Ordered.... finally after a lot of contemplation I decided on a B17-N since I was skeptical a lot about thigh rub. Then tension was which color...sine my Cross Check is "poo brown" I chose to go with brown color. And the good thing is it's gonna be a valentines' gift from GF . But she's not aware that it's actual leather!!! she's an animal lover, if she comes to know then it won't be a gift anymore . anyway.

Rowan I understand where you are coming from, but then India is not at all an extremist Country - Hail Democracy. There are thousands of Christians & millions of Muslims here, & many eat Beef which is available though not as easily, infact many Indians/Hindus too eat all kindsa meet, me included though beef is only once in a bloom. And I think Indians have a fetish for leather, it's come from the Brits I guess almost all civil & armed forces, school children & most office workers wear leather shoes at work. But I'm not sure if most of it is synthetic or comes from other animals. So who'll be interested in a lowly cyclist .

And here there's absolutely no problem with something like a brooks saddle, cause the Indian made bicycles come with saddles which are remarkably identical to Brooks saddles, the difference is they're made of hard Rexine type material.