Brooks B-17 problems
 

I rode B-17s for years, but they developed humps from the stretching of the leather. Have any of you experienced the same problem and moved on to an Imperial with success?

Have you tried tightening up the saddle? The special Brooks spanner will let you tension it -- just make sure you don't crank it too hard, because that'll stretch the leather even more.


Alternately, you could try lacing the sides of the saddle together.

i still use the Team Pro I bought in the mid 70's.. Though Not in the wet local use.

consider the C 17? , new is the C 19, wider yet. & C 15 , narrower, rubber rather than Leather.

b17
 

It sounds like this is an old dry leather saddle that has the bumps. If you use leather treatment to soften it and allow the saddle to regain its original shape it may regain its structural integrity. I have restored and improved leather with proof hide, Obenoff leather boot treatment, saddle soap, lexol and several others. Paul

FYI & FWIW: Brooks is not the only tensioned leather saddle manufacturer.

Berthoud
Lepper
Persons
Sella Italia
Selle Anatomica
Selle Monte Grappa
Tops


Gyes
Cardiff, made by Gyes
Rivet, manufactured by Gyes to their specifications
Velo Orange, made by Gyes


Dia Compe
Papillionaire
Torelli

(I suspect the Torelli, Dia Compe, Spa, and Papillionaire saddles are also made by Gyes.)

Ideale - out of business, sometimes available on ebay or at cycle jumbles

No connection to any retailers mentioned, examples only. There are plenty of places to get any of these.

any details or photos of the specific humps that you are experiencing?

I've had saddles get wet (usually from sweat) and develop excessive depressions where the bones apply pressure. To some degree, I've been able to apply pressure from below while it is still moist and reshape the depressions. The saddle is manufactured by placing the leather in a form while moist and applying pressure, so it's a valid technique for correcting any undesired curves.

There are cases of saddles being over-tensioned and developing a ridge down the middle. Not sure how well this can be reshaped, but it might be worth a shot.

I bought my first Brooks back in the mid 70's, and have had a variety of experiences. The B-17s seem prone to having the skirts spread out as it breaks in.

The Pro's seem to be built of more rigid leather (or perhaps it is a result of the shape?), but mine haven't changed shape and have barely broken in. The Pro that I bought in the mid 70's has been subjected to neatsfoot oil, Proofide, rain and sweat. It's seen enough miles that the black dye is gone, as are the "Brooks Professional" logos molded into the skirts. There are many cracks in the leather around the rivets, but the shape hasn't changed at all.

Back to your original question... I haven't tried an Imperial.


good luck!

Steve in Peoria

Just a friendly warning, I posted this recently. I rode a B17 for years, but I've come to prefer other saddles. One of my favorites is the cheapy that came with my Wabi Classic. No longer have the Wabi, but I kept that saddle.

Wonder if its a Texas Sun issue sun UV does things to Rubber Maybe the Carbon black is better than the tan?




I got several Fizik Vitesse model saddles From a Brompton dealer , so the leather ones stay in out of the rain
on the bikes used in the wet months.

The C series did not appeal to Me.. it does to others .

Brooks problems
 

Have any of you switched from a B-17 to a Berthoud saddle?