Brooks confusion

[Racing roadkill]

Many, Many years ago, I had a Brooks saddle, that came with the bike it was fitted to ( a cheapo British eagle Touristique off of a card in a shop window). I'll be jiggered if I remember which saddle it was, but it was comfy on long rides. Can anyone recommend a Brooks from their latest range, that would be nice and comfy on a long ride?

 

[Vantage]

Other than snapping rails and sagging leather, I've never seen a bad review of a B17. Just got one myself.
It's the breaking-in period that people don't enjoy. Mine is starting to soften a bit now.
But, as a CC Veteran, you've no doubt seen enough threads and posts to know that one mans saddle is another mans medieval torture device.

 

[Profpointy]

Regarding brooks' so-called breaking-in period, both my b17 saddles and the team pro were comfy from the off, so I guess it depends if you've a brooksian arse or not. I did have a swift and that was less comfy for me but did mellow a bit, but replaced with the instantly comfy team pro

 

[Pale Rider]

If breaking in is a concern, I can cautiously recommend a pre-aged Brooks.

My latest bike has one, it has acquired a nice bit of give in a hundred miles or so.

So it seems to me 'pre-aged' is a bit more than marketing guff.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I like my Brooks saddles but for me they have needed plenty of breaking in. I've currently got a B17 and a Team Pro Classic.

B17: Bought for the Raleigh and despite taking me on lots of long rides it never felt as comfortable as I felt it ought. I came to the conclusion that it was just too wide for me and replaced it with the Team Pro. It sat in a box for a while until I got my Dawes Galaxy last summer when I fitted it as temporary measure and suddenly found it's a lot more comfortable on a touring bike than it was on an upright trekking bike.

Team Pro: I took a punt on it as stated above and immediatey thought I'd made a terrible mistake. Persevering I realised it needed a much racier riding position than I had on the Raleigh. A change of stem and handlebar plus taking time setting up (I had it too far back) sorted that out. I really like this saddle now and it seems to still be getting better with use.

 

[Spiderweb]

My new brooks B17 standard arrived yesterday, I treated it with the Brooks Proofide so it is good to go on my Hewitt. I've never owned a Brooks saddle but have always liked the old style when on certain bikes. I have a Specialized Toupe and Charge Spoon on other bikes which I find super comfy so it'll be interesting to compare.

It is likely that your old British Eagle came with a Brooks B17, they were and still are I think the most common.

 

[midlife]

My new brooks B17 standard arrived yesterday, I treated it with the Brooks Proofide so it is good to go on my Hewitt. I've never owned a Brooks saddle but have always liked the old style when on certain bikes. I have a Specialized Toupe and Charge Spoon on other bikes which I find super comfy so it'll be interesting to compare.

Sorry, i don't know why but I had an image of the "fist o pain" scene from sponge Bob the moment your rear touched the new B17........

Shaun

 

[Spiderweb]

Sorry, i don't know why but I had an image of the "fist o pain" scene from sponge Bob the moment your rear touched the new B17........

View attachment 344688

Shaun

Nice to hear your thinking about me!

 

[simon.r]

Can anyone recommend a Brooks from their latest range, that would be nice and comfy on a long ride?

B33 on my Pashley is like the proverbial armchair:

Probably wouldn't look right on many bikes though!

 

[ChrisEyles]

I've got a B17 on my road bike and it's the most comfy saddle I've ever ridden. My father-in-law, who gave me the bike, didn't get on with it so it was mouldering away in the corner of his shed for ages (which I guess counts as pre-aged!), it was certainly an unexpected bonus when he dug it out one day.

I would love a sprung Brooks like the one above for my roadster but can't justify the expense unfortunately!

 

[Cycleops]

B33 on my Pashley is like the proverbial armchair:

Probably wouldn't look right on many bikes though!

Is that the fetishist's version?

 

[raleighnut]

I'm with @Rickshaw Phil on this,

I like my Brooks saddles but for me they have needed plenty of breaking in. I've currently got a B17 and a Team Pro Classic.

B17: Bought for the Raleigh and despite taking me on lots of long rides it never felt as comfortable as I felt it ought. I came to the conclusion that it was just too wide for me and replaced it with the Team Pro. It sat in a box for a while until I got my Dawes Galaxy last summer when I fitted it as temporary measure and suddenly found it's a lot more comfortable on a touring bike than it was on an upright trekking bike.

Team Pro: I took a punt on it as stated above and immediatey thought I'd made a terrible mistake. Persevering I realised it needed a much racier riding position than I had on the Raleigh. A change of stem and handlebar plus taking time setting up (I had it too far back) sorted that out. I really like this saddle now and it seems to still be getting better with use.

The B17 is too wide for me but the B17n (narrow version) is the most comfy I own along with a B5n (same shape as the 17n but the top is 'dimpled) they were allegedly made with 'inferior' leather but I suspect it was just 'marked' hence the dimpling but they were less expensive and often fitted as OE on 'racing bikes'

 

[Alan O]

I agree with those who suggest the original saddle was probably a B17 - they say it's been in production since 1898. (My first one was a B17 and was comfy for many thousands of miles after it broke in my bum - I still regret giving it away with the bike it was on)

 

[raleighnut]

How wide you want it is position dependant. I also find a B17 too wide on a "normal" road bike. The Swift is the most comfortable for me.
On a bike with flat bars and a more upright position though, I have a flyer which is the same dimensions as a B17. On my Dutch bike, I have a B65 which is even wider.

You could be right, my Swift is on the 653 bike and I've never ridden that for more than 2hrs non-stop however the B17n is on the Ridgeback which is a flat bar tourer (originally a hybrid) and the seat/bar relationship is almost 'flat' level.

 

[RobinS]

My new brooks B17 standard arrived yesterday, I treated it with the Brooks Proofide so it is good to go on my Hewitt. I've never owned a Brooks saddle but have always liked the old style when on certain bikes. I have a Specialized Toupe and Charge Spoon on other bikes which I find super comfy so it'll be interesting to compare.

I would be interested to hear how the brooks compares to the Charge Spoon - I have the Charge, but do fancy a nice Brooks saddle, but since the Charge suits me for long multi-month tours I am hesitant about changing!