Originally Posted by Dfrost

My Gilles Berthoud Aravis (touring width with titanium rails) is fantastic! I would buy another one in a moment, despite the price.

It is similar in overall shape and width to the Brooks B17, but doesn't require as much nose-up tilt to feel "planted". I've heard that same comment from others, and that it doesn't seem to be as sensitive to bar height. My bars are 3cm below the saddle on that bike, but I've also had the bars higher and lower with no change in comfort, unlike my experience with various Brooks. FWIW, I have a B17 Champion Special (thicker leather, titanium rails, about 10 years old) on another bike, and while I've always liked its comfort, the perineal pressure caused me to have it slotted after a few years. No pressure issues at all with the Berthoud.

The skirt shape is such that it doesn't rub my thighs, which was a problem for me on one side of a Selle An-Atomica, and it's there but not to a problem level on my modified B17. Is the width problem with a B17 in the nose area? That's been an issue with many saddles for me, and why I had liked the Team Pro (and disliked the SAA). The GB gets it right there. Also, the cantle plate (curved support under the rear of the saddle) is designed so that you're not sitting on the attachment screws (rivets in a Brooks), which is my complaint with a Brooks Team Pro.