Originally Posted by
Noonievut
... I'm wondering if a firmer saddle (leather), would be a mircale cure for me for those longer rides. I don't think so, but I'm curious as to whether firmer (hard) saddles that don't have padding, like Brooks (which I've used) and Selle Anatomica, might be the ticket.
I do not really understand, you say you have used a Brooks, but you are wondering if you should try leather. Was the Brooks a leather one or not? Or, was it so long ago you do not recall?
I only use leather saddles, started using leather half a century ago. And for several decades have only used Brooks, mostly Conquests, a Pro on my road bike, and on my indoor trainer bike have a B17. Exception: my errand bike is not leather and am never on that bike longer than a half hour.
Leather will conform over time to your butt shape. My sitbones have left depressions in the leather. That might be what you are looking for.
I tried a C17, it was like a medieval torture device after 20 miles, sit bones were very painful because the saddle did not give well enough. That said, I know several randonneurs that ride the Brooks Cambium saddles and they like them. But I need the leather that will allow depressions to form below sit bones. The C17 is now on my errand bike, short rides are not too painful.
Keep in mind that there are different Brooks models and shapes and widths. If you have a saddle with the shape and width you like, take that saddle to the store to compare to other saddles you look at.
Leather has other concerns, like do not ride it when wet, carry a saddle cover. Needs occasional leather treatment. I suspect that you will not want to put any leather treatment on it initially, that way it can conform to your shape faster, once you apply treatment it does not change shape much after that.