I too have chronic back pain and bulging disk touching nerves both sides of my spine so feel your pain as its a miserable life, i have the long travel thudbuster and a RiDo saddle on my xootr which is nothing special but bearable, had Brooks and Leppers on my beach cruisers and its fantastic, just bought another 2 brooks flyers for my Moulton F frame builds and wont use anything else, may need spine surgery but wont go near me until my heart surgeon says its ok as i need a valve replacement in the near future so they wont take the risk and both scenarios dictate its getting worse so my future is not good so will keep riding until i cant no more plus i have arthritus in most of my joints so always in pain so look forward to summer in the cold UK as its the only time i can enjoy riding my bikes with less pain as the warmth helps.