norcalhiker

What saddle do you use? I'd love to hear your responses, whether you like your saddle or are less than satisfied with it. Have you bought something to add to your bike? Are you using the stock saddle? Why are your impressions of it? From what you know, what makes a good saddle?

late

While there is no one saddle that suits everyone, the all time fave is the Brooks B17 Special. (the leather isn't as good on the standard B17 as it used to be) Another great saddle is the Selle Anatomica Titanico.
Both are intended for people that have the bars at, or close to, the height of the saddle. Which is typical of touring bikes.

markf

I've got a Brooks Swift that I'm very happy with. It's narrower than the B17, which is nice for me because I keep my handlebars lower than a lot of touring bikes. The saddle is reasonably firm, and I use shorts with good padding if I'm going to ride any significant distance.

Dave Nault

I have a Brooks B-17 Champion Special. This saddle took a very long time to break in, about 1500 miles to be exact not to mention the hundreds of adjustments I made to get the tilt right. This has not been a "get on and go" saddle that some others may be but now that it's broken in, it is very comfortable.

bobframe

My touring bike (which is new to me and very lightly used so far) has a Brooks B17 saddle. Jury's still out but early indications have been positive. I had one years ago and loved it, so I think we're going to be friends.

On my fully supported transam I rode a Selle SMP. It is a funny looking thing (down turned nose, huge cutout)...but very comfortable. I think it would have made an excellent alternative to the Brooks.

cyclist2000

I use a 20+ year old Selle San Marco Concor on my touring bike. Also use a Selle Italia SLK. The Concor is my favorite and the SLK is very comfortable. Had a Brooks Team Pro Special 30 years ago and it was very comfortable but it was broken in when I bought the bike. For my lesser used bike I use whatever is cheap and comfortable.

LeeG

ditto on Concor

wahoonc

Brooks Champion Flyer is my current choice. I have use the regular B-17, a Wrights 5N, an Ideale 39? and a few others. I prefer the Brooks.

Aaron

antokelly

i have the brooks champion special copper rails ,brilliant saddle from day one ,but my ass is well hardened to riding a bike at this stage.but it's very important you keep your leather saddle dry (platic bag being the best) otherwise it will go rock hard take ages to dry.another great saddle is fizik alantie expensive but worth every penny .

staehpj1

Probably a minority opinion here, but...
I have not found saddle choice to be that big of a deal unless it is a really bad saddle for you. I have been pretty happy with the stock saddle that came on all my bikes. It usually takes me a while to get used to a new one, but it is me that breaks in, not the saddle.

I don't ride in the more upright posture favored by some touring riders and generally carry much of my weight on my legs, not the saddle or my hands. I suspect that may be at least partly why saddle choice is not a huge deal for me.

My advice is to give any saddle at least a few hundred miles in a relatively short period before giving up on it. This includes the stock saddle that comes with the bike. While I think you need to give it 300-500 miles in a reasonable period, you shouldn't pile on the miles too quickly at the very beginning or the resulting soreness will set you back.

aroundoz

I have always used a B17 or Champion Flyer but most recently purchased a Cardiff Mercia because I wanted a little more setback and it provides another cm compared to a B17. I got to say it's a work of art and I almost feel like I should place it on my fireplace mantle (that is if I had one). It measures the same as a B17 and the leather feels thicker. The copper colored rails also look nice. Its pre-drilled and laced for any sag that will develop and is also chamfered like a B17 Special.

X-LinkedRider

I pretty much agree with Stae... as I have not found a saddle to be super great one way or the other, it's always all about adjustment. I rode 2500 miles on my stock WTB Super V on tour, and I never thought about it once.

KDC1956

Here is my seat its a Serfas RX Cruiser Bicycle Saddle

Climer

I've been using the stock "Bontrager Sport" for long commutes for years and never had a problem. In fact, I just had to go look at it to find out what make/model it was because the saddle never crossed my, er, mind. On my previous bike, though, I got uncomfortable enough that I switched to a saddle with a big hole in it (sort of like KDC's) but was still uncomfortable, and the problem never went away until getting a new bike. I believe the difference was getting a bike properly sized for me, because when buying the new one, I had told the shop about the problem and they took some extra care in setting me up. Thus, like the others guys said, it seems to be more about adjustment than the actual seat.

TurbineBlade

B17 here

twodeadpoets

I went through several "anatomically correct" saddles including the Serfas Rx but continued to suffer from sometimes painful numbing in my bum and down my legs with all after my initial "honeymoon" with them.

I've known of Brooks saddles and admired their looks since I was a kid but was afraid they would be worse, at least during the "break-in" period. After my previous saddle experiences however and hearing how much people loved their Brooks, I decided to "spring" for the Flyer Special hoping a sprung saddle would be the end of it. It was... and since I've done away with springs in most cases and now go with rails. I'm not a Brooks fanatic but am a fan. On my tourer I have a Brooks B17 titanium, my fast bike a Brooks Pro, and on my long (XtraCycle) bike, my original sprung Brooks Flyer Special.

I still get a sore arse from time to time depending on terrain, how in shape I'm in, what I'm wearing, how long I'm in the saddle, and etc but for me, Brooks are so much better than anything else I've tried.

End note: My wife claimed my Serfas Rx which she loved her first summer with it but since has had trouble with it and so one of her gifts this season is a Terry Butterfly Ti. If that doesn't do it for her, I'll have her try the Brooks Imperial and then the "Selle An-Atomica."

centexwoody 

I have 3 bikes with Brooks:

an LHT with B 17,

a Cross-Check Xtracycle with B 66

a Frankenbike late 60's Raleigh frame with various components with B 17 Narrow.

Think the B 17 original is probably my favorite but it also has the most miles on it.
Have tried the Selle Anatomica with the cutout and couldn't ever get it comfortable or get it to stop rubbing pimples. Guess I should post the other 8 unrideable saddles in my garage on CraigsList...

ddez

Brooks Flyer.Comfortable since day one and getting better.Never had any other saddle that worked for me.

Sixty Fiver

My favourite long distance saddles are: Ideale 92D, B17 Imperial, and a Wright's 3N.

I only have one non leather saddle and it is a Velo ergonomic that has seen 10's of thousands of km and has proven itself to also be very comfortable on quite a number of bikes.

alaska joe

+1 on the Champion Flyer. But I'd avoid the pre-aged ones available now. I also have a pre-aged Flyer for another bike and found you still have to break them in and they just don't look as good as the regular ones.

arctos

Dare I confess to using Cinelli Unicanitor plastic saddles on all of my bikes since the early 1970s.
They just seem to fit my anatomy for comfort and have been very durable on and off road on all of my tours.

AngrySaki

I swap between a Fizik Rondine for slow upright touring (I raise my handlebars when I use this saddle), and a Profile Designs Tri Stryke for faster riding around near home, or if i have to try and keep up with faster people

Erick L

Brooks B17 on both bikes.

kayakdiver

one that fits

kaliayev

Brooks Team Professional.