I just got a B-17. Marinated it in proofide (slathered it on and put it in a black plastic bag on my car's front seat for a few days) and it is the MOST COMFY seat I've EVER ridden in just 166 miles of riding so far.

What a blessing to be able to ride without noticing my derrier!

I'm pretty certain that Brooks has ended my (seemingly endless) quest for a decent saddle.

got a b-17 and it was great out of the box.. no proofhide, no nothing -- now that i've been messengering on it 25+ miles a day, it definitely feels nicer and nicer every day. i waterproofed it a little with some NikWax i had for my boots... "seemed" to work.

You guys have me wanting a B17 now. If it passes the messenger test, it's probably a pretty good saddle!

I got my B17 Championship about 2.5 months ago and have ridden about 250 miles on it so far. At first I did what I read a lot and put it as far back as I could. BAD IDEA!!! My hands and arms started hurting like crazy. I've slowly been pushing it more and more foward. Now I have it about centered and the pain is gone. As far as my sit bones are concerned, padded shorts or bareback, they love me for getting a Brooks.
Yesterday was my best day so far with this saddle. I think I started to notice butt grooves in the seat. I shined a light on it at all sorts of different angles to make sure and kept touching it and sure enough I was right. It only inspired me to ride more and more. This is the best bike related purchase I have ever made. Riding a bike has never been so much fun. The thing feels like a lazy boy.

Thanks Brooks,
rlh

Yeah me too! I just noticed the sits bone patteren yesterday! Hey! Know what else I noticed that I love about the Brooks? Taking care of it! Yesterday I got drenched on and so did the Brooks. When I got home I brought it in and proofhided it and even let the stuff ooz in the side using a hair dryer (great idea!). When I was done it looked better then ever!
I would also like to add since I started this thread on the 1st, I've put on quite a few more miles on the ol' B17. Yesterday I noticed that after 2 hours, I hadn't felt any discomfort at all!

Like what is this break in stuff?

Understand I'm serious. I can't ride a Brooks pro without pain. No amount of adjustment worked. I gave it a good 750 miles and sold it.

Now I've ridden several B17 and B17 Champions (the one with single rail springs) and don't break them in at all. I've been given a few saddles by people that attempted this break in junk, one has so much neatsfoot oil on it, it stinks from 10 feet away. Its so greasy and soft its unridable.;

I disagree with the idea that the saddle is a hammock. They aren't supposed to be that soft. If you have to soften it to make it ridable it won't last the many thousands of miles that it should. The instructions from brooks say a light coat. And they emphasize light.

If you've got a skinny butt, try the B17N where the "N" stands for narrow.

The trouble with saddles is they are a very personal thing. I don't buy into the one saddle brand or model or even type fits all. I think there are people that will never find a Brooks comfortable. I'm just lucky I do.

Now if you could just bring on this globar warming farce in MN so it would quir raining like its Seattle...