brooks saddles

fixie

right so been looking at getting one for ages, but i dont want to buy one and find out a week later if i had of spent a tenner more i would of had a better quality saddle,so just wonder what people here use and how you find them. id be looking at around the €100 mark and like the look of the B17 Special. http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11669
heres the list of them anyway
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/SearchResults.aspx?Search=brooks+saddle&DoSort=true&CurrentPageIndex=0&SortExpression=PRICE_ASC
thanks in advance

Pigeon Reaper

I used a B17 for years and it was excellent. I gave it away to a friend along with the bike and still regret it. Just try to keep stored dry.

Morgan

You're getting a lot more for your money if you cough up an extra €10 for the B135.

fixie

yeah id think so morgan with all those springs they stuck on it! all 1.6kilos for €110:D not for me thanks

fixie

thanks Pigeon Reaper,
would always be kept indoors and tend nbot to cycle in the rain, do you have to treat them with waterproofing or something often

rottenhat

I like the B17 and the Team Pro, and I'm sure Blorg will be along any minute to say that the Team Pro is the work of Satan, and a Swallow is your only man. It's really a matter of whether the shape suits you and your position on the bike - the B17 is generally suited to a more upright position on the bike whereas the narrower saddles like the Swallow or the B17N are more appropriate if you run your handlebars lower than your saddle. There's no quality issue with the B17 - with the more expensive Brooks models you're paying the extra for lower weight, usually meaning titanium rails, rather than better quality.

fixie wrote: »

thanks Pigeon Reaper,
would always be kept indoors and tend nbot to cycle in the rain, do you have to treat them with waterproofing or something often

Once or twice a year would be enough in that case.

blorg

Rottenhat is right with the B17 being more suited to an upright position and the likes of the Swift and Swallow being more suited to a greater drop.

I have a Swallow, Swift, B17 and Team Pro and find comfort proceeds in that order but this is a personal thing.

Rottenhat is also correct that there is no difference in the quality of manufacture between the cheapest and most expensive Brooks. Ti rails only make a difference of around a tenner to any other saddle so I imagine Brooks has very good margins on the likes of the Swallow.

It is entirely possible you would not get on at all with a Brooks, worth bearing that in mind. On the plus side they tend to keep a good resale value.

As regards waterproofing you should treat the saddle with Proofide and it is not then a catastrophe if it rains, certainly I ride my multiple Brooks in the rain all the time. The Swallow I find the most sensitive to a thorough soaking. Make sure you Proofide the bottom of the saddle as well as the top, especially if you don't have mudguards. I also carry a saddle cover and put this on if it is very bad.

fixie

thanks
think il go for the b17 because i us risers so think it should suit
blorg,thats the b17 furthest away,yes?

abcdggs

yeah it is

feck sake lads

i have the b17 special on my thorn fantastic saddle from day one.but you do need the proofhide to protect it.stick a plastic bag under it or in your jersey pocket just in case it rains leather doesn't like getting wet.