Rolls vs Brooks
 

I originally posted this in the Road Cycling forum, but perhaps it is better to be posed here. I have been using a Selle San Marco Roll saddle for the past year and a half. I bought it based on many of the reviews indicating how comfortable the Rolls was. However I only find it moderately comfortable After about an hour, it starts to wear on me. So I'm thinking of getting a Brooks B17 again based on many of the reviews I've read on what a comfortable saddle the Brooks is (eventually after wearing it in!) So I'm looking fow any feedback on those who have used both a Rolls and a Brooks. Did you notice a noticable difference?

I can't comment on anything but Brook's. However, I've ridden B17's and a Swallow. I find the B17 more comfortable than the Swallow. The Swallow is still acceptable though.

Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock, Tick-Tock...

No responses yet. Finding someone who has ridden both a Rolls and B17 might be a tall order.

One difference is that the Selle San Marco Roll saddle has a nylon shell covered by leather. I can't see that as being very comfortable. The Brooks B-17, like most Brooks, has a suspended hammock style leather cover. The leather gives somewhat and lets you float in the leather cocoon.

I don't know what kind of riding you do, but if comfort in the saddle is important, I suggest you consider some of the Brooks models with springs. Man, THAT is a comfortable ride. I have seriously thought about making an office chair out of a Brooks springer saddle.

For distance riding, one of the important things is that the saddle allows you to slide nicely on it. Some of the synthetics create too much friction between the butt and the saddle.

Besides that, it is a delicate balance between support and give. I think a suspended leather saddle is as good as it gets.

Brooks (England) are good as well as Lepper (Holland) .

I have the B17, as well as an older perf leather rolls. For my posterior, they are both fine, though the Brooks took longer to break in. I'd say that the Brooks has a slight edge over the Rolls. The Regal is also very similar.

Lately though, I find myself using my Specialized Toupe (143 width) the most!

Can't imagine anything better than the B17, unless, perhaps, you keep your bars way below the saddle. The break-in lore is greatly overdone; mine felt like home right out of the box and I suppose it will get better as takes on the shape of my bottom. I suppose it may not be ideal if you keep your bars way below the saddle, otherwise I don't see how you'd go wrong. Chain Reaction Cycles: only $63 for the standard with surprisingly fast mail by the cheapest method (Imperial International). Comfortable isn't quite the right word; "absent" is better, as it just seems to disappear. No issues. Only time I give it a thought is when I look at the bike and think "man, that looks cool".

I've tried a Brooks B17, a Brooks Swift and a SM Rolls on my road bike. In order from most to least comfortable, the ranking is: Swift, B17, and Rolls. The B17 is the most comfortable on my fg and mtb, but less comfortable than the Swift on the roadie. The Rolls is in a box and not being used. I just couldn't get comfortable on it, but that's just me.

I switched from a Fizik Rondine to a Brooks B17 when the rondine broke. I also have also used WTB road and MTB saddles, and some generic taiwanese saddles. Never tried a Rolls.

The brooks is more comfortable on longer rides than any of the others - it breathes, and it dosen't chafe. It is a very wide saddle, I'll certainly go for a narrow or a team pro next time. It was fine for me out of the box (but HARD), it is more comfortable with time but it is a matter of degree - if it starts off bad I wouldn't stick with it.

The rondine is less fussy about adjustment and is a comfortable saddle in general; just not as good beyond 3-4 hours. It is also lighter.

Tough to compare the two. Selle San Marco is a saddle. Brooks is a religion.

Which Brooks???
 

Thanks all for the feedback - very helpful. Now, if I could follow-up with another realted question?? So I think I'm going forward with the Brooks, however I need to determine which model. At this point I'm :twitchy:deciding between the B17 Special and the Team Professional. The saddles I have now are about 143mm wide, and I seem relatively comfortable on that width. So the Team Pro at 155 wide would seem to make sense vs. the B17 at 170 wide. However I'm reading several posts lamenting the difficulty in breaking in a Team Pro, and in several instances people throwing in the towel on it. So.... any input on this decision????

Personal anatomy has a lot to do with how comfortable a saddle is. Brooks saddles have the advantage of the leather gradually moulding to fit your anatomy while plastic base saddles do not.

Of the plastic base saddles I have used the Fizik Airone that came stock on my Civia Hyland is the most comfortable I have tried. This includes several Rolls I used to use prior to discovering Brooks saddles. I find the Airone comfortable enough so far that I have not felt the need to change it.

Order from Wallbike and you get 6 months to try the saddle out. You should know by then whether the saddle's for you.

^
The small amount of extra $ they charge for their saddles is well worth the warranty.
You don't like it, and you're only out the return shipping.