda figured that many people couldn't be wrong.

i got it online through wallingford bicycles ( http://www.wallbike.com/Brooks.html ) who offer a 6 month money back (less postage) guarantee if you find you don't like it.

i've had mine since about january and put about 7000kms on it and don't think i could switch to anything else for much more than a trip down to the shops.

in short i used to notice that my butt existed after about 60-70kms. now i don't know about it at all. hope that helps.

B-17. I have one on my touring bike and it's the most comfortable saddle I've ever owned.

During the past two years-
I've had a B-17, which was nice; my wife wanted to try one of those "hard leather seats";
she won't give it back.
then a B-68, which i was just getting nicely broken; my teenage son said he "kept getting
numbnuts" from his seat- so i had him try the B-68. Which now he has on his bike.
I ordered another B-17, i'm not going to share it.
Did you contact 1HP bike to see if they had the Brooks ?

"Which one do you have and why did you choose that one?"

I have two 67's and three 17's.
I got tired of switching the saddles to bikes that didn't have a Brooks, so I kept buying them so that all the steeds are now well liveried. That's why. I have a large box full of failures - not all of them bad saddles, either. Some of them are plenty good for short rides of less than 40 miles, but some aren't. The more padded/gel, the worse for distance.

For a Sirrus with flat? bars, I'd go with a 17. At your size and weight, it should fit pretty good. You can measure your ischials by cutting off the four flaps of a corrugated card board box, stacking them, sitting on them for about twenty minutes while you watch the news or something. Then, measure the center to center dimples.

A 17 is 17cm across the seat portion. That's the extreme outside width. Be aware that there is a steel frame under the rear that curves around to the sides - right next to your ischial bones. You also have a fleshy pad surrounding you ischails that is about the size of a 50cent piece. All that needs to fit inside that frame, or you'll end up quite sore just to the outside of your sitbones.

So, when you get that dimple measurement, add about 1 full inch of width. That's your comfort zone. Now, subtract about 1 full inch off the width of the saddle, and see if your comfort zone fits inside. If so, it's golden.

I love this forum.

1) post a question
2) go to bed
3) wake up and make coffee
4) read loads of helpful replies!

clipperton: Yeah, that's where I'll end up buying it if I can't find l LBS that has them

jibi: thanks, I'll look it up.

martianone: Yup, that's the sort of post that got me looking into them in the first place! Have you been spying on me? I didn't know about that shop (1HP) but sure am glad to learn about that one. You need to see how far I need to go to get there from where I live! Such a small world. ROFL!!! They're closed for vacations until next week, but I'll look them up when they come back. Funny that someone from VT tells me that I have a shop a mile away from home. BTW, just in case I can't find one here, do you know of any shops in Burlington (skirack and such) that carry them? I cross the border every now and then...

jcm: I'll use your method and measure my arse and confirm that the B-17 fits. It shouldn't be a problem as I have an average-sized rear end.

Thanks for your help and keep the LBS suggestions pouring in, as I seem to miss even the closest to my home.

jpmartineau:
in Burlington try a bike shop called "OldSpokesHome", www.oldspokeshome.com;
their phone is 802.863.4475. they are a very good place to deal with, purchased
my CrossCheck there. from where i live in northern VT, i can get to Montreal more
quickly and with less traffic hassle than to Burlington, VT; stop at 1HP cycle once or
twice a year.

I have a Swift on my tourer and a B-17 on my MTB. I like the B-17 with the more upright riding position of my MTB, and the narrower Swift for the more bent over position of my tourer.