m i a h

what's the difference between the b17 and the pro saddles? i've read reviews and get the idea that the b17 is more comfortable then the pro. does anyone with experience agree with or contest this theory...

MacG

the pro saddles are narrower; more like a racing saddle. Unless you are really in the mood for more wedgie, start out with a B17. Mine is super comfy and it only took about a week of riding (about 100 miles) to get it nice and broken in. I can't speak for the comfort of the pro saddles except that they visually appear narrower and of a tighter, leaner cut. They also cost a lot more.

Thulsadoom

The pro is made from leather that is a little thicker, so it won't sag as much. That makes it better to get aero on. I personally think that the pro is more comfortable than the B-17. But it depends on the bike. I have a B-17 on my touring bike, which has the handlebars about even with the saddle, hence a more upright riding position. I have a Pro on my everyday bike, which has the bars somewhat lower than the saddle, and aero bars. I love those Brooks saddles.

brunop

i rock a b17 "narrow". i like it. a lot.
i may put a swift or a pro on my new ride.

Soil_Sampler

www.mcmwin.com/saddle%20shop.htm

eyefloater

Hiya,

Everyone's covered things fairly well so I'll just add a few bits here and there.

B-17: The classic Brooks design and the easiest to get your hands on (by far). I believe you can get them in black, tan, dark brown and the distressed "already 100 years old" brown w/ no finish. There's the standard B-17 ... you can also go for the the narrow model (dark brown or black only) or the women's specific design (WSD is shorter but a bit wider). Sorry, I don't know if "m i a h" is m/f. If you want to think about a slight upgrade, you can also get a B-17 with copper or titanium rails to cut down on the weight and/or increase the blingage factor. There's a even a laced model for those who really want an older look.

Pro: Higher quality leather, yes. What that amounts to is a thicker leather that will hold its shape better over the years (and it really is years before you have to make any adjustment to the tensioning bolt w/ these saddles). However, be aware that the Pro saddles are a bit harder to break in. Don't skimp - get the proofhide (or if you're determined not to get that stuff, do your research well and use something that people have found to work on Brooks saddles). There's also a WSD version of the Pro.

Swift: One of my favourite Brooks saddles. I'm guessing it retails for about $220 USD (sorry, I deal w/ CDN prices). While it's still quite a narrow saddle there's still significant room for your pelvic bones/ass to change positions (it's not like the Swallow which is tiny). I'll double check at work today but I think you've actually got a bit more room on the rear of the saddle w/ a Swift that you do w/ a B-17 Narrow. Anyway, the the Swift's come w/ titanium rails and really nice embossing on the sides. You end up w/ a saddle that weighs very little and is stupidly comfortable/aesthetically pleasing.

Caveat: Yes, I work at a bike shop and we sell a huge variety of Brooks saddles (because they're amazing). I think what I'll do in the near future is shoot each of the saddles from the same perspective so people can compare them against each other on our online shop (top and side views). If you ever want to see a shot of a saddle you're debating, send me a PM - it'll get me off my ass and working on that project.

Deej

Hi, I've been doing a little research myself. Found lots of good info from Wallingford Bicycle Parts (www.wallbike.com). Good Luck.

Spudmeister

I've got a couple B.17s. The leather of the Champion Special models seems thicker & breaks in a lot quicker. Just my 2 cents.

crayonsemble

i think the "distressed 100 year old looking one" is the best brooks sadddle ive ever owned.
i also had it cut off to look more like a swallow and now its even better. it broke in fully in around 3 days and is just as comfortable as doing it the other way around. i highly! recomend this as
the way to go, also it is starting to look like a honey brown the more i sweat into it.

ostro

im riding a swift, ive got well over a thousand miles on it and to be honest, the thing hasnt budged (proof hide applications and all), althought my a$$ has gotten used to it.

genericbikedude

try baseball glove oil. proofide has too much wax

m i a h

thanks...

wpflem

if you've got a fast connection, you might enjoy reviewing the Brooks Catalog:

https://www.brookssaddles.com/brooksengland.html

geog_dash

I have one of each.

B17 was comfortable right out of the box. I've done several thousand miles on it, mostly on the hoods. If you put the saddle up high and ride in the drops a lot, the wider saddle will chafe more. It is designed for a relatively upright posture.

I only just started using the Pro, so only a few dozen miles so far. It is less comfortable than the B17. It could just be that the Pro needs breaking in and/or adjustment. Interestingly, the discomfort is greatest when riding on the hoods. My nether region seems happiest when I'm leaning forward with hands on the drops - elbows bent.

IMO, you won't go wrong with the B17. I haven't made up my mind on the Pro. I'll update on the Pro after I get some more time and miles on it.

mattsimbols

and it wasn't pre-aged?

agreed. i've been riding a b17 narrow for about 4 months, treated it with glove oil, and its just starting to soften up. dude at my lbs told me to oil it up and pop it in the oven. hmmmm.

noriel

I got a b-17 standard, and recently purchased a Swift from Santa Fe Bikes (great guys, fast turn around for me) My b-17 took no time to break in - just week's worth of riding, and I had dimples on the saddle. The Swift is a lot thicker than my B-17, and it's barely budged. I better put more lovin' into the Swift.

I bought the B-17 because of it's price. when I knew that I liked Brooks saddles, then I just jumped in with the Swift. Santa Fe had the best deal at the time. I got mine for $159 then, I think it's still a great deal now at their current price.

ZachS

there are a couple of schools of thought on breaking 'em in - some people want to get the leather soft, because they like the way it feels, some people want it to stay hard and gradually form to the shape of their asses. I'm in the latter category, and wax-based treatments work perfectly to me (although I haven't put anything on mine in the last year)

12XU

Either you're a Rivendell Brooks type (any saddle other than Swift, Swallow, or Pro) or everyone else. Swift for life!

sasander

I had the B17 but I had to switch it out for the pro. The B17 was too wide and it took forever to break in. The pro felt way better right out of the box and has become the only saddle that causes me no numbness in my sack whatsoever.

Mueslix

How often are you supposed to proofide them anyway?

stella

when I made my recent purchase, Bill at Wallbike recommended 1-2x when you first get it and then 1x per year.

I proofhided the saddle 1x and after 3 rides did it one more time.

btw: Bill at wallingford was very helpful. I am swapping out the B17 Champion Special for the Team Pro S w/him...or I may just keep the B17 for my beater.

ZachS

keeeeeep it!

stella

I most probably will... it would look great on my beater--a batavus "monte carlo" from 1972.

btw: last time I was on at the wallingford website, there was a B17 Champion Special in British Racing Green listed in the "used and returned" section for $67. someone here needs to get it.

ZachS

Or any day brand new from Universal Cycles for $66... Wallingford's big advantage is their service, large stock, and return policy...