timhines

I broke down and ordered one sunday. we'll see how my tush likes it later this week.

Macha

I ordered a Champion Flyer, myself, and am anxious to try it out.

jcbryan

R, No my first foray in to a all leather saddle. Toured across part of the Lewis and Clark a couple of years ago and nearly all of the tourist I met had Brooks and swore by them. This thread included.
I had a Flite TA and really like the cutout area, more for the cooling than for the "protection". Got a long ride coming Saturday and will post impressin then. The short rides make it seem pretty sweet, as a poster said appear to not collect as much heat as my Flite. It is near 100 degrees here daily.

toddw

For those of you who are having great problems with your Brooks. It took some time for me to tinker it into the right position --- I called my brooks B17 an "a$$ hatchet" for the first few months. I would urge you to pay special attention to the seat set up. Your sit bones should comfortably find the rear wings of the saddle, move it forward or back to make this happen and the nose of the saddle tilted up but just an iota but no more. Also, beware of using too much junk on the saddle. A little Proof will do. You can destroy a Brooks with mink oil and such -- I know. I tried the mink oil soak, less than 5 mintues, and my brooks softened, then became too soft, more like a hammock and increasing the tension didn't fix it. Got a new one, tried again. It's a saddle for the long haul, be patient and it will reward you.

phinney

We have a pair of Champion Flyers on our tandem. The men's model is a B17 with springs. The women's is quite different than the B17 and looks like the perfect seat other than being too short for a guy. My wife raves about it.

jcbryan

All, Did my first longish ride this morning on my Selle An-atomica. Loved it! Nearly 50 miles and my butt is happy. Still tinkering with the tilt a bit, but overall I'm very happy with it at this point. Seems more comfortable now that the Flite TA ever did. If this thing gets better over time (Its a cut-out Brooks) I'm gonna be way happy. I'll keep posting as I ride it more. Best to all, John

clayface

I just received mine two days ago. Proofided it and went for a ride yesterday. Feels like my two other B17: very comfy straight from the box. I thought it would react differently from the standard B17, but the movement of the springs is hard to tell on the road, but soak big holes and other irregularities well.
One thing I forgot was to lower the seat post by half an inch and so felt a bit strange at the beginning. Fortunately, I always carry a couple of hex wrenches aboard.

FrankB

I saw the review of the Selleanatomica from Road Bike Rider after the Interbike. Sounded like it might be the answer for me. Do you still like it? I have a call in to the company now to see about it. The review did not refer to a "cut out of the Brooks" but that is what it is, right?
Thanks
FrankB

chipcom 

Selle Royal owns Brooks, so you're first thought would be 'yes', but it's not clear to me that Selle Royal makes these saddles and supposedly they are made in the USA? I'm not going to rush out and replace my Brooks, but I am interested to see how these new saddles are received over the next year or so.

FrankB

jcbryan:

How about your SelleAnatomica now? Would you buy it again? Thanks in advance for an update.
FrankB

jcbryan

Though I don't own a "real" Brooks, but this one is very comfortable. No complaints from me. Have ridden it about 2200 mile this year so far. Drop me a note if I can offer more info.

John N

I have used an original B-17 Champion Special (with chrome rails) for the past 21 years and 50,000 miles (20,000+ miles of loaded touring). The best way to describe how it feels is that it is like your own two hands holding up your rear. It fits you. I have ridden other people's bikes with Brooks, and it did not feel good since the seat was not mine.

As far as care, I "try" to keep it out of the rain but other than that, it has not had ANY additional care in the past 21 years except for the initial Neat's Foot Oil to help soften it.

As far as softening it, turn it upside down, pour some Neat's Foot oil in it, roll it on a rounded bed post (so you can put some weight behind it), then let it sit upside down overnight so the oil can soak in. It will break in within a couple of hundred rmiles (based on a then 13 year old weighing about 125 pounds). It supposedly shortens its life this way but I have gotten 21 years (16 active) out of it so I don't mind.

Other that the weight, they are great.

chipcom 

I used to like telling some of the younger kids I have worked with 'I got boots older than you' when they would be talking about how 'old' they were. Perhaps for younger cyclists I can just say 'I got a Brooks older than you!'