InTheRain

It's been a while since I've ridden my road bike. Poor weather. The flu. I kept waiting on the weather. I figured it might be June before I could ride without fenders in the Pacific Northwest... it's been that wet. I put some SKS race blade longs on my carbon synapse. Today was my first real ride on my road bike since early October. I took it easy just coming back from being really sick. 21.5 miles at 14.1mph on fairly level terrain.

Surprisingly, my butt started getting sore at about 15 miles. It used to be that my Specialized Toupe saddle was good for about a 60 mile ride before it started to be uncomfortable. Granted, I haven't been putting a lot of miles on the bike. However, I have been commuting regularly on my touring/e-bike which has a brooks B-17 saddle. I have a spare, but I haven't been willing to put it on my road bike for anything more than 60+ mile rides (which have been few and far between) and in perfect weather (don't want to ruin a brooks by getting it wet.) But, now I have the fenders on the road bike. Yeah, it'll look out of place on my Synapse... but do I care? I've never had a sore but riding a brooks. Do I make the switch, or do I go through the "time in the saddle" to get my butt accustomed to that race bike saddle that looks really nice on the Synapse? I'm leaning hard to go with the brooks. I'm not going to be racing anyone. I'm not much of a weight weenie (more important for me to lose the pounds than look for grams to cut the weight of my bike.)

TrojanHorse

You potentially need more time in the saddle but... if your butt likes a brooks, go for it. Just make sure you condition the leather fairly often to weather proof it and you should be fine.

BigMo59

When I purchased my Brook's, the guy at the LBS said I should treat the underneath side once (but only once) to weather proof it from the bottom. Sorta makes sense I suppose.

tunavic

Which Brooks model? They make some that are racier than the B-17.

Lots of miles on the saddle worked for me

InTheRain

Yep. I have a brooks on my commuter that I've been riding for about 9 years. I only put the proofide on it once (underneath) when I first started riding. The saddle is perfect. It looks a bit used... but you would never think 9 years used. I keep it covered and dry when it rains. My fenders keep it protected.

I have the brooks B-17 special. It has the larger hand hammered copper rivets. It's also been broken in.

chasm54

I'm a Brooks fan and I have a Brooks on a road bike. Not the B17, though, it's a Swift. The Swallow or Team Pro would work well too. My B17 is on a touring bike with a fractionally more upright riding position, which seems to work better. Give your B17 a try, though, it may be fine.

I too tried a Specialized Toupe a few years ago on the recommendation of a friend. It cut me to pieces - the only saddle ever to give me saddle sores.

oddjob2

You might give the Brooks Cambium a whirl. Supposedly comfortable right of the box. I hope to have mine by the end of the week.

InTheRain

I've talked with several people that bought and ride the Brooks Cambium. I've considered it myself (wouldn't have to worry about getting it wet.) The comments that I hear consistently: 1) It's not as comfortable as a leather Brooks, 2) It doesn't get any more comfortable than the day you bought it, 3) the cotton top wears out rather quickly and your clothes tend to "grip" the saddle.

I'll be interested to hear your experience. I'm still thinking about it...

fietsbob

C 15 is the roadie version in the Brooks Cambum line . the Professional is what I used for decades
took it off as I live in a wet place and the Bike is locked up outside occasionally.

Found a Fizik model I , or my backside actually, likes good enough ..

Of course no saddle is Permanent , especially the theft prone Brooks ..

jsigone

roadie fit vs touring bike fit will effect how that B17 will feel on the roadie. You tend to be a bit more hunched over, and not sure if the front of the saddle is cut enough for the range of motion difference between the fittings while in the drops.


For me the toupe was the worse saddle I've owned, flat out didn't fit.

chasm54

I have a Cambium C17. I liked it out of the box but after a couple of hundred miles I agree with your points 1 and 2. I'm a 200lb rider and I find it too firm for long rides. The B17 is much superior.

Disagree with point 3, I find the material surface to be pretty good.

brownfield

I have a B17 and a C17. The C17 is very good, quite comfortable. I've rode 60+ miles on it with no problem. The B17 is superior and I would always prefer it on very long rides but for my gravel riding, as well as riding in the rain, the C17 is the hands down winner. Both are miles better than every other option I've tried.

Deaver

I have several Bikes and each of them have Brooks saddles, two of which are road bikes. I won't use anything else

If you want a leather Brooks Saddle for a road bike I would suggest you consider the following

They make a B-17 in a narrow version (Perfect for a Road Bike riding position). They also have a model called the Team Professional. It has a narrow profile as well but a little thicker leather and no holes in the surface area. It takes a little longer to break-in. The Team Pro is available with big Copper Rivets or the traditional chrome steel rivets. They are more expensive than the B-17 Narrow.

I use Sno-Seal on all of my saddles. It makes them virtually weatherproof.

I have been happy with both.

Brooks B-17 Narrow

Brooks Team Professional

JReade

1. I like it better than my brooks flyer
2. Correct, it's about the same for me every day, but that's like almost all other saddles that aren't brooks.
3. I commuted on one and never had an issue, kit or regular clothes.

I'm 230 pounds and It's a nice saddle.

JohnJ80

If you haven't been riding your road bike, try that first. Just switching bikes can sometimes cause saddle issues until you get used to the new position.

J.

merziac

You cannot have too many Brooks saddles or bikes to put them on.

VCSL2015

I know this is referencing your Brooks, but i cant stop wanting to know that you start out by saying you havent had alot of hours in the saddle this year... and I think 21 miles is a long first ride. As you remember, (if you rode decent last year) it can take weeks before your butt gets used to the saddle and you can actually take a decent ride without padded bike shorts. I think you should give it a shot and wait it out. imho.

RubeRad

If you already have a spare brooks, why leave that investment just sitting around? You already know it will make you comfortable, that's why you turn to it for 60+ mile rides. How does it look? Who cares? Can you see your saddle while you're riding? Can anybody else? You're not racing, you're not a weight weenie, just use the brooks you already own already.

JohnJ80

one is too many.

j.

merziac

It certainly is if they dont work for you.

oddjob2

I stuck it on my 1988 Paramount in Palm Beach. First two days, about 5-6 miles each day, just to get the angle and fore/aft adjustment squared away. Day 3, about 2 hours in the saddle for 20 miles. Firmer than a B17, but no issues, totally comfortable.

After flying home yesterday and cramping 1/3 of the time, let's say I would rather spend 3-4 hours on a Cambium C-17, than 3 hours on a Boeing 757-300 seat.

Due to the temperature extremes in a Florida garage, I trust a non leather saddle will lead a long and happy life.

arex

I have a B17 on an old Raleigh, and a Swallow clone on my commuter. Both of them are great. I'm currently 260.

InTheRain

The main reason that I didn't consider it on the road bike was that it didn't have fenders. It would only take one ride on the wet pavement to ruin that investment. But, now I do have fenders... not really great fenders. I'll take the bike out on wet pavement with the specialized toupe saddle and determine if the fenders keep the saddle dry. If so, then it's probably time to make that change. I foresee taking the fenders off for the dry season, but that doesn't mean I won't get caught in the rain on a ride - I'll have to carry a waterproof cover or plastic bag to keep the brooks dry on those occasions. The brooks on my commuter (which has excellent fenders) has had a waterproof cover on it since October (which seems like the last time we saw the sun around here.)

InTheRain

I'm still considering a cambium. It would relieve the worry of getting the saddle wet (we have had 52+ inches of rain since October.)

RubeRad

I know Brooks sells those, but I thought the point of Proofide (or SnoSeal or whatever) was to make the leather able to stand up to rain. I've seen plenty of threads around here about people worried that their brooks might be ruined because it got caught in a rainstorm, but never a case where somebody's brooks actually was ruined. (And lots of brooks riders in those threads saying, just ride it, it'll be fine)