Which Books Saddle?
 

I'm getting a new bike and I'm confused on which Brook's saddle to put on. I was going to put on something with Springs but now I'm not sure. Everyone has their seat they like the best. What do you like?

The Brooks b17 narrow is my favorite.

depends on bike and on sit bones.

usually the the more upright the bike the wider the saddle you will want.

Generally I use the c/b19's and it seems to work for me.

Which Books saddle? The one with the "r" in it!

With that off my chest, I've tried the Brooks Team Pro and B-17. I can ride either, although the B-17 disappears under my butt, while the Team Pro reminds me it's there.

Saddles are a YMMV kind of thing. What kind of bike are you getting? B-67 would be great on a sit-up-and-beg cruiser bike, Pro on a racing bike (that you're not racing because the saddle weighs something), etc.

Are you at or approaching 200#'s? I am 205, and tried a sprung Brooks B67. No workie for me, too much bounce.

I have had a B17, a C17 and a C19.

I have found that the Cambium saddles are as comfortable as the leather ones, and have a good amount of give. I like the C19 imperial the best, but YMMV of course.

So leather or rubber, sprung or unsprung, regular or imperial.... lots of choices.

Pro Tip: Buy at REI and you can return it within one year if the saddle doesn't work for you. Alas, you just missed the 20% off sale!

The C-17 with a cutout is my favorite these days. Never needs adjustment, and feels the most like a B-17, my former favorite. Professionals, with their thicker leather, take a longer time to break in; B-17s feel great right out of the box and just get softer with use. My only complaint is that once you start fiddling with the tension, you'll fiddle with it forever.

+1.

I do well with the Swift. All three bikes have it--touring, road tandem, and hybrid.

I have a Brooks C19 for sale on this site in the for sale area. I just swapped it out, used for about three months. I like it but I prefer a slimmer saddle.

I have a Wabi Classic with drop bars. I was thinking of something with Springs. Any ideas?

I have / had a couple B-17s. I like them new, but they get too soft fairly quickly.

For bikes that aren't road bikes (so not sitting bent much forward), I love the Brooks Flyer.
The springs are stiff enough to not keep bouncing when I'm pedalling, while still doing their job when I hit bumps.

The shape is also good for the upright and slightly bent forward riding position.

I have the B17 standard and like it a lot, been using Brooks for the past 10 years.

I have a B17 narrow on my Wabi Classic. Works well. Looks wise with drop bars I wouldn't use a sprung saddle, though would use on a flat bar. YMMV.

Have B17s and Flyers. Both are good.

My most comfortable saddle is a Brooks Conquest. It is a Brooks Pro on a sprung frame. I keep my eye out for a Brooks Pro.

Many others like the Cambium.

I think it depends on the bike, but the Swift has been my favorite. I also had a B17 but I gouged the crap out of it when I was sideswiped by a car and crash and burned my near mint 85 Schwinn Le Tour Luxe back in 2019, that saddle was ok, it was comfortable but the Swift was better, probably because the leather is a tad thinner on the Swift, I think.

I’ve have (or had) a Swift, a couple of Pros, a B17, a couple of B17 Narrow, and a Flyer. The only one of the bunch I didn’t like was the Flyer. Too bouncy. I won’t use a Brooks off-road, however. Too slick and too wide.

If you want springs the flyer is my favorite. Usually I ride a b17.

I'm 5'7" and ride drop-bar bicycles exclusively, with the bars a couple inches below the saddle. Neither the B17 nor C17 w/cutout worked for me. I'm happy with the C15 w/cutout and have one waiting for a bicycle that I'm still piecing together. I have no need for springs. This saddle has all the give that I need.

Based on what you said you would not be comfortable on a B17 with that bike set up that way, the B17 is for a more upright riding position, your bike is not set up that way. The B15, or the Swallow, was made for your bike set up, as was the Swift; the real difference between the Swallow and the Swift is that the Swallow is made of thinner leather and will need to be tensioned more often and thus will wear out faster; the Swallow is a true old school racing saddle; the Swift will be stiffer due to the thicker leather, take longer to break in, but will last longer.

Team Pro Classic is my favorite, but alas, it has been discontinued. You can still get the Team Pro Special with the big rivets, though!

I bought a C17, (one of the nice looking limited edition ones), thinking I might like it since I like my B17, and I tried it for the first (and likely the last) time today. It was made in Italy, not in the 'ham. It actually made my hip hurt. I don't understand how.

It's not just the shape of the C15 that I like better than the B17, I'm also happier with the cambium than with the leather. It doesn't require any breaking-in, conditioning or safeguarding, and the saddle as a whole is lighter in weight. Thus I will not be considering the Swallow or Swift, when I can choose the C15 and C13 as their respective alternatives.

Heck yeah! if you're comfortable on Cambium then by all means get a saddle with that cover. I was referencing their names, the Swallow and the Swift due to their shape, not the cover used, the shape of those two saddles suits your bike geometry better then the B17 shape does.

Which Brooks saddle? Which butt?....sorry, but it really is almost that simple.

B17. I can ride all day on a broken-in B17 with just jeans and normal underwear. I have a bike with a Brooks Swift, with that I one wear cycling shorts.