jamesdak 

Ok, I've been using a standard B17 for the past year with no comfort problems. But as I've improved at riding I find that it feels too wide as I have increased to a higher cadence average. It makes me feel like I'm pedaling with my knees pointed out and seem to interfere with the back of my upper thighs. I've been trying a Brooks Swift but just can't get comfortable on it for the long rides. So, who's tried the B17 narrow and the other saddles and can give me a comparison?

I should also mention that I've tried other modern saddles with no success. Is there another Brooks that may work, like the Colt or Team Professional?

My short rides are around 30 miles so I really want a comfortable saddle.

Andrey

I had the narrow version and I hated it. I have a reg.version now and it feels better, but still not 100%.
I like plastic narrow saddles up to 300k rides though. Hard to find a saddle comfortable after that for me. Trying the B17 reg.again that I retired last year.
I heard that Brooks Professional works for sportier positions.
I would recommend a shop or online retailer that has a test program, like
https://www.wallbike.com/brand/brooks

MNBikeCommuter

Just out of curiosity, what's more comfortable about the B17 for you than the Swift? I've had a Swift now for a couple of years and I'd rank it in the middle of the pack of all the saddles I've used, it being the only Brooks. The saddle on another bike is about shot and I've been wondering if the B17 or some other Brooks style would be a better fit than going with another Swift.

lonesomesteve

Sorry, I haven't tried a B17N so I can't comment on it. However, I had a similar problem with a B17 rubbing the insides of my thighs a bit. I drilled some holes in the skirt and laced it a la the B17 Imperial model. It worked great. That was a few thousand miles ago and it's still working well.

kaliayev

The B17N is only 151mm wide compared to the B17 which is 175mm. It is even narrower than the Team Pro(160) or Swallow(153), both of which I currently am using and like very much.

jamesdak 

Well the one B17 I have just feels really comfortable for cruising along on long rides where my cadence is more in the 60-70 rpm range. It's nice and wide and I my butt just seems to stay in place on it. No real soreness, hot spots, or numbing issue. But I do ride it with the nose up a bit which is fine for riding on the hoods but in the drops it gives me some pressure on the boys but nothing unbearable. Funny thing is I also bought a B17 imperial to help with the pressure thing but that one is no where near as comfortable. The leather seems a bit thicker and just does not seem to be breaking in.

jamesdak 

For me it's not so much the side skirts rubbing the insides of my thighs. It's the wider back part that makes me ride with my legs spread farther apart and how the saddle made the tissue sore on the back/inside of my thighs when I tried riding it at a higher cadence. This was after spending a few weeks using the Swift on my back up bike. I do have an Imperial also and that one has just never gotten comfortable for me.

jamesdak 

Yeah, I'm wondering if I should try a saddle inbetween the B17 and the Swift like a team pro or a Colt. Another strange issue is that I picked up the Swift about 3 weeks ago at Wallingford bikes while on business travel and rode it on my backup steel framed bike for over 330 miles. Other than the normal break in issues it did not cause me any problems. Then I got home, put it on my 2011 Trek Madone 5.9 and on the first ride my butt seemed to be bouncing all over the place. As soon as I got off my lower back was killing me (ruptured discs in the past) and this was the first time in over a years worth of riding that I hurt my back on a ride. Now almost a week later and my backs still in pain. I wonder if the curved tail on the swift is putting my hips at a weird angle and causing my back problems. Maybe a flatter saddle would help here.

kk27

When I built my LD rig I got myself a San Marco Rolls, it took me some time to get used to the little thigh rub since I also like legs closer to the bike but it was far more comfy cause it never cut into my thighs like other saddles. When my GF wanted to gift me a brooks I chose the B17N without a hitch & glad that I did. It's just about right for my kinda liking while the thigh still rubs a little but it doesn't hurt or anything, a very very little payoff for what it offers in return.

jamesdak 

Well I just borrowed a Fizik Alliante versus from the LBS. I'll put a couple of hundred on that during the next week and see how it does.

ilike3bikes

I have a Brooks B17N on my touring bike, a Specialized Pave on my Cervelo RS and a Sele Italia Regal on my single speed Reynolds 853. The B17N is a good saddle, but I do not like it as much as the Pave or Regal. I have been disappointed with my touring bike (a converted Mountain Bike), so I do not ride it very often. I only have 200 to 300 miles on it, so maybe the B17N is not broken in yet.

Scottyoz

I've used numerous Brooks saddles over the years and have always come back to the B17, until recently. About 6 months ago i purchased a leather saddle from Velo Orange, titanium rails and in a very simliar shape to the Brooks Swallow.
The main things i like about it is the cost, long rails and although cut like the swallow it is a wide as the B17 at the back. I have been very impressed with this saddle and it has proven to be very comfortable and has broken in nicely.
I have also used a Selle anatomica but wasnt happy with it.
In all the Velo orange saddle is well built and would gladly buy another in the future.

jamesdak 

Which model was it? Thanks.

RogerB

This thread is just additional evidence that we are all different.

I have a B-17N Imperial and loved it from the first ride. What break-in? I have it at 155 mm wide, not 151, but that is probably of little consequence. It has a flatter sit area than the "sportier" Brooks saddles, and it's the only narrow saddle from Brooks available with the cutout. Skirts are laced.

I can't really compare, though. There may be "better" saddles out there, but this is certainly my best so far.

Scottyoz

Hi James,

Its the Grand Cru Ti model, its costs more than than the other Velo Orange saddles but its well made and very comfortable. The underside of the leater is also covered with a fine mesh wich adds extra strength to it. it is also laced which i have been happy with.

In all even if this saddle didnt last as long as my other Brooks, and i couldnt see why it wouldnt, i would gladly purchase this saddle again.

Cheers Scott.

PhotonDon

Been through a few Brooks saddles myself, and could not tolerate the Swift, which is (IMHO) the prettiest saddle around. I had to retire my '71 B15 last year. There is VO '17 copy on my LD bike, and a VO Pro copy on my Litespeed. But the B17N on my LOOK is the most comfortable saddle I own. I am 200+lbs and generally like a wider saddle but hey, you can't argue with success. The skirts are tied. FWIW, the 17N came on my dad's 1973 Raleigh Competition.As with all saddles, your ass may vary. Good luck on your quest.

mander

OP you might be interested in trying out a Gilles Berthoud leather saddle if you can do it without actually shelling out for one. They have a slightly different range of shapes that might fit your body better than Brooks'. I thought of this having just read this blog post.

https://oceanaircycles.com/2011/06/23...thoud-touring/

jamesdak 

Still hunting for a solution. Ran a Bontrager Affinty RL saddle for about a week. Not bad in the drops but causing some soreness. Tried it yesterday for a 100 mile ride and it killed me. No matter how I positioned it the pain on my left was bad. Really felt quite good on the ride and it's a shame the saddle ruined what would have otherwise been a fun ride.

One problem with all the Brooks I've tried is having to run them nose up to combat the "sliding forward" feeling. Do they actually make a flat saddle that might work out better? I don't have an aggressive drop on the bars but it would be nice to be able to get into the drops for long periods without the tilted up nose causing pressure.

The Colt looks fairly flat, any comments?

mander

Does the pressure from the tilted up brookses actually make anything numb? If not, then there's no problem. I have my b17's nose tilted up pretty far and can still stay in the drops indefinitely. not sure how that works, but it does.

kk27

If you don't have a huge saddle to hoods drop like me then you don't need the nose up for keeping you sliding forward. Mine is fairly level, with the nose up just a notch not pointing skywords though. And I stay on the drops for long periods when there's lots of wind & I don't have anything numb. Yes initially your sitbones will be battered but then it starts to become comfortable as you ride it more.

mine has developed 2 small dimples after riding long distances in the rains recently, absolute comfort.

jamesdak 

Can't say that I agree with this. It may not make me numb but it is quite uncomfortable for any amount of distance. On rides over 50 miles this starts to add up.

Funny thing is that the Affinity saddle is very comfortable when in the drops for the most part. Seems like I should be able to find a saddle that allows me to ride in multiple positions. My main issue with the Brooks I have is the way the back tilts up causing the "sliding forward sensation". Seems like a flatter top Brooks type saddle may be the key.

dvald001

Velo Orange sent me a saddle as part of their Rando build kit. It was a Model 1 based on the Team Pro--was not happy with it. It was a beautiful shade of honey, and looked great on the bike, but after riding my B17 Imperial on Xcheck for so long it just felt way too hard and narrow. I ordered another B17 Imperial for my Rando, but they sent me a B17 Narrow Imperial instead (not happy with BikeSomewhere.com).
That also, was way too hard and narrow for me. I'm not a big guy, I just like seats where I can dump all my rear end meat on and ride without thinking about it. b17 is the perfect width for me, I always just get the imperial version because I'm slightly paranoid about not being able to have kids in the future.