best Brooks for my commuter
 

I have a Specialized expedition 2006 model and while I really like the bike I'm not all that enamored with the saddle its too wide and too mushy. I want to put a Brooks on it but I have a B-17 on my road bike and I think it would not be compatable with the more upright hybrid I ride 14 miles RT and so its not a great distance so I don't wear biking shorts just regulay jeans or any other pair of pants to work in a factory setting. Thanks and any ideas would be appreciated.

the best brooks is no brooks

Just sitting on the seatpost?

Look at the Champion Flyer, or the B67, both are sprung, intended for an upright posture, and very comfortable. The Champ Flyer has the same top as the B17, and the B67 has a flatter top.

try the B.17
 

If you like the B.17 on your road bike, swap it over to your hybrid and try it. That way you're not guessing whether it is compatible or not - you'll know. If you like it, get the B.17. If you don't like it, get the B.67.

I am currently breaking in a B.17 on my hybrid ( an 06 Specialized Sirrus ) and love it so far. Have currently logged 190 miles in it (156 of that during an around the island tour) and I had no major issues (other than it is a new seat).

Here's pics of it on my Sirrus hybrid: http://back2dabike.wordpress.com/my-bikes/

Let us know what you go with.

I can never say enough good things about the B17. I think the only thing it may not be suitable for is a very aggressive "racing" posture. Aside from that, anything from a road bike ridden like a tourer/commuter to a hybrid is well within the design of that saddle.

But I'll agree with Bloodhound...simply swapping it over is certainly a cost free experiment.

I ride my Kona Dew with a fairly new B17 that's set at level. After the first few break-in rides, it feels great and is super comfortable. Best of all, I find that I don't even feel the seat anymore. On my hybrid, my commute speeds range from 20-40 km/hr (12.5-25 mph) and I find it perfectly suitable for that speed range and for that more upright position.

The regular B17 is way too wide for my road bikes, but it would work well on a hybrid type bike. The B17 narrow or the swift are much better for the road bikes.

I use a B17 on my commuter. It's a touring bike so it's setup fairly upright. I also don't wear cycling shorts on this bike. I ride 16 miles one way and I don't feel the saddle at all. Never have actually.

So BLOODHOUND: No installation problems with the suspension seatpost? I'm about to order a B17 and was wondering about that

There should be no problem installing a B-17 or B-67 on any seatpost. A B-66 or similar multi-rail saddle is a little more difficult to install on modern seatposts but works great on old style straight seatposts.

For the OP, I think a B-17 may work for you but a Flyer or B-67 with a solid seatpost may provide the best ride.
Craig

Does the Brooks have any additional padding or is it all leather?

For you maybe. My Team Pro has been relegated to another bike and the road bike now sports a Champion Special. Different okoles like different saddles. ;)

All leather. Padding is for wussy.

haha

The 'roid saddle:

http://www.citystop.com/bikes/images/ISM_Touring.jpg

Thats a nice saddle for nudist endurance racing, you can take a sh¡t without having to stop and get off the bike.

Its all leather but there isn't a hard plastic shell under the leather. The leather has considerable give. More than a typical padded racing saddle. There are also models with springs although I don't find that necessary.

As the saddle breaks in you can adjust the tension on the leather to keep it comfortable.

no problems...
 

Nope. The suspension seatpost mounts seats just like a non-suspension. Well, like some non-suspensions. There is a single allen head bolt that will back out straight down, leaving the top half of the clamp free to come off. The left and right rails of the seat fit into the two grooves on the seatpost base, then put the top half back on and reinstall the bolt.

The only thing different from the seat I had on there before is that the two rails get narrow more towards the middle of the seat. This means that the seat won't mount very far back. My original seat was mounted almost all the way back. You can't do that with the Brooks. But, my riding has improved, so I may have had my original one too far back.

Sounds nice, I think I'll get me one :)