Eggplant Jeff

So I've had a B17, but after riding it for a while (yeah sometimes when it was wetter than I should have been riding) it sagged a lot. I tightened it with the nose bolt etc etc. but I think part of my problem is that I'm a pretty big guy and supposedly the B17 is one of the thinner-leather models.

So anyway, I'm now looking for a saddle to replace the stock one on my fixie, and I'm considering trying a model other than the B17. Supposedly some (Team pro? Champion Special?) have thicker leather... Can anyone offer some concrete proof on that? Have you personally compared different models?

This bike has pretty low handlebars too so I don't mind one of the saddles that's slightly narrower than the B17, although I doubt I need something like a swallow.

chipcom 

The thickness of the leather is pretty standard among all the Brooks saddles, according to Brooks, contradicting the myths otherwise. That said, a Team Pro is pretty tough.

Donkey Hodie

shoot an email over to wallbike.com
He can answer any technical questions you have regarding the brooks saddles.
If you find out whats up with varying leather thicknesses, report back here with what you learned please.

ginsoakedboy

I thought the Champion Special was supposed to be a little thicker -- isn't that one of the things that justifies the extra cost over the standard, besides just the cosmetics of the copper rails/rivets and skiving of the edges? I seem to recall that Rivendell used to advertise the ChampSpecial as being thicker. So, yeah, I guess I'm also looking forward to hearing what they have to say at Wallingford if you hear back from them

chipcom 

I have 2 Champion Specials, 4 B17s and a Team Pro (plus another I just gave away)...the thickness of the leather is essentially the same on all of them (none of them are exactly the same, even on the same models). The only difference between the CS and a B17 is cosmetic. The Team Pro 'seems' thicker but in reality it just doesn't have as much 'give' due to the narrower frame and lack of holes in the top. The Team Pro is tougher to break in.

crtreedude 

Okay Brooks users, I have a question for you. Currently I am using my stock Cannondale seat which probably resembles a baseball bat put small end up with a doiley for padding. I am seriously thinking of getting a seat and people seem to like the Brooks.

I ride over some pretty rough stuff - rocks, slow chickens, sand - not a lot of pavement. Is the Brooks good for that?

Secondly, the climate here is brutal on anything leather. We do have leather saddles but we have to keep them clean, etc. What do you think? Will the leather on the Brooks turn into a weird tropical fungus?

Hopefully this isn't a complete hi-jack of thread.

chipcom 

I've lived in Hawaii and SC which are pretty humid and spent time in various VERY humid locations around the pacific rim (Phillipines for example, where I was lucky to have a pair of combat boots last more than a couple of weeks). If you take care of it, it should be fine. Proofide treatments and letting it dry well in the sun is the ticket. For rough terrain, you might like one of the sprung models.

crtreedude 

Thanks, I might just go with it then. It is worth a shot. As I said, we have saddles and such and with care, leather does fine here.

ginsoakedboy

I'll defer to chipcom and his experience with several models. I only have one, so nothing to compare and contrast with. Nonetheless, I did go back to look at the Rivendell site, and they advertise their Honey ChampSpecial as being thicker than the standard. Don't know if Riv has their facts wrong, or maybe they're getting Brooks to make something special for them. Check the link: https://www.rivbike.com/webalog/saddl...ies/11006.html

chipcom 

Riv are not the only ones who claim this - it's a pretty widespread myth. But this was discussed once long ago and someone got it straight from Brooks that it is not the case. IMO, the best way to clarify again, would be to contact Brooks, rather than someone who sells them.

vrkelley

Eggy, you ride in all sorts of weather. That sagging could be from rain water soaking in and stretching the leather as you ride. I think you're supposed to cover it with a water poof liner of some sort.

My Team Professional arrives next week. With our rains, I plan on covering it year 'round.

seeker333

maybe you could punch a few holes and lace your old saggy b17 - should make it stiffer

JumboRider

CR,
I am a big guy-353 and have a b-67. In all of my days riding my tush has never felt so good on a bike seat. The real news is that I simply don't even think about it.

Daily Commute

And I've had really good experiences dealine with wallbike.com customer service. They're a class act.

Any Brooks saddle will serve you well. Just treat it nice with their wax. When it rains, I use a grocery bag to cover it.

donnamb 

I understand there is a Brooks model made specifically for third world country bikers, crtreedude. India can be very humid in places, and I believe it was originally designed for such a climate. I would check out their website, and perhaps email them directly. I would hope they could give you better advice for where you live than any of us.

pedalMonger

The Conquest is supposed to be a mountain bike saddle. Supposed to be nice for commuters as well. Its the saddle I am probably going to get. Its slightly narrower then the B17, and has some stiff springs:

https://www.wallbike.com/Conquest.html

SDRider

God I wish I still had my mid 70's Motobecane LeChampion...I'd forgive the guy who stole it from my garage in Hermosa Beach during the early 90s just to have it back...It was champaign color and it had sewups...god I loved that bike...

Oh, and it had a Brooks saddle. All I remember about the saddle was polishing the rivets and treating the leather. It was very comfortable but I haven't found modern saddles to be uncomfortable so I'm really unwilling to devote the time/discomfort to breaking in a new Brooks saddle...especially since I have two road bikes that I alternate riding regularly.

vrkelley

Punch? Punch? You'd need a drill to go through that leather!

seeker333

actually, they make punches for leatherworking. they cut a cleaner hole.

https://cgi.ebay.com/9-Pcs-Hollow-Lea...QQcmdZViewItem

Allen

I believe they are referring more to the quality of the roads.
That said, the Harris Cyclery site lists the heavily sprung B33, B73, and B135 as saddles for third world roads.
Of the three the B33 has the widest top, and the B73, and B135 have the same top as the B66.
I've ridden all three, of the group I prefer the ride of the B135, it's a little less bouncy than the others.

pedalMonger

Have you ever tried out the Conquest? The guy who runs the wallbike store says somewhere that he uses it, for commuting, so I assume its good. I am still worried about the springs a bit, are they bouncy at all (if you've owned one that is....maybe somebody else will chime in if not) ? Do they lose tension when they get old, and become boingier? If so, maybe a springless saddle would be better. I do ride over a few chewed up roads though, that need repair. Snow plows are hard on the roads around here.

Allen

I've not tried the Conquest. I keep a B66 Champion, which Brooks replaced with the Champion Flyer (the B66 Champ is a double rail, the Champ Flyer is a single rail), on my commuter, and a Champ Flyer on my mountain bike. The springs on the Champ/Champ Flyer are not as stiff as the ones on the Conquest, other wise the saddles are about the same, and neither have much bounce to them.
You can really feel the "third world saddles" move underneath you. Not so much with the other sprung models.

Cyclist0383

They aren't bouncy at all and the springs don't loose tension when they get old. It's a fine saddle.

pedalMonger

Conquest sounds like what I want then, if its stiffer then the other sprung (or is it sprang? or springed?) models. Not riding with dropped bars, but I don't put all my weight on the saddle, I "lean" on the flat bars a lot, amd pedal aggresively at times.

I can see why you'd want a cushier saddle after reading about the car wreck you were in on the foo staple thread. How are you healing up from the recent love fest with the semi?

Thanks as well Ziemas.

Allen

I'm coming along ok. My left hand is in a cast for a few weeks. It doesn't hurt any more and I've learned to quit conking my self in the head with the cast but it itches, I'm going to chew it off in my sleep.

The bike has come back to life thanks to one of my neighbors.