Brooks saddles...

[Wheeledweenie]

In the spirit of dare to be different day....

I do about 20 miles a day commuting on a men's Specialized Sirrus but I've also started doing longer rides in my leisure time. I don't know why but men's bikes seem a better fit for my build. This means of course that they come with men's saddles and although it's not been a massive problem thus far I'm thinking of investing in a Brooks saddle as I'm requently told they're the best. Any opinions?

 

[PpPete]

a Brooks saddle as I'm requently told they're the best. Any opinions?

Only for those with Brooks shaped a*ses.
Keep meaning to try one to see if I am of the aforementioned body type - but then I hear/read on this forum that not only do the models vary, but individuals examples of a particular model can be different, and for a given saddle it can be comfortable on one bike and not on another. As a result it keeps slipping down my list of priorities.

 

[ACS]

Some on the forum condemn Brooks saddles as instruments of eternal torture others like myself think they are the dogs........

The only way to work out which camp you fall into is invest and decide. The difficulty is choosing which model? Oh decisions, decisions.........

 

[wafflycat]

Saddles, of whatever make, are very much an individual thing as regards comfort. Just because someone finds a particular saddle comfy does not mean everyone else will too.

 

[Chuffy]

There are two types of person on here.
1) Those who love Brooks saddles.
2) People who are wrong.

Have a Search on here because this is one of those recurring threads and the answer is always the same. Buy a B17N. Proofide once, top and bottom. Never, ever touch the nose bolt. Saddle angle is a matter of personal preference, I prefer mine tilted slightly up at the nose, some prefer the downward tilt.

The breaking in period is much exaggerated btw.

 

[4F]

I'm thinking of investing in a Brooks saddle as I'm requently told they're the best. Any opinions?

Yes, don't . Specialized toupe for me is 100 percent better than a Brooks B17N that I perservered with for 2000 miles. owwwwwwwwww

 

[Globalti]

I bought a Brooks Swift and was absolutley shocked at the crudeness of it. It looked as if it had been built by a maker of medieval chastity belts in Birmingham, it was heavy and grossly uncomfortable and I sold it straight away on Ebay.

I now ride an original Flite titanium saddle, it weighs almost nothing and I simply don't notice it. End of story.

 

[AWG]

Buy a Halfords Apollo HC20 MTB for £117. Take off the saddle and sling the bike in the skip. The saddles on these are AMAZINGLY comfy!

 

[Wheeledweenie]

I'm still torn but I've been convinced that it's something I need to look into in-depth before deciding. Hmmmmmm my grandparents are now thinking of getting me one for a birthday I think (my grandpa was a serious tourer back in the day and loved his Brooks).

The B17 S looks good but any comments on the Flyer?

 

[Bigtwin]

The breaking in period is much exaggerated btw.

Only because people use phrases such as "36 generations".

Mine took bloody forever to break in. I like it, and it looks the part on my tourer, but it's no better than other much cheaper no breaking in saddles, save that if there's any relationship between break in time and durability, it should last a long time.

About 36 generations I should think.

 

[Davidc]

Brooks are great if your backside fits them.

Other saddles are great if your backside fits them instead.

My backside is one of the Brooks shaped ones. Breaking in not required.

If it wasn't I'd find a different saddle instead.

You have to experiment to find out!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wheeledweenie]

Hmmmmm, I'm sorely tempted to give them a go.

 

[Cockney Scot]

My Brooks was very comfortable on the hybrid, transferred it to the MTB and it was agony. However I have retensioned it and altered the tilt which seems to have cured it. 90 miles over the weekend all pain free (well at least from the saddle).

 

[Wheeledweenie]

If I get one I'd be using it on a roadie hybrid (men's Specialized Sirrus) for commuting, generally pootling about and the occasional long-distance jaunt.

 

[fredkite]

Get A Brooks

Get yourself a Brooks saddle WITH SPRINGS. Model B66 or similar. They require very little breaking in and are excellent for the more upright style of riding position. My B66 is 20 years old this month and ultra, ultra comfy.
The B17 is excellent for the drop bars brigade and should not take more tha 50 years to break in.