Hi all:

I've been riding with a Brooks B-17 for the last nine months. It was a bit hard to break in, and it creaked a lot, so it took me a while to appreciate it. After a month or so, it did stop creaking, and it got really comfortable, and for a while things were quite good: there's nothing quite like a saddle so comfortable that you forget about it entirely. Lately, though, the creaking has started up again, which annoys me to no end, and the fact that the saddle is not impervious to rain has begun to trouble me, too. My question is this: does anyone know of a saddle that is as comfortable as a B-17 for commuting/touring purposes, but is also waterproof and not apt to creak like a 19th century carriage spring?

Nope, no idea.

did you regularly apply the proofide though?

i find any number of microfiber saddles with a wide range of padding to be comfortable. they also cost up to 10x less than a brooks saddle.

Before purchasing B17, for couple of months I've been riding on this one Amazon.com : Planet Bike Men's A.R.S. Anatomic Relief Bicycle Saddle (Black/Black) : Bike Saddles And Seats : Sports & Outdoors
Comfortable, comparatevely cheap, though not waterproof.

My brooks and selle anatomica saddles creak when their tension is on the loose side.

Selle SMP works for me. ' might work for you too.

Yeah, I'm not convinced about the Brooks. I think it's one of these overhyped items for the "trailer queen" equivalent of a bicycle.

I love my Brooks (all of them!)

Any creaking is generally not the saddle, but the saddle rails in the seatpost clamp. I usually put some copperslip in and the creaking goes.

+1. And the cheaper model, SMP extra, is just fine for all weather or commuter. On the other hand, I'd put the Anatomica at the very bottom of my list.

Rain cover ?

...if the creaking is what you want to address, as stated above, it usually has a source that comes from someplace in your
assembly where two things meet and are sliding back and forth a little bit, so basically a lot of possibilities.

You start a methodical process of elimination by putting something lubricious along the rails, (teflon tape sometimes works),
and then tighten all the bolts and connections. there's also a source for squeaks up at the nose, so you work in some wax
or proofide up there, where the leather meets other parts. Most times the squeaks can be eliminated.

But I agree with those here who think that Brooks saddles are a marketing phenomenon. The ones I ride are old, and have
collected on various bicycles in ways mysterious, like gifts from some anonymous cargo cult god.

If it started creaking again, maybe you could tighten the tension bolt a bit. Perhaps 1/4 to 1/2 turn (clockwise when viewed from the front).

I have 4 Brooks saddles and I love them all, especially on long rides. On shorter rides (< 50 miles), I can use pretty much any saddle. But on longer rides, that's when I really notice the difference.

Ah OCD requires absolute silence .. you've never ridden a horse with it's leather saddle either, I assume.

lubricious?

sounds like roadie pillow talk.
i love it! can't wait to work that into a conversation in the near future. i'm going to be on the lookout for their reaction, if any...

Ha, yeah, that's why they were on almost every high end to mid range bike until the 80's?

To the OP, creaking may or may not be the saddle. Are you sure it's not the seatpost or stem? I'd re-grease both. Did your saddle come with a rain cover? Most Brooks saddles do. If you want a similar fit and feel, but a more waterproof saddle, you could try a C-17. I just got one and it basically feels like a regular Brooks. I believe it is very slightly narrower than a B-17, but not much.

Two things:

1. When were the 80s? 35 years ago. Do you wear fluorescent coloured windbreakers now?

2. I would argue that most OEM equipment is a cost-conscious decision for the manufacturer. Meaning that anything on a mid-range bike is a cost-compromise. Especially components that aren't part of a gruppo.

It's not that I don't think they're high-quality, I just think that most people won't get 25+ years out of them to justify the cost. This is one of my reasons that I'm doing the BSO test, I want to set an inexpensive threshold for reasonable quality.

Why on earth do you need to get 25 years out of them to justify the cost? Their prices are on par with other high quality saddles.

As for the 80's, what does how long ago it was have to do with anything? You're talking about style, I guess? I'm talking about quality. My point was that people rode this kind of saddle for many years, so it's not a product that is about hype. Brooks saddles stopped appearing on higher end bikes because other saddles were lighter and cheaper--that doesn't mean better, of course. Those are two considerations I personally place way under comfort and quality.

More power to you with your BSO test--it sounds like this just isn't your market, then.

1. 25 years ago they were on high-end bikes. Old technology. Not necessarily good anymore. Do you use LaserDisc?

2. Actually, it's totally my market ... my BSO test is to see how the other half lives

Old, sure. But also proven and time tested. It does not automatically follow that something which is old is no longer good. Do you buy the newest carbon fiber saddle as soon as it comes out?

No. As evidneced by my BSO test.

Proven and time tested, doesn't mean good value for money. I think we can all name products that survive solely on their perceived heritage. I'm undecided yet if Brooks is one of these. They do have some new models which are interesting. And, to be fair, I probably see dozens of 15+ year old Brooks saddles on beater city bikes every weekend in CPH!

My B 17 doesn't make any noise at all. When it rains, I simply cover the saddle with the cheap plastic bag I always carry under the saddle , between the rails. I like mine. I've tried the Selle Anatomica , with less than satisfactory results YMMV. If I try something other than a brooks ( not very likely ) it would be the Selle SMP, I've heard a lot of good regarding it's comfort.

a synthetic one wont need a cover , though I put one on in the winter for absorbing the wear and tear on the Pleather .

maybe a C17 will give you a fashionably satisfactory Look.

Dated doesn't mean obsolete, either.

I think I tried ever saddle under $50 at REI, none were comfortable for more than 5 miles.

Figured, 'what the hell, I'm uncomfortable anyway...might as well break in a brooks and see what it's all about', and my butt felt great from mile 1. Money well spent.

My B17 makes no noise after 2 years. Quite happy with it. Plan on doing some longer rides this summer and am happy to have it.

It also makes my Trek 7.2 FX look a bit classier!

I also recall reading a story about a cyclist who purchased his Brooks saddle just prior to WWII and used it as long as he was able. So let's assume he used it for 50 years. What other saddle could you use that long? Perhaps Brooks is really the cheapest way to go for the long haul!

One of the best saddles I have ever owned:

Specialized Bicycle Components

I have never owned a Specialized bike, but I picked up an Avatar Elite a few years ago for my road bike and liked it so much I moved it to my Long Haul Trucker (which is set up like my road bike).

I rode Brooks saddles exclusively from 1974 to 1994. Loved them. But given all of the new materials and designs available these days I wouldn't ride a Brooks anymore if I got them for free.