I do have a rain cover; it's just one more thing to worry about, though, and I'd rather not have to worry about protecting the saddle when I lock the bike up in front of a store or bar.

It's definitely where the leather meets metal. It stopped creaking when I tightened the bolt under the nose of the saddle several months ago, and it back up when I tightened it up again. In addition, it sounds exactly like the leather/hardware creak you get when you're messing with horses. (Various members of my family have a lot of those.)

I think you may have nailed it. :p I get really annoyed when my brakes make a lot of noise, too. (BTW, though I'm not terribly fond of them, I have ridden my share of horses, and the creak I'm hearing with the Brooks saddle is definitely a leather-meets-hardware kind of noise; I'm positive it's not the seat post or rails.)

I love the Terry Butterfly with Ti rails. I don't think I will ever use a different saddle. Not sure if you would want a saddle marketed to women, though. I bought my saddle used and three years later (riding 3-6x week), it is still in great shape.

Last year, I did have a period where there were creaky noises coming from the saddle. I turned the bike upside down and put some oil over the area where the rails connect with the saddle and let it sit. I had to do this a few times over the course of a few weeks and I haven't had any creaking noise since then. I still oil it once every few months. I don't let my bike sit outside in the rain and I don't ride it in the rain much either (not much rain where I live anyway...).

I'm not sure that's the issue.

Mmm, i think they missed the first post.

Anyways, having used sprung seats 2003-2014, i learned to not even hear the constant & ever-present squeaky. I now use the stock breezer seat on new bike, which has no springs, and it works fine. Just the right amount of padding & not too wide.

If a leather seat is squeaking and it has no springs, its 100% related to the mounting hardware of the leather. I woukd not use oil, i'd simply de-tension the whole thing & tension it back up as tight as possible without stripping a screw. The leather will stretch out over time from tension at the mount points, so periodic adjustments will definitely be needed to avoid squeaky. ;)

- Andy

It's interesting how such a thing can create such strong opinions. I've used Brooks for years. I did try Specialised BG saddles on my commuter for a while but eventually gave up and just made sure I always had a saddle cover available.

As to old not necessarily meaning better, that's true, but I think quality tells. To me Brooks have lasted because, provided you get on with them, they are brilliant at what they do, and go on doing it for ever. Sometimes old is because it stands the test of time.

I ride steel and my favourite is my 64 Scot. It rides better thatn any new bike I've ridden even though it's heavier. It just feels right.

I have an original Jim Blackburn rack on my Audax bike, the rack dates from the early 80's, and has carried bags over probably 80-100000 miles over the last 30 odd years. It's showing a lot of wear and notching because of abrasion etc, but still works as intended.

Similarly, I still use a mid 70's Carradice Cotton Duck Saddle bag and it has been all over Europe. My Campag d/t changers on my Scot date from the 70's and still work perfectly as do the Nuovo Tipo hubs I bought the same time, probably now on their 8th or 9th sets of rims.

And my oldest current Brooks, a youngster at 25 years old, still works great, has mellowed into a lovely honey hue and sets off my battle scarred Audax bikes 531c frame perfectly.

I wonder if my wifes new Carbon fibre Orbea with it's Selle Italia Flite will still be here in 30 years?

This one made me smile. I think I've now purchased and tried ALL of the Specialized saddles, including the top-end Roma. NONE of them - not one - is as comfortable as my B17. And one of them - don't recall which one - creaks constantly.

So the issue isn't confined to Brooks (my Brooks makes no noise after many months of use.) Sounds like you got a bad one. I would contact the guys in England to see if they have suggestions for a fix.

Just wanted to insert a testimonial here, since my $127 Brooks B17 is so much more comfortable than my $120 Specialized Roma. Good luck with your challenge.

I love both my Brooks saddles, a B17 and a B17 narrow. I don't need the approval of others' to validate my choice and taste, so I don't mind it when someone else likes what they like. I do mind, however, when I'm told that their choice should be my choice and if it isn't I'm a delusional victim of marketing or nostalgia.

The only other saddle I've used that works for me is the Fizik Arione. A have Ariones on each of my "road" bikes (the Brooks are on my commuter and tourer; I'm just OK with the WTB on my MTB), but they don't give me the sitting-on-a-couch all day comfort I get from the Brooks.

I am using the Brooks Cambium saddle on my commuter. I have found it to be very comfortable and impervious to weather conditions.

Me, too. I love my Cambium! It should be nicely weather-proof!

I agree with the others -- your creaking is probably coming from the saddle rails - seatpost clamp interface. Try lube and perhaps more tension. Regarding rain, apply some Proofide on the underside of the saddle, and get a Brooks (or other brand) of saddle cover, and that should not be an issue.

My b17 creaked when it was new, turned out to be the rivet to leather connection I lubed each rivet and it has never returned. I can't remember what I used to lube it but I remember not using very much.

... and you're comparing $50 saddles (or less) to $100+ saddles and expecting what exactly?

I'd rather not pay well over $100 for a saddle or worry about one getting stolen or drenched.
But I've ridden a Brooks Pro for five years and a B17 for three years, and nothing in my 50+ years of riding compares favorably.
Never had a creak from either of them. Almost never used Proofide after the first light treatment. I do tighten them up a tad after they sag noticeably.
As for the economics, buying a new saddle is always a crapshoot. If you pay less for a saddle but don't like it, you've lost that money. I'll stick with what works for me.

I really like my Selle SMP's...(Glider & Forma)..they do fine in the rain and mine were comfortable for me out of the box. I had the same creaking problem with a saddle but it turned out to be the seat clamp on the post. The clamp was made of carbon fibre and the seat rail was titanium....not a good combo for some reason. I used loctite blue on the rail and it fixed my creaking noise.

Love my old Brooks saddle from long ago.....still ride it some. Hope this helps...........

I used a Brooks Swift Ti on one bike for two years before coming to the conclusion it just wasn't as comfortable as the saddles on my other bikes:
- Selle Italia Flite (aka "Classic")
- Selle San Marco Concor
- Selle SMP Glider

I replaced it with another Flite (bought used on eBay).

Most reputable LBS and that includes REI, expect that a saddle purchase is heavily trial and error so they take them back or have loaner programs. Your Brooks is a $100 saddle too so comparing it to a über cheapie saddle is really not much of a comparison and one could try a better saddle at no more risk than a Brooks (or any other saddle for that matter).


J.

Well, the Flite is 130mm wide, the Glider is 136 and the Concor is 140. The Swallow is 150, so they're pretty different. If your sit bones want a width of 130mm, few 150mm saddles are going to suit you.

I have over 270,000 miles on my Brooks and I wouldn't trade it for all money there is! Yes, the Brooks saddles have their drawbacks but if you know how to care for them, it should last the rest of your life. I agree with other posters on how to care for a Brooks. If you check with Brooks, they should give you lots of good feedback on this subject. I saw a picture of one of the first Brooks (from the 1800s) and it looks like it could be used today.

You could also get 5 cent ear plugs or just live with it? :D

- Andy

Its taken me a few years of riding Brooks saddles to to finally figure them out. You need to really watch out for when they start to sag. It may feel super comfortable, but it throws out your fit leading to saddle sores and numbness from sliding around and being supported not by your sit bones, but by softer areas. After tensioning my B17 last summer I needed to lower my seatpost about 1 cm to compensate.

On that same saddle I probably used far too much proofide and the sides would flare out while riding. It appeared that no amount of tensioning would fix that, so I laced it instead.

My first Brooks was a pre-aged B17 which came laced. The laces can also help cut down on squeaking by limiting the vertical movement of the saddle leather.

I've never seen a 35 year old plastic saddle...Mine used to last about 4-6 months ....Brooks aren't for everybody.

Handlebars,saddles and pedals are personal things......1 size does not fit all.

While there are plenty of good non-Brooks saddles, I don't think there is saddle that is just like the Brooks B17, but made out of synthetic materials. I think the many qualities of the Brooks B17 comes the very shape and choice of materials.

I have abandoned the search for a B17 substitute for several reasons:

For me, the Brooks B-17 is a perfect fit: I can ride mine all day without problems. I even find them comfortable from day one. I also find them long lasting.

There is actually a chance that I can buy exactly the same saddle shape if I need another saddle in 10 years or so.

I used to ride a Turbomatic saddle (can't remember the exact model) but when the synthetic leather was worn, I could no longer buy the same saddle. The new Turbomatic model had another shape and stitches, and gel pads and what not. Then I tried San Marco Rolls saddles; they where OK and cheap while not long lasting. But then they stopped making Rolls saddles (it has later reappeared as an expensive retro-saddle). Many synthetic saddles seems only to be in production for some years, before marketing forces dictate a change, since for many people an "old model = boring".

It can be a slow, expensive and painful experience to change saddle models. It is something I would rather avoid, so I stick with my Brooks B17's. Yes, I wish they where lighter etc., but to me their shortcomings are minor compared to their main advantages; they are comfortable, and the model is very likely in production in 10 or 20 years time too.

Saddle choice depends on riding position and your body. Asking here which saddle to use is pointless. Try out a few styles and see what works for you. Most shops will let you try out and return if not damaged. I use a WTB Rocket V on my more upright MTB commuter, and Specialized Toupe on my road bike. Took lots of trial and error to find the right saddle.