so i've heard really good things about brooks saddles so i've decided to get one. i bought an IRO rob roy and have the stock seat on it right now. i like the shape and size and am looking to get the equivalent in a leather brooks.

is it the b-17 and if so does anyone have any experience good or bad with these?


thanks,

eric

do you know anyone who has a brooks or a lbs nearby that would have them? only way to know for sure if you like it is to try it. But i tihnk brooks conform to the rider's ass.

i have been riding a b17 champion special on my steamroller and i love it...you can also search the forum for several other brooks threads

The Brooks B-17 is probably a bit Wider than the saddle on your IRO. That being said, I have a B-17 Champion and I LOVE it! I have only ridden it about 75 miles and it already feels amazing! I was a staunch Concor fan for a long time and i must say i like the shape/width alot better on teh B17.

You might like the Swallow, Swift or the B17 Narrow. Both of which come with a nice little price hike.

For aggressive riding the B17 would not be my first choice as it is better suited for more upright riding.

Brooks are strange saddles. Those who think they're comfortable wouldn't ride anything else. Everyone else points out that they're heavy, wide as a barstool and rock hard, which those who think they're comfortable cannot understand.

I got a B17 because I liked the classic look. I followed the recommended baseball glove oil treatment break-in procedure. I rode the on thing 500 miles in the hot summer sun and afterwards it still looked and felt brand new, and definitely not broken-in.

I've currently got a Selle San Marco Regal on my Rob Roy. It's much more comfortable, I think. It's narrower and is, thus, closer to the racing saddle shape that I'm used to.

I'll quote it because it's the truth, but everyone will read right by it.

Brooks B17s are designed to be ridden with the bars level or higher than the seat.* This, along with the appearance, is why they're popular amongst those randonneuring weirdos. If you have any sort of drop, you'll want to get a Swallow/Swift/etc to be truly comfortable.

All saddle companies make different seats for different riding positions. For a more upright position, you really need a wider saddle to support the sitbones and keep the happy areas happy. For a lower more aggressive position, you need a narrower saddle to give you better thigh clearance and basically stay out of the way. Imagine the pelvic rotation between the two positions. You're basically riding on your sitbones in the upright and riding more on your taint in the down low. There is no end all be all saddle that works with everything, or it would come equipped on every bike.

*Cue the guys coming in saying that their B17's are comfortable with 18 inches of drop on their converted TT bikes.

my saddle to bar drop isn't too significant and i ride a b17, although i will say that when i do ride in the drops which is seldom the saddle is not as comfortable, most of my riding is upright so the saddle works for me

Maby if you like your junk numb. Either way you should be supported by your sit bones.

My B17 saddle is very comfortable with an 18-inch handlebar drop on my converted TT bike.

Yeah, I worded that horribly. I was trying to get the clearance point across and couldn't really think of a good way of saying it.

Blah, whatever. Moving on.

I like my b17 alot. I have about 2 inches of drop to my bars and have not had any problems. I really like the champion flyer, but found that it was too bouncy on the fixed gear, so it is on the touring bike. I found them to be super comfy right away. However, both the saddles had a noticable hammocking effect going on after only 300km. Both are now laced and the problem is gone.

SELLE SAN MARCO FTW... jus sayin