"Still, compared to a Brooks, SA leather looks like chicken hide."

Close. I believe it's Ostrich :D

I had a Brooks Team Pro on one of my bikes, had it set up so it was bang on level from front to back, used a spirit level to do this, and it was absolutely perfect. Took it off to try a more racey saddle, but considering putting it back on.

The Pro is designed for flat setup, lower bars.

I like my B17 and B17 Imperial saddles, and I'm sketchy about trying an An-Atomica after getting to check one out during a ride last year. (I think it was papawizo's bike I saw it on).

The only reason I'm averse to a more pliable saddle like the An-Atomica's leather-over-synthetic structure is because I'm Sasquatch. At 250 pounds, I'll mess up a saddle like nobody's business if it's designed around lighter riders. The B17 (with the sides laced) is the only saddle I've found that lasts me more than a year.

I've been up to 220 pounds while using the Anatomica. It's holding up nicely so far. Whether it will be good for five or ten years is anyone's guess.

Even though I know An-Atomica makes a decent product, I have the same skepticsm as CliftonGK1. For the same reason.:( My older 17 is a candidate for lacing, I think. Maybe next year...

Not necessarily.. The Flyer on my '07 Sirrus is tilted slightly upward.:thumb:

You shouldn't even feel the nose of a Brooks. Adjust it so you don't slide forward or backwards, and don't feel any pressure anywhere except your sit bones. It will break in under your sit bone.

You might have the nose too high..... or the seat too high.

I bought a new B17 and began breaking it in. At first is was very hard and uncomfortable. I put it on my trainer and started working on the position: forward-back, nose up-down, etc and through the 1st 600-700 miles was still an a** hatchet. I talked to the inventor of selle anatomica and he recommended keeping it overnight in a very damp towel and then riding for several hours the next day. I remembered Mascka's comment about riding in the rain to break in a new B17. I soaked it over-night and rode it two hours the next day and now it is the most comfortable long distance saddle I have, though if I spend any time in the drops I feel some perineal pressure. I have two selle anatomica saddles and they are both very comfortable, right out of the box, but for any distance over 40 miles (2+ hours) I prefer the Brooks.

My issue has been perineal pressure. 24 hours of numbness in the nether region after a 400 km brevet was a bit concerning, and made me glad that I already had three children and was not planning on having any more. I had been riding on a Fizzik Arrone. It is a great saddle for anything up to a century for me. I switched to a Selle Anatomica before my first 600 km last year and had great success with no pain. I will say this. In less than 3000 miles of riding I have nearly extended the tensioning bolt to its limit. The seat is comfortable, but I think there is a loss of energy transfer because of the movement of the anatomica. It is just not as stable of a platform. Does that make sense? I have ridden a Brooks Team Pro in the past. I still have it, but it has cracked at the rear rivets. I thought about getting a new one, but then decided to try the Anatomica.

Any opinions on the loss of efficiency?

BlueJay
2005 Jamis Eclipse.

It's almost axiomatic: The softer the saddle, the less energy transferred to the work. A Brooks gives the best of both characteristics needed for a long distance saddle, those being: 1) Firm, but flexible structure, and 2) slick but wicking surface for moisture transfer away from the rider. I'd try a new Pro with the following caveat:

All saddles have their limits as to comfort and I believe it is directly correlated to individual rider tolerance. Perineal pressure is a function of doing something that is not natural - riding a bike. Working out a decent setup for centuries may not be helpfull on rides longer than that, and certainly possibly not on back-to back centuries.

That's a tough assignment for any rider or saddle.

I have a Team Professional that has been a perfect fit from the first time I sat on it. It cradles my sit bones absolutely perfectly. I am building up a long distance bike and am thinking that an Imperial might be a good idea. Does the standard or narrow correlate to the build of the Team pro?

Thanks jcm...good advice. I think I will get another Pro and try it out (break it in) and see how it performs on those longer than a century rides...

Based on the posts in the PBP 2011 thread I may not want to go all that fast anyway. I will want to be comfortable and be able to enjoy the views of all my rides!!

BlueJay66

The Imperial is a modified B-17 Standard. It has a thinner blank and a flatter cross-sectional arch than a Team Pro. 17's are wider and longer than Pro's. Time will tell, but I believe that the edges of the cut-out will actually form somewhat of a radius which should increase the comfort factor on long trips. The lacing will be necessary to keep that saddle from collapsing. I would use nothing on that saddle except some clear boot polish now and again. No "softeners" or "conditioners" of any kind - including Brooks' Proofide.