Juan Foote

If you haven't treated your ass to a Brooks saddle yet, are on the fence about comfort.....DO IT!

Best cycling purchase I have made in a long time.

Flip Flop Rider

congrats man, post back about your experience

Unca_Sam

I didn't even mess around with it, i just bought it with the first bike.

That bike had a WTB SST saddle on it and that was super uncomfortable.

Juan Foote

I purchased the Flyer Imperial and first ride out on an unbroken saddle it was by far the best thing I have EVER sat on short of the tadpole trike. Super comfortable. I did end up having to come home and immediately take the wrench to tighten it a bit. The cutout is well placed, the springs (my first experience) were luxuriant. If it's this good now, and the break in period makes it better...oh BOY!

Got the wife a B67 as well and after some 5-6 saddle changes it's the first one she didn't complain about mid ride.

HerrKaLeun

Took me my first 6 months of serious riding in pain to finally get a Brooks. Never looked back and also outfit all my other good bikes with Brooks.

Except my commuter out of fear it getting stolen and the ride is only 2 miles.

If comfort is your goal, just try. They probably have decent resale value if you end up not liking it.
Unless you are one of the aero guys who likes sitting on an axe to gain a second in a triathlon.

delbiker1 

I have had a B17 for a couple of weeks now. Still making incremental changes to get it right. I have to give it more time but it is just ok. Still not keen on the looks and the wide skirts. I have a couple of other saddles that, at this point, I prefer. I am glad I did not pay full price for a new one.

Juan Foote

I haven't gotten fully used to the skirt yet either, however this one is "stitched" and I have the option to pull that in a bit tighter.

Marylander

I just received one of the new fangled cambium (rubber) ones in the mail today. As a returning rider I also didn't want to mess around...

bargo68 

I've had mine (a B17) on my daily rider since December, and honestly I've had to learn to love it. It took a LOT of fuss to get in a position that didn't:
a- make me slide forward
b- push the nose too far up
c- batter my taint
d- make my bollocks numb.

After about 1500 miles I can say with hard-won wisdom that the Brooks can be a very comfortable saddle to ride on. YMMV.

Mad Honk 

I have still and have had a bunch of Brooks saddles, from the wide to the fan tail set up. It has been my experience that a good leather saddle needs some oiling and breaking in to fit right. I have baked, oiled, and left in oil for weeks to get a leather to loosen up enough to fit my hip bones, before it was ride-able for me. Not dissing the Brooks line just saying.... Smiles, MH

delbiker1 

Not saying I will, but if I have to go through all that, forget it. As stated above, I have other saddles that I am comfortable on, a couple good for long rides. No matter what saddle I use, I have to take short breaks off the bike for more than my butt.

zarbog

b-17 Imperial, comfy out of the box. loved the slick slippery feel. Have over a thousand miles on it now and do not need padded shorts for 1 hour rides.

gorillimo

Yep! Previous favorite was WTB Pure V. After buying a B-17, it’s relegated to the parts drawer!!
I do a lot of rides in normal street clothes, and nothing has beat the Brooks for that sort of use. And it looks so cool!

JehD

I put a B17 on my bike and after reading about the break-in period rode a bunch of shorter rides for about 50-60 miles before taking it on a longer one of about 25. It was brutal. Road a few more short ones and took it to about 100 miles before a longer ride again of about 25 and it was pure agony. My taint was brutalized.

I later sold the bike but not to be dismayed Im giving it another chance and bought a B135. Ill report back after it shows and I get a few miles on it.

MikeyMK

I just don't see how they can be comfortable. They look like a saddle with all the padding torn off. I can push my entire thumb into my saddle. Are they any good for sitting upright?

Unca_Sam

Shape determines function. B-67 saddles are for upright riding, and have a suspension. B17 saddles are for more aggressive positions, and the Swifts and Swallows are considered racing style.
If the leather was glued to a shell throughout, it likely wouldn't be as comfortable. The leather is stretched on the frame, with no other support in between. The leather itself is stiff, but under your weight conforms and cradles your pelvis. It feels like firm padding on a conventional saddle.

Unca_Sam

I wanted to add that the b 17 styles can also be used for upright since they're wide enough.

mcours2006

I've got a B17 on my vintage steel bike and super comfy, even though they say it's meant for more upright riding. I ride on the drops too, and it's excellent.

noimagination

My experience (B17N) was similar, the setup was more important with the Brooks than it was with other saddles. It really wasn't that hard, though, after initial set-up on the trainer, one ride carrying a hex wrench in my jersey pocket, stop 5-6 times (more? don't remember, but it wasn't a huge number) to make small adjustments. (I admit I kept the wrench in my pocket for a couple of rides after, just in case.) After it was adjusted properly, it felt fine, no break-in required.

It did take a little bit to get used to the slippery feel, though that gradually decreases as the saddle ages/forms to your body. It doesn't go away entirely, however, and I enjoy being able to move around on the saddle with little effort. I think perhaps the low friction makes the effects of small differences in tilt/fore & aft more obvious. If a Brooks is tilted just a little to much up by the nose, your "boys" let you know, like, immediately. Too far down and it feels like you're going to slide right off. Other effects for too far forward/back on the rails.

Perhaps this contributes to the enduring popularity of Brooks saddles: you are forced to set your saddle up just right which, in the long run, would improve the feel of any saddle.

I've owned 7 or 8 saddles, all worked fine, but the Brooks is my favorite. However, don't let anyone try to tell you what you should like. There are plenty of people who are happy with other saddles.

Kabuki12

I have one B17 (modern) Brooks saddle and a few Brooks Professional Saddles from the seventies on my vintage racers . They fit me fine and the older ones are just getting more comfortable with age. Proper care and conditioning is beneficial to longevity . I am not much for "padded" saddles , I wear cycling shorts with either chamois or gel lining for longer rides. Joe joesvintageroadbikes.wordpress

Flip Flop Rider

if the skirt is bothersome, rather than ditch the expensive saddle, I would punch holes in the skirt and use some lacing to tighten those sides up. There is a good amount of info on that online, if you choose

Unca_Sam

...Or trade for a B-17 Imperial. That's what punching and lacing accomplishes.

tcs

For anyone in the market for a tensioned leather saddle, 2019 is flush with choice:

Berthoud - France
Brooks - UK
Gyes (Cardiff, Dia Compe, Fyxation, Lekker, Origin8, Papillionaire, Shinola, Spa, Torelli, Velo Orange, Zimbale, etc.) - Taiwan
Ideale - France
Lepper - Netherlands
Nasiruddin (Persons) - India
Rivet - AFAIK manufactured in Taiwan by Gyes but to their own proprietary designs
Sella Italia - Italy
Selle Anatomica - USA
Selle Monte Grappa - Italy
Tabor - Portugal

bnewberry

I loved my Brooks Team Pro when I was riding a lot many years ago. Now that I have started biking seriously again the past 3 years I have to say that the Brooks doesn’t seem to work as well for me as a saddle with a generous center cut out. I will keep trying though. Any experience with the Selle Anatomical?

autonomy

This thread is funny. It's like saying "finally got a Honda". Which Honda? With a cutout or not? (yeah, I see it mentioned/lost later in the thread)
And the one poster who said "No padding??! I can push my whole thumb into my saddle", that's like saying "sure a Civic is nice, but I can get from point A to point B in a Ford Pinto"
Pleeenty of people out there comfortable doing century rides on their axe-like road saddles.

/rant