jwalther

Tried a Brooks, but found I much prefer Selle Anatomica. I have X Series saddles on my gravel bike and tandem.

unterhausen

I have a Brooks Pro Special. It developed a ridge down the middle. I'm told I probably can fix it but the saddle is in a box somewhere.

TooLegit

I have one but I'm not sold on it yet. I've only had it for about 200 miles.

woodcraft

I rode one for years BITD. I don't think it changed shape at all. OK then, couldn't do it now.

Rolla

Six bikes, six Brooks. Nothing comes between my butt and my bike but the sweet supple caress of rich English leather. Or whatever they call that other stuff they use.

Wanderer

Yes, I have a Brooks B-17, and love it. Have had it for many years.

I also have a Selle AnAtomica, and love it even more, on my other bike. I have had it for a long time, too!

Bent Bill

I have three Brooks saddles
tried each one for a about 200 miles each
far as I am concerned they are all painful hatchets for me !

tcs

Rode Brooks for years, still have one. Mostly on Selle Anatomica these days. Got a couple of Persons Deluxe 77s which I like. My Lepper Tourer isn't broken in yet. Had Gyes GS-17A I liked - it left on a bike I gave my nephew. The Sella Italia Epoca is easily the best-looking one of the bunch.

Never ridden a Berthoud, Ideale, Selle Monte Grappa, or Tabor tensioned leather saddle.

John_V 

I found that out well after buying the Brooks. When I bought it, I asked the guy at the LBS (my regular LBS doesn't carry Brooks) what he recommended and he pushed the B-17 over the other Brooks saddles he carried. Kind of moot now. Since riding on an ISM, I wouldn't ride on anything else.

Alzerbster

I have a B17, and the first time I rode it all I could do was about 10 miles, before my butt hurt so bad I couldn't take it anymore. I was so disappointed that I spent over $100 on something that felt like riding on a brick. Since it cost so much I wanted to make it work so each ride I spent a little more time on it, and now I have around 1500 miles on it. Its much more comfortable now than it was, and I hope it continues to get more comfortable, but I figure most of the break in is already done. I think a lot of people give up on them before they are completely broke in.

coopman

Yes, a B67. It took approx. 400 miles to get to the point where it felt pretty comfy to me.

KDR

I have had several Brooks B-17 and Pro models. All have been comfy from the start as long as I got the up/down angle JUST right. It is amazing how much difference a small change makes.

Viich

I have a couple B-17. Love it on my commuter, but find it just a hair wide on my road bike. I'm considering trying a B-15, any Brooks afficionados have views on that saddle?

BTW - to me, B-17 is comfy out of the box, still good but don't like the soft feel after broken in quite as much. I'm trying tightening the leather on one of mine to see what it does to the feel.

pdlamb

Coincidentally, I just put a Team Pro back on a bike.* Took a bit of adjustment for height, and a small tweak on the angle. It started out pretty uncomfortable, but half a turn on the rear seatpost bolt, half a turn on the front, and, Yeah! I could ride it all day. I figure the difference between seriously uncomfortable and ready to ride was less that 2 degrees in tilt. Yes, it's that sensitive.

*Back story on re-installing the Brooks saddle. The tension adjustment bolt broke, so I got a new one. Could. not. get. it. in. there. Period. OK, I wanted to try one of these other saddle, so I got one and installed it. In the meantime, replaced the tension bolt with a machine bolt and nut (5/16" IIRC) and stretched it for a few months. I took off the machine bolt, put in the official Brooks tension bolt, and managed to lever it in. Why Brooks can't give you another quarter inch of threading on the replacement bolt I don't know, but the repaired Brooks saddle feels way more comfortable than That Other Thang.

homelessjoe

It sounds like some people do not realize the B17 comes in different sizes , widths and lengths.Of course the wrong size is gonna suck. And they are ADJUSTABLE You can tweek the comfort zone. In fact you can reshape them into any shape you want.I have used them since 1972 when one came on my Raleigh and used them ever since.I have lots of experience adjusting , restoring and reforming .I am sure there are many other great and better saddles out in the wide hi tech world but my butt is acclimated and being uncomfortable is a thing of the distant past

dkatz1

I have one on a bike I rarely ride: an old Rudge (same as a raleigh) 3 speed.
I like the saddle a lot.
And was going to have one on the bike I DO ride. I'm short, and somehow, a Brooks wouldn't work on my bike. I bought one but had to return it. It either wouldn't go backi far enough, or maybe forward far enought, i forget which. I was dissapointed. has to do with a somewhat small frame that my bike has.

drlogik 

I have a Brooks saddle on four of my bikes. I've loved them and have ridden them since my first one I bought in 1975.

Doge

I once had my Italian MASI track bike stolen from work ~ 1985. The insurance company gave me a fair price, but the Brooks on it was not replaceable. I have and ride several others.
Started here ~1980.