HIPCHIP

Have a couple of guys I ride with regularly that swear by Brooks saddles. One said that once it's breaks in you'll love it forever. The other guy said he bought a Brooks and it felt better than any other saddle he used since day one. Checked with my LBS and they recommend the B17, but there is a Selle there that is basically a leather version of the Specialized seat I have, with the cutout in the middle area. Both are a little over $100, so not bad. Weight is just a little more than the plastic saddles most bikes come with today. I ride distance for fun, so no racing yet, but may try some Masters Cat 5/4 stuff in the future, but I don't plan on being a champ or anything (I'm 58 and just had a major heart attack with bypass surgery, so I'm realistic).

Just curious what you folks think about the leather/Brooks saddles and if it's worth it to get one? Sounds like they are really comfortable once they form to your body. My current saddle is the most comfortable one I found, but it's by no means perfect, and the more miles I put on, the more it hurts, so just trying to figure out if I should try a leather saddle or stick with what I have.

Thanks in advance.

Terrierman

Give it a try, you'll either like it or not. I loved B-17 till LBS talked me into trying Sella SMP
+ and then I gave up the Brooks forever for a goofy looking drop snoot saddle with a perineum cut out. And I won't be going back.

P.S. You will never know until you give it a try. It's your ass, not mine. Same for any saddle. Asses come in many shapes and sizes, so do saddles.

bikepro

Most riders either love'em or hate'em -- they can be very comfortable, but need a little more care than other saddles. They also require a break-in period for the leather to conform to you body.

Dellphinus

I won't ride anything else. B17, was comfy right out of the box. Wall Bike will let you try one for 6 mos-Saddles - Brooks, Berthoud | wallbike.com | wallbike.com
y wife could not stand one. She rides a Lady Avant Selle SMP.

big john

Hate 'em. Hard, deadly ass hatchets, they are. I prefer the Selle Italia with a cut-out. or a San Marco, or even a Fizik.

jjames1452 

You may want to look at the Brooks Cambium as well. I have a couple B17's and two Cambium's. Love them all.

Dirt Road

I had a B-17 that I wanted to dynamite. It never did break in, but me and my butt kept trying, something like 1.5K miles. I was almost thankful that whoever stole that bike took (pretty sure it was the local crack head, who if not in prison now will soon be back) the Brooks with it. I have the Selle Anatomica now. If you're interested, do a Google image search for it. In the wild, they can be pretty droopy and saggy. I'm still out on whether or not I love it, but I have the model without the keyhole cutout. I think it's not through stretching, so it's too early to tell if we'll have a love affair or a messy divorce.

Terex

I've never ridden with a strong rider who used one. They are pretty.

Zinger

Some people like them. some people didn't after trying one.



Standard Imperial.................Narrow

I like my Brooks Imperial better than my previous favorite which was a Selle Italia Turbo. I haven't tried any of the other newer saddles. Btw, I bought the standard before I knew they made a narrow (And I am relatively narrow) and I like it just fine for taking pressure off my perineum.

NormanF

I ride a Brooks Flyer, which basically the B17 top with heavy duty springs. Its hard but that's the same reason people feel more comfortable on a hard mattress than on a soft one. There is no give to create discomfort for soft tissue that shouldn't sink into anything - and it gradually conforms to the shape of your butt. That is the only real advantage a good leather saddle has over plastic or gel.

Of course, they're not for every one. YMMV in using a leather saddle to ride on with your bike.

MinnMan

Depends what you mean by strong. The hammerheads I know don't use 'em, but a lot of the randonneurs swear by them. I think for serious distance riders, the Brooks has some advantages.

I ride on Fizik Alliantes and I have no problems up to maybe 70-80 miles, but on the rare occasions when I ride further, I'm a little uncomfortable in the saddle and wondering if maybe there isn't something out there that's better.

HIPCHIP

Here's a photo of the Selle I am looking at. Nice shape and cutout, but no rails under the seat for support, just leather and some plastic support inserts. You can adjust a bolt to tighten up the leather, but don't know how well that will work.

ofgit

You gotta break in your butt as well as any saddle you may choose. Stayed away from the slung leather saddles in the '70s because of bad experiences (sore butt). In the '80s (in my 30s) I liked SanMarcos, Turbos, Royales and even WTB SST and later V types. Then got a B17 in the late '90s and toughed out the break in period and now have them on several bikes. I ride for enjoyment and fitness these days. Not particularly fast or for long periods of time and generally not dressed out in lycra/stiff shoes.

HIPCHIP

Butt was broke in. Rode for 9 1/2 months doing 150-200 miles a week. Had a heart attack and bypass surgery in April and am now getting back to riding. Lost a bunch of weight so now my butt hurts again on some days and depending on the shorts I'm wearing, so thinking about the saddle as the possible problem. I'm lighter now than I was, so the saddle should feel better, not worse!

RoyIII

I have a Team Pro that is a good saddle. I had another team pro I could not get used to - sold it. I like my other saddles just as much - sell italia and specialized toupe

PaulH

When I bought my Brooks B67, I got it for durability. I was sick of replacing the saddle every few years. Surprisingly, it turned out to be very comfortable. You can get them already broken in and dispense with all that stuff with funny oil.

donheff

My B17 is OK but doesn't seem significantly better than other saddles. I have never found a saddle that is completely comfortable. Maybe I just have a sensitive butt.

mud

B17 for the last seven years...

otg 

I'm still using a B-15 that I got as a 14 year old in 1971. I've also got 2 B-17's and 2 Flyers. Love 'em all. I tried a Brooks Professional for a few hundred miles and it didn't work for me.

Retro Grouch 

You don't read very many Brooks saddle threads with so many balanced responses.

Biker395 

Some quotable quotes up there.

Never tried a Brooks. I've used the Terry Fly for years and it works for me.

RonH

My all leather Selle Anatomica saddles are very comfy.

MRT2

I have my B17 for 2 years now and really like it. It is still very hard, but I can ride it for hours with no discomfort, and my butt feels fine the next day. I bought a Cambium this year with the thought of moving the B17 to my backup bike, but I found that while it is initially comfortable, after an hour to an hour and a half, I my butt starts to hurt. Bike shop offered to work with me to dial in the fit, but I just went back to the B17. My son is now using the Cambium and seems to like it.

Terex

The OP is asking about equipment helpful in Cat 4-5 racing. The Alliante is a singe position saddle, like most Brooks. I ride the Fizik Arione, which is a multi position saddle. A helpful article shows the difference PezCycling News - What's Cool In Pro Cycling : Fizik Saddles: Road Shapes & A New Kurve

The new Kurve, presented in the article, may be a good choice for many people. It is designed to allow a little or a lot of flex.

rumrunn6

best saddle / most comfortable I ever tried in my life right out of the box. dunno if that helps ya