I have owned 4-5 different Brooks and loved them all but needed a saddle with more setback for my 73 degree ST angle. The Mercia provides another cm so decided to try one. I am blown away at the look and quality. Measures the same as a Brooks and the leather seems thicker but that could just be me. Rivbike says they break in faster but I haven't found that to be true...yet. It requires both their spanner and an allen to tension it compared to a Brooks needing only their spanner. A mute point since if you are touring, you will be carrying an allen anyway. Apparently the metal is not real copper and have no idea what it is but it looks great for now. As with other leather saddles (w/out Ti rails) it is not for the gram counters. 001.JPG003.JPG009.JPG013.JPG012.JPG004.JPG005.JPG