Slightspeed

Mine is, both of them. I had one for 53 years, got caught in a heavy rain for over 10 miles, and the leather split. I got a new one on ebay, if it lasts another 53 years, I'll be almost 130 years old.

Slightspeed

Mine is ... great. I rode one for 53 years, got caught in a killer rain storm for 15 miles, and the leather finally split. I got a new one on ebay. If it lasts another 53 years, I'll be 121 years old. I've got two, love them both.

twodownzero

I rode 137 miles on mine in one day and hope to double that number soon. I'm using the B17 imperial model.

jamesdak 

Yes!



Yes!



And Gyes makes similar saddles at a much friendlier price.

no motor?

I love mine.

martianone

For me, a layer of leather tensioned over a metal frame works best for me. Does it matter which company makes the saddle - no. However there does seem to be a broad variation in saddle type vs bike application. Have the b-17 on a bike Friday NWT - comfortable. A Brooks imperial on a Fuse mountain bike, saddle is just a little higher than handlebar- pretty comfortable. Run the sella Anatomica on a commuting bike with a more upright riding position - very comfortable. Have a custom steel road bike with a GB Aravis saddle. This is the most comfortable bike/saddle combination I ride- good for hours in the saddle with no discomfort. That is probably due to the combination of bike fit and saddle. In the right application Brooks saddles are great, as are other leather saddles in their application.

ct-vt-trekker

Me too. I'm almost ready to give up on it. Specialized saddles FTW.

linberl

OK, I probably set the world's record for slowest Brooks break in period. I've had mine a little over a year and it is finally starting to dimple where my sit bones are. I did the proofhide thing and even stood on it to speed it up, so maybe I just don't put enough pressure? Anyway, the first couple months were HELL. I literally would ride home standing up because my butt hurt so bad.
Eventually I figured out that my sit bones had to toughen up - riding a gel saddle had done nothing to help me get ready for a Brooks. Took about 5 months before my sit bones weren't sore after a ride. Why did I persevere? Because I spent a damn fortune on this saddle, lol!
Slow forward to today and the seat is actually quite comfortable - I don't feel any discomfort around my sit bones even on long rides. I do get a bit of discomfort towards the front so I'm still playing with seat angle. I do NOT wear padded shorts or anything but if I did, I am sure the saddle would be completely comfortable. I just hate them because I feel like I'm wearing a diaper, it's weird, lol.
If I were to do it again I would either go with the pre-aged saddle or the cambium just to avoid that horrible break in process. But, I know folks who have been comfortable from day one on them, too.
Now that the seat is actually working like a "hammock" it really helps to absorb road shock and I'm pretty happy with it and now it will only get better as it gets older. But the first 6 months were a *****.

San Rensho 

Yes they are great. Are Silca pumps great?. Are Alfredo Binda toe clip straps great?

John_V 

In 2013, I went through the "hunt for the perfect saddle" routine after 4 months of riding the OEM that came on my Colnago. The saddle was made by Selle but I don't know the model. I went through the shop's loaner program and tried 6 or 7 of the really popular saddles, including the Brooks B17, and really didn't find anything that was any better than the OEM saddle I was using. Of the bunch, the Brooks was almost unbearable to sit on after 600-700 miles. On the advice of my fitter, I tried an ISM Prologue and have been riding one ever since then. But just like the Brooks, they're not for everyone.

SquidPuppet

I love how opposite so many people's experiences are. Some years ago I tried a Brooks B17. Instant love right out of the box. No break in period needed for me. Pure luxury. Just lucky.

Banzai

Yes.

fietsbob

Berthoud saddles made improvements ...

Slick Madone

I have had success with Selle Anatomica right out of the box, and demo'd and purchased a Brooks C15. No complaints with either, but the SA is way more plush.

Mr IGH

I rode a B-17 for a few months, kept going numb. My GF said that's not good, see a urologist. I had an appointment, turns out he's a rider too. He explained that the B17's lack of taint relief causes reduced blood flow and since my unit is large it just isn't going to work for me. He told me if my unit was smaller the B17 would be OK, I wouldn't be going numb. He prescribed a WTB with "Love Channel" and I haven't had any issues with numbness since....

Scarbo

Yeah. This sounds familiar. I have the same problem; but my unit is so big that my urologist suggested going to a B-52.

Quickener

I could not get comfortable with my B17 despite several tweaks to my bike. I eventually shelved it. Then I bought a new bike with a less roadie / more monster cross position and the Brooks is amazing.

So it's not just different strokes for different folks. I believe there is a type of bike fit / style where they work (slightly more upright) and a style where they don't.

gecho

It is very easy to have a Brooks saddle much too far back without noticing. Particularly when the saddle is new with very little stretch. But as the saddle breaks in you find yourself sliding down into the middle. Unfortunately people referring to the comfortable hammock effect of a Brooks saddle misleads others into thinking that is where you are supposed to be positioned. That has you supported by your soft middle bits and is a recipe for saddle sores and numbness.

I find it best to have the saddle pushed forward to the point you are practically falling off the back, then gradually ease it back from there until you feel you are no longer sitting on the rear metal frame. The B17 saddles also seem to be made from rather flimsy leather these days, and need to be laced within a few thousand km due to the sides bowing out which the tension bolt is unable to correct.

OneIsAllYouNeed

For long distance riding, Brooks and Selle Anatomica saddles are often the last in a long line of saddle purchases.

For rides under 6 hours, I'm comfortable on a handful of plastic-shell saddles from Terry, Specialized, and Fizik. Beyond that duration, I much prefer my Brooks Team Professional (with aftermarket cutout). Similarly, my wife loves Terry Butterfly saddles for shorter rides, but goes to a Brooks B17 S Imperial for multi-day rides.

I should note that I've tried a VO-branded Gyes saddle that is a copy of the Brooks Team Pro. I've added a cutout and laces, chamfered the edges, broken it in properly; and it still isn't as comfortable as the Brooks.

Cyclist0108

Someone needs to study and publish a correlation between euphemism size and Brooks saddle appreciation.

Brooks may have to change its advertising slogan to something like "Brooks Saddles, the pickup truck equivalent for cyclists."

SteelBanana

Don't forget the RATO (rocket-assisted takeoff), just to be on the safe side.

trailangel

You calling me a redneck?

Scarbo

Yes, of course. Not to be confused with JATO.

kcblair

Same here, with my SA. A friend recommend I try one and now I have one on 3 bikes. Logged over 1800 miles
this season on the 3 SA, absolutely no issues.

Back in 1990, I installed a Brooks (can"t remember the model) on my new custom Concorde bike. I spent all winter, with a glass of wine and a rubber mallet, beating the crap out of the leather. Nothing seemed to soften it up. Ended up giving it to a friend. KB.

noglider 

@gecho, that's interesting. I'll try that. I'm a big B17 fan. I just got my first C17 (Cambium) and can't wait to try it.