Originally Posted by
staehpj1
There is an interesting slant to this that I don't understand. On pretty much every touring discussion group a couple dozen recommendations for the B17 are a sure thing when this question comes up. OTOH: I saw only a few Brooks saddles on the TA this Summer (maybe 10%?). I am not sure what that means, but I find it interesting.
It means exactly what you have observed: Brooks saddles are a highly eclectic item. A retro throw-back. And, so awfully heavy. The sales are up, but the marketing is mostly word of mouth. The shops rarely carry them in any quantity or variety. So, people buy the Big Name that's on the shelf. If they feel comfortable
enough, they call it good. Why undergo the excruciating break-in ritual that the Great Myth has propagated? Get the picture?
I'll tell you what I don't get: If the synthetics are so good, why is it that I hear so much about discomfort. Plus, the cost of most of the better synthetics is actually lower than a B17.
EDIT IN REPLY TO YOUR EDIT: I also see few Brooks saddles out there, probably for ther reasons stated in my post.