best general brooks saddle?

phelixoflaherty

Which would be better for general dogging around and commuting?
Nothing to narrow nedd comfort too at my age

The Ging and I

B17

Vélo

+1

smacl

I've the B17 on my road bike and the Flyer on my hybrid, very little difference comfort wise and the B17 is a bit lighter. If money was no object, the C17 might look a bit better on a road bike.

So yeah, B17.

tomasrojo

Been using a B17 on the Brompton for five years. No complaints at all.

phelixoflaherty

Thanks

jamesd

B17 for me too

timmyjimmy

Sorry for jumping on thread but what is the story with looking after a brooks saddle, are they ruined if they get wet? I'm thinking of getting one but it worries me that if the saddle becomes wet, it might ruin it..

Idleater

timmyjimmy wrote: »

Sorry for jumping on thread but what is the story with looking after a brooks saddle, are they ruined if they get wet? I'm thinking of getting one but it worries me that if the saddle becomes wet, it might ruin it..

For all weather I have a Cambium.

OleRodrigo

The Cambium C17.

Unless you have a steel framed bike with classical geometries, the B17 will look out of place. It also needs more maintenance in wet conditions.

Wishbone Ash

timmyjimmy wrote: »

Sorry for jumping on thread but what is the story with looking after a brooks saddle, are they ruined if they get wet? I'm thinking of getting one but it worries me that if the saddle becomes wet, it might ruin it..

Getting wet during a ride has not posed any problems for me. I apply the cream now and again when I think of it. (That said, I only fit it for 200k+ rides).

Do you intend to leave the bike outside in the rain?

timmyjimmy

My bike is always inside, I wouldn't dare leave it outside! Sometimes do my bike might be locked outside when I'm in town doing the messages! I take part in a few sportives here and there as well. BTW it's a genesis equilibrium which is a steel frame.

AmboMan

Any recommendations between the B17 narrow or standard version? Thanks

Wishbone Ash

AmboMan wrote: »

Any recommendations between the B17 narrow or standard version? Thanks

Narrow for me - haven't had the wider version. The narrow one is wide enough and wider than any of my other saddles. I presume it's also less restrictive when pedalling hard.

AmboMan

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Narrow for me - haven't had the wider version. The narrow one is wide enough and wider than any of my other saddles. I presume it's also less restrictive when pedalling hard.

Thanks for that !

Dcully

I'm in the market for a new saddle,those B17`s don't look comfy at all lol, also pretty expensive.
Are they that good?. anything else to consider?

OleRodrigo

Selle Rolls. It seems to suit a wide variety of bone structures, wears well, costs about 70 euro and won't make your bike look like it's fallen backwards through an old curiosity shop.

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/icons-of-cycling-selle-san-marco-rolls-saddle-187625

smacl

Dcully wrote: »

I'm in the market for a new saddle,those B17`s don't look comfy at all lol, also pretty expensive.
Are they that good?. anything else to consider?

Haven't used one, but the charge spoon has a great rep as a well priced saddle which is comfy over the distance. Spa cycles also carry their own leather saddles which look quite decent after falling out with Brooks.

Type 17

Dcully wrote: »

I'm in the market for a new saddle,those B17`s don't look comfy at all lol, also pretty expensive.
Are they that good?. anything else to consider?

If you don't have a road bike and want a comfy Brooks saddle for life, then I can recommend the B72 - I bought a 1973 new-old-stock one in 1988 in a bike shop in Falmouth, Cape Cod (I worked in the shop on my J1), and it's still on my commuter bike today. There's always a Spar bag tucked under it, and it gets slipped over it if there is any chance of rain, so it's never been wet.

They're not cheap these days, though (I got mine for $20), but it will see you out if you look after it...

arybvtcw0eolkf

I like the B17, and whilst it didn't cause me any pain or discomfort on my seat bones during the break in period I did get a blister behind my nutsack.

I tried keeping it dry, then vasaline but it wouldn't heal.. When it started to bleed I had to give the B17 a break, but I came back to it after the blister healed and its been fantastic since.

Gets better looking as it weathers.

Planet X

What gets better looking?

Doctor Bob

smacl wrote: »

Spa cycles also carry their own leather saddles which look quite decent after falling out with Brooks.

Wow. Spot the difference. If they perform/last anything like the Brooks saddles they seem to be very close cousins of, they're very good value.

I asked on here before if there were any leather alternatives to Brooks for town bikes but got no reply- although they don't seem to have any double-rail saddles, which I needed. I'll be keeping these on file. Cheers.

(FWIW, I got a B66 in the end.)

Planet X

Have a Swift myself for a couple of years. Happy enough but won't be buying another Brooks. Big sag effect. Have tightened it half a turn but prefer a stiffer non sagging saddle.
Like the Berthoud saddles. Might even buy a Rolls.

barrymanilow

Rose bikes .de does b17s cheaper than most

CramCycle

timmyjimmy wrote: »

Sorry for jumping on thread but what is the story with looking after a brooks saddle, are they ruined if they get wet? I'm thinking of getting one but it worries me that if the saddle becomes wet, it might ruin it..

Mine got drenched a few times with no issue, just don't let the tension nut slip.

Mikayla Chubby Pinhead wrote: »

I like the B17, and whilst it didn't cause me any pain or discomfort on my seat bones during the break in period I did get a blister behind my nutsack.

I had the same thing, not sure if it was distance or saddle related but once it was healed it never came back or caused issue again. I had to Lance mine in the end, it was an unpleasant experience.

Doctor Bob wrote: »

I asked on here before if there were any leather alternatives to Brooks for town bikes but got no reply- although they don't seem to have any double-rail saddles, which I needed. I'll be keeping these on file. Cheers.

The Gilles Berthoud are well regarded (or they were, my understanding is these are a new release). Velo Orange in France also do some well regarded saddles among the Audax crowd.

OldBean

CramCycle wrote: »

Velo Orange in France also do some well regarded saddles among the Audax crowd.

Despite the name, they're based in the US. I've two of their B17 equiv saddles, one for myself and one for herself. They're great, but a lot thicker than Brooks so break in takes longer, but I think they're much more resistant to rain and eventually more comfortable.

They're definitely an option at a more reasonable price if you're buying from within the US, but by the time you've payed taxes for importing them to Ireland, they're at the same price point as a Brooks, give or take a tenner.

I also have a Brooks Flyer which is lovely. Like riding on a sofa, except it squeaks like ****.

Doctor Bob

OldBean wrote: »

They're definitely an option at a more reasonable price if you're buying from within the US, but by the time you've payed taxes for importing them to Ireland, they're at the same price point as a Brooks, give or take a tenner.

(Apologies OP for the further hijack.)

OldBean- I guess the answer is implicit in your reply above, but is there an Irish source or stockist for Velo Orange? I remember reading about somewhere in Waterford (?) being listed as a supplier, but had my doubts. I've drooled over their stuff before (your bike and elsewhere) but I haven't seen much of it in the flesh and would be reluctant to shell out online, even without the current poxy exchange rate.

Maybe the answer is a trip to the US when the rate improves...

tomasrojo

OldBean wrote: »

I also have a Brooks Flyer which is lovely. Like riding on a sofa, except it squeaks like ****.

My Brooks squeaked for a while, but spraying oil down the rails where they go through the clamp stopped that.

Not saying that'll work for you, but thought I'd mention it.

OldBean

Doctor Bob wrote: »

(Apologies OP for the further hijack.)

OldBean- I guess the answer is implicit in your reply above, but is there an Irish source or stockist for Velo Orange? I remember reading about somewhere in Waterford (?) being listed as a supplier, but had my doubts. I've drooled over their stuff before (your bike and elsewhere) but I haven't seen much of it in the flesh and would be reluctant to shell out online, even without the current poxy exchange rate.

Maybe the answer is a trip to the US when the rate improves...

I think the chap in Tramore just orders in parts as needed, but have no ideas on pricing or anything. There's a couple of other guys that can order their parts, but from the UK afaik so the prices go up.

Completely understandable to not have to shell out online. Out of complete coincidence my OH is from the same town as Velo Orange, so we stopped in to their warehouse to check out their stuff (it's all pretty gorgeous).

If you want to check out mine in the flesh, just shoot me a PM

Back on topic, I would guess the Giles Berthoud saddles are nothing but lovely. I have some panniers from them and while really expensive for what they are, the leather and stitching was really well done.

tomasrojo wrote: »

My Brooks squeaked for a while, but spraying oil down the rails where they go through the clamp stopped that.

Not saying that'll work for you, but thought I'd mention it.

I've tried

I've done everything from oil to cutting tubes up and resting them between the rails and leather. It's usually fine if I keep my cadence between 80 and 95, strangely enough.

The Ging and I

Giles Berthroud saddles are very good, I have 2.
Neither of them are left on bikes I would be commuting or leaving locked around town.
A used b17 with a plastic bag tucked underneath would be fine.

uck51js9zml2yt

Found this thread and ordered the B17 from Amazon uk for €91 delivered.
thanks

superelliptic

The Ging and I wrote: »

B17

I can confirm this. I've had mine about a year and although you'd never think that something like this could get comfortable they really do. I'd never go back to a gel saddle after it

arybvtcw0eolkf

I like the B17, and whilst it didn't cause me any pain or discomfort on my seat bones during the break in period I did get a blister behind my nutsack.

CramCycle wrote: »

I had the same thing, not sure if it was distance or saddle related but once it was healed it never came back or caused issue again. I had to Lance mine in the end, it was an unpleasant experience.
.

Holy Jesus!... You're a braver man than I am.. If I was doing that I'd go the whole hog and get the snip too :P

aidanki

Is there a way of measuring your tail end see what suits ?

uck51js9zml2yt

€95 in Halfords
http://www.halfords.ie/cycling/bike-parts/saddles-seat-posts/brooks-b17-standard-bike-saddle-black