More Darned Saddle Questions
#1
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Senior Member

Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 631
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From: Kearney NE
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Diverge Expert, 2018 Specialized Diverge Comp, Volagi Liscio, LHT
More Darned Saddle Questions
Question #1 for those of you out there with more than one bike that you ride regularly. Do you have the same type of saddle on each bike? I ask because I have came to the conclusion that my rear hates to switch back and forth between the different saddles that are on my LHT (Brooks B-17) and my Specialized Roubaix Elite (stock). I'm just curious on this one, wondering what side people fall on this issue. Question #2 however is the important one. The Brooks saddle is the best I have had, for the bulk of my riding (long distance). Rode 230 miles on it Monday (bucket list double century) with no butt issues. So I'm buying another Brooks. I am however, contemplating getting the B-17 imperial (cutout). My question to the 50+ crowd that have had both: Is the Imperial an upgrade? I'm 57 and as of yet no perineal concerns with the standard B-17. But would rather be proactive than reactive.
#5
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 158
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From: Des Moines, Ia
Bikes: Trek Domane 5.2, Trek 520, Surly Straggler, Trek Roscoe 8, Fisher HK2
I have a Brooks B-17 on one bike and the light weight stock on the other. I like both and feel switching back and forth actually helps
Mike
Mike
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke, Virginia
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro, a MTN bike, and a road bike gathering dust
I have different saddles on my bikes. I've tried switching them and they just aren't as comfortable...not that either one is truly comforatble to begin with
#7
Life is good


Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Not far from the Withlacoochee Trail. 🚴🏻
Bikes: 2018 Lynskey Helix Pro
I'll soon be 70 and used to have different but similar Specialized saddles on my bikes. Last spring I decided that neither was as comfortable as I'd like. After a few friends and acquaintances on BF recommended the Selle Anatomica I tried it on my Litespeed. Got the X series. Loved it so bought one for my other bike. Really comfortable.
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I am a cyclist. I am not the fastest or the fittest. But I will get to where I'm going with a smile on my face.
#8
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 494
Likes: 2
From: Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada
Bikes: various strays, mongrels, and old junk.
Different saddles on all bikes. I just go by trial and error. What works on one does not work on another - but my bikes are very different from each other - upright townie - slightly crouched MTB based utility hybrid heavy lifter - MTB no suspension (actually landed on a fairly sporty road saddle for that one to my surprise) - and drop barred 70's vintage 10-speed (still haven't fount the right combination of comfort and period acceptable looks for that last one ...
Working ....
Working ....
#9
Brooks B17s on all my bicycles.
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#10
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: In the foothills of Los Angeles County
#11
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 30,225
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From: St Peters, Missouri
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
I'm having a hard time contemplating how somebody could ride 230 miles with no butt issues and immediately consider buying a different model saddle. "If it ain't broke, why fix it?"
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#12
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
My arse is OK with what saddles I put it on. sometimes they have been Brooks *, but since It's Wet here 3/4 of the year ,
the Pleather covered ones are most useful for me
even if under a thick plastic shroud. Fizik Vitesse is a wider Unisex saddle. kind of B/C 17 wide.
I have 2 I got thru Brompton dealers , and 1, I got from sierra trading post. [the 3 of them cost about what 1 Brooks sells for Now.]
*Pro, bought in 1976.. On my drop bar Loaded Touring Bike.
my other saddles: Selle Italia Turbo /Avocet, and 'Rolls'
and a San Marco Concor Max, which has seen a lot of miles also since 1988.
now back to the pro Brooks, Babbling..
the Pleather covered ones are most useful for me
even if under a thick plastic shroud. Fizik Vitesse is a wider Unisex saddle. kind of B/C 17 wide.
I have 2 I got thru Brompton dealers , and 1, I got from sierra trading post. [the 3 of them cost about what 1 Brooks sells for Now.]
*Pro, bought in 1976.. On my drop bar Loaded Touring Bike.
my other saddles: Selle Italia Turbo /Avocet, and 'Rolls'
and a San Marco Concor Max, which has seen a lot of miles also since 1988.
now back to the pro Brooks, Babbling..
Last edited by fietsbob; 10-20-14 at 10:02 AM.
#13
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 631
Likes: 58
From: Kearney NE
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Diverge Expert, 2018 Specialized Diverge Comp, Volagi Liscio, LHT
I'm not replacing the saddle (Brooks) that I did the long ride on. I'm replacing the stock saddle on the Roubaix. My problem is switching back and forth. I've had the LHT/Brooks for 3 years. It was basically the only bike I rode. Got the Roubaix in Feb '14. Seat didn't feel too bad, but mostly shorter rides and started doing the Tuesday night group rides. I didn't ride the LHT for the whole summer, as my son used it to train and ride the RAGBRAI. Got it back late July and it felt odd. Took a good share of riding to get the good feel back. Took an 800 mile tour last month on the LHT and felt good. Got back on the roubaix and my butt was complaining. I know there are differences b/t the two that go beyond the seat, but I've got to get past the seat difference first. And since the Long ride supports a case for the Brooks, that is what I will put on the Roubaix. I assume I'm like many people out there that want to have a little variety in their riding.
#14
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Joined: Feb 2011
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From: Minnesota
Bikes: N+1=5
Question #1 for those of you out there with more than one bike that you ride regularly. Do you have the same type of saddle on each bike? I ask because I have came to the conclusion that my rear hates to switch back and forth between the different saddles that are on my LHT (Brooks B-17) and my Specialized Roubaix Elite (stock). I'm just curious on this one, wondering what side people fall on this issue. Question #2 however is the important one. The Brooks saddle is the best I have had, for the bulk of my riding (long distance). Rode 230 miles on it Monday (bucket list double century) with no butt issues. So I'm buying another Brooks. I am however, contemplating getting the B-17 imperial (cutout). My question to the 50+ crowd that have had both: Is the Imperial an upgrade? I'm 57 and as of yet no perineal concerns with the standard B-17. But would rather be proactive than reactive.
I spent a lot of time and money fixing my numbness saddle issue by going to Koobi saddles. I have the same one on all my bikes. If you had a problem and a specific saddle fixed it, why would you not use the same saddle?
J.
#15
I actually use a different saddle on my mountain bikes (WTB She) than on the road bikes (Terry Butterfly). It's because I tend to stay in one place on the road bike but with the mountain biking I am constantly moving up to the nose and off the back because of climbs and descents. My MTB saddles also tend to wear out faster so recently I did purchase the same saddle for all my bikes and will see how that does...
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#16
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Joined: May 2014
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From: florida
Bikes: 1990 Trek 820, 1995 Trek 1220
I had planned to get the same saddle for my road bike. But the bike shop didn't have the same one and I didn't want to wait to order one. Good thing since I like the newer one better.
#19
Seat Sniffer


Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,908
Likes: 3,061
From: SoCal
Bikes: Serotta Legend Ti; 2006 Schwinn Fastback Pro and 1996 Colnago Decor Super C96; 2003 Univega Alpina 700; 2000 Schwinn Super Sport
For long distances (>100 miles), I use one saddle ... the Terry Fly.
For shorter distances (100 miles or less), I can pretty much use anything and be OK. And for commuting, I could probably sit on a paint can and be OK with it.
I sometimes wonder if it is actually better to ride different saddles and different bikes. Maybe it prevents repetitive stress issues by making things just a little bit different each time(?)
For shorter distances (100 miles or less), I can pretty much use anything and be OK. And for commuting, I could probably sit on a paint can and be OK with it.
I sometimes wonder if it is actually better to ride different saddles and different bikes. Maybe it prevents repetitive stress issues by making things just a little bit different each time(?)
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#20
rebmeM roineS

Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,231
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From: Metro Indy, IN
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Before I took up with recumbents, I used matching WTB Rocket V Race saddles on our tandem and my single bike.
(The seats on my single 'bents match and the seats on our current tandem are similar to the single seats.)
(The seats on my single 'bents match and the seats on our current tandem are similar to the single seats.)
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Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
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#22
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 65
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From: Fayetteville,AR.
Bikes: Surly Big Dummy 2013
I have use Brooks Saddle for a few years at first I like them a lot.But my rear did not like them so I switch to this WTB Saddle and never look back love this saddle a lot.
#23
Senior Moment
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 279
Likes: 4
From: Middle Maine
Bikes: 2014 Surly LHT, 2003 Giant NRS 3, 1991 Trek 7000, 2022 Surly Bridge Club, 1985 Miyata 210, 1999 Schwinn Moab 2
I have Brooks saddles on 3 of my bikes, and various other saddles on my other (currently 6) other bikes.
some of those are more comfortable than others, and for short rides (less than 30 miles) any of them are fine.
for longer rides, my butt is happier on one of the Brooks saddles.
some of those are more comfortable than others, and for short rides (less than 30 miles) any of them are fine.
for longer rides, my butt is happier on one of the Brooks saddles.
#24
Thread Starter
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 631
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From: Kearney NE
Bikes: 2018 Specialized Diverge Expert, 2018 Specialized Diverge Comp, Volagi Liscio, LHT
I purchased the b-17 imperial for the Roubaix. Probably would have been ok with just the B-17, but with the more aggressive setup of the Roubaix, I figured the cutout could be a bonus. We will see how it goes. Thanks all for the input.
#25
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Middle of da Mitten
Bikes: Trek 7500, RANS V-Rex, Optima Baron, Velokraft NoCom, M-5 Carbon Highracer, Bacchetta Quattro, Catrike Speed
I think that's what Retro was getting at. What you have works. If you get something else, expect it to be different. Beyond the obvious, what wisdom do you expect from the group?




