George

I have a Brooks B17 and my wife just got a Brooks B67. We were out riding and when we got back I tried her saddle, what a difference. I was wondering why people don't use the B67 rather than going through the break in hassle. I'm kind of new to biking so I thought maybe the B17 was more for road riders where the B67 would be more to touring. My Brooks B17 is only a few weeks old so I can still get an exchange. I like the B17 but I could really feel the difference with the B67. Thanks George

Bekologist

a 'champion flyer' is the same width as a b-17 but with springs, the b-67 is a wider, tractor saddle, but both are most comfy...

xilios

Check out the Champion Flyer, after trying out many others (mainly gel) my wife and I went out and got each one (the womans being a bit shorter in length), and we never looked back. We can sit on those saddles for over 10hrs a day without a any problem.

Lotum

In fact, the B17 is for touring. The B17 Narrow and/or the new Swallow are for road riders.

jcm

Ditto. Also, the Team Pro is for roadies.

George,
The 66/67 series are designed for a more utilitarian use, that is, a little more upright than the 17 all the way to bolt upright like a 3-speed. Typically, 17's go best with bikes having drop bars with a correspondingly more forward leaning riding posture, i.e., touring rigs or recreational road bikes like the Specialized Sequoia series. But not, strictly speaking, race types.

If you are a heavier rider, or have wider ischials, or your ischials seem 'pointy', or ride a hybrid type, or an mtb, I recommend switching to the 67. I think you mentioned that you have a Trek 7300? Perfect candidate for a 67.

Someone mentioned the Champion Flyer, a 17 with springs. Good choice, but still narrow at 170mm vs. the 66/67 at 230mm. It's the width that disperses the weight and pressure on an upright geo bike.

Emerson

I sit fairly upright, bars an inch higher than the saddle, and got a 67 a month or so ago. So far very comfortable and nice. I went with the 67 because of the upright position and wide sit bones. I sometimes wonder if it's too wide. Any way to tell? Any harm in a too wide saddle?

In any event, I like the 67 and if you're upright it's very comfy.

George

I got 3 pieces of cardboard and wet the top one alittle and sat on it in my shorts. My sit bones center to center are 4". Outside are 6". I'm thinking the B17 is to narrow for me at 61/4 inches wide. The outside measurement on the B67 is 8 1/4". I think the B67 might be better for me. It felt like it was anyhow. George

halfspeed

If it's too wide, you'll know. You'll feel it back where your legs meet your butt. If it isn't bothering you, then the only "problem" with a "too wide" saddle is that it weighs more.

George

Hi halfspeed, when I took my wifes bike out a 2nd and 3rd time I felt it rubbing where my legs meet the butt. Is that what you mean? Thanks George

jcm

There's probably no harm in a too wide saddle, per se. However, you might get a slight charlie horse sensation, like halfspeed says, where things come together at the top of the hamstring. More noticeable when sitting while climbing hills. You may exerience the desire to slide forward to get away from the sensation. It goes away as you ride along. To me, the overall comfort is a fair trade-off.

Dellphinus

I ride a 67 on my "touring" bike- a Specialized Expedition, with a straight bar and clip-ons. No problems doing centuries or back to back 80 mile days. I can highly recommend it, but haven't tried the narrower Flyer. I suspect it'd be just as comfy.

gizmocat

I love my B67 saddle. Even though it's not broken in I am not sore after riding it about 40 miles to date (not constantly, but one ride was 16 miles on a day old saddle.) They are beautifully designed and not specifically 'for women' or men, though the B67 has a shorter snout and is often advertised as being woman-anatomy-friendly.

culverwood

How does a Brooks B72 compare with the B17, which I am OK on, size wise?

Monoborracho

B67 on the touring bike, and I put a Champion Flyer on my road bike, which is a Fuji Absolute (all aluminum). I did 50 miles on the Flyer the very first morning I had it on the bike. I'm lucky as the Brooks seem to give me no pain.

I'm saving my cabbage to get a B-73 for my mountain bike.

MarkS

This is the exact problem I have with my B17 standard. Its got like 2500 miles on it, so is probably as broken in as it ever will be. It would be a perfect saddle if I never went above 12mph. Would a B17N work better? I've also wondered if trimming the "skirts" off the bike would make it more comfortable.

MarkS

On a different note, I see Santa Fe bikes (where I purchased my B17) is closing. I know about Wallingford bikes -- where else is a good source for Brooks' saddles?

jcm

OH NO! Santa Fe is closing? They have been my best source for Brooks. I better order a couple more.

Please excuse my lousy drawing skills, but here is a sketch of a Brooks with those pressure points indicated. This is where you are feeling the charlie horse effect when climbing. It's because you push back a little, into that area as you exert pedal pressure. Even clipless, you pull down onto the saddle as you push back. Can't really be helped. It's just riding. Besides, it goes away quickly as you descend the othe side of the hill.

Butchering a Brooks is a valid way to further customize your saddle. I think Wallbike has a few pics of this. However, you may find that you get little in return with respect to that pressure we're talking about since it doesn't come from the skirt area. You will shave some weight, tho.

halfspeed

I use a normal B17 on my touring bike. On my road bikes, I spend a lot more time in a more forward position and experienced this discomfort until I went to Team Professionals.

jcm

My All-Italian riding buddy has a Team Pro on his Ti Bianchi. We spent alot of time comparing our various Brooks saddles side by side, upside down, and all points in-between. Team Pros are narrower than 17's and, most important, the radius area that causes the C. Horse effect is further back, giving more hamstring clearance. They are also noticeably thicker and hard as polished stone. Definitely made for high-end performance.

George, I've been trying to return your PM, but we got server issues here. .Sorry

MarkS

Too late -- they're not taking orders.

Thanks! Your drawing skills are great. Its the thought that's depressing Wish I had known about this earlier ... though I would never have categorized myself as an "aggressive" cyclist.

Can't seem to find it on their site. Maybe they had a problem with people butchering them and then wanting their money back.

George

Hey Marks are you still riding the B17 or did you get the B67. I lower the seat on mine and it appears to be OK ( I hope). I also had the nose up to high. I put it about an inch high so I wouldn't slid forward so much. I talked to Bill at Wallingford and he said I was sitting to far back on the saddle. I said I had to so I wouldn't slid forward.Anyhow I just about leveled the saddle and lowered it about an 1" and it doesn't feel bad.Maybe it's not as slick as it was. I'm going to give it a try right now. I'll be close to 300miles for my first month of riding not to bad and I feel a lot better,thanks George

jcm

Here is the link to the Wallbike page for "Butchered and Tied Brooks Saddles"
https://www.wallbike.com/content/butchering.html

EDIT: Don't neglect the their Brooks Saddles home page. They have a very attractive ad running.

superslomo

I have the B17 narrow, just got it the other week. Is there any way to reduce the pressure from the horn of the saddle on the, ahem, soft tissues in the center? I haven't gone for a long day with it yet, but I'm worried that it's going to make me go numb, and put me in agony along the way.

jcm

The 17N is really only noticeably narrower at the seat area. The horn (peak) is about the same as a standard 17. And, yes, you may have some discomfort - but then, you may not. You'll just have to play around with the tilt and raille adjustment as you go. Many riders, myself included, seem to end up with a 17 slightly up in front. It tends to keep me from riding up onto the peak and experiencing what you're talking about. Keeps me back on the seat area. Split up your long rides at first with some frequent stops so you can get blood circulation. Come up to intersections standing, etc. It all helps. You might not have any problem at all - I never have, although I will say that all my Brooks saddles require about 3 to 5 miles, depending on outside temperature, to get re-aquianted with my butt. It's the body heat that softens them, and it can take 20 minutes or so. After that they are nearly 'not there.'

Lolly Pop

I'd like a '67, but no one has mentioned if the springs squeak!