Brooks Saddles

The purple really is purple.

I saw the Brooks Colt at Condor today in it's finest purple glory (think Cadbury purple), look lush if it weren't for the fact that it's viturally impossible to make it look pleasing on your bike.

I was in Condor yesterday as well and saw the Brooks (though didn't see Ed). It is a regal purple. It would look nice on a purple bike. If you were wearing a purple suit. With purple shoes.

how much was the COlt in Condor? I cant find prices online

Recommendations/reviews wanted please.

I'm building up a town/light (day) touring bike for my girlfriend and want to put a brooks on it but I'm a little stuck as to which one, and the brooks website isn't very helpful about the relative pros and cons of the different models. I guess the front runners are:

B17 s standard: Designated for "Touring and Trekking", the cheapest and most common brooks - the obvious choice.
B17 s imperial: "Touring and Trekking" as above but with a cut out. Ladies, does it make that much difference?
Flyer s: More "Touring and Trekking", a B17 leather top but sprung.
B67 s: Designated "City and Heavy Duty". Supreme comfort sounds good.

This bike will be a city runaround and commuter but she has also expressed an interest in doing some light single day touring too. The bike has to be a general all rounder, as well as hopefully inspire her to get more into cycling. The B17 seems to be what everyone goes for and is probably a very good saddle, but perhaps the other options might be more comfortable, and comfort is king! Also, since I don't want to scare her off with a hideously uncomfortable unbroken saddle, it would be good if it was (relatively) quick to break in. The comfort of the B67 sonds great but her riding could hardly be described as "heavy duty" and this description makes me think the leather will be super thick and tough.

Any recommendations, experiences etc especially from the ladies would be awesome!

On another note, to maybe save a little cash I might look to ebay - how much do Brooks mould to an individual's arse shape? Will a saddle broken in by a different rider be hideously uncomfortable under another? Alternatively I was wondering about breaking the saddle in for her (at least initially) but (thankfully) our backsides are very different shapes so this might make things worse rather than better?

One thing to think about is the shape, the Brooks Finesse is shorter and wider, to suit the female shape. They only, as far as I can see, list a Ti version.
The other which I can't see mentioned in this thread is riding them wet to mould the shape. I have used brooks for many years and the thick leather ones have all benefited from being soaked and almost dried out before riding for a short while. The leather then takes the shape of your sit bones more quickly, and while it isn't any softer it is more comfortable. When fully dry rub in proofide and away you go!
Coincidentally I have an old and unridden finesse with steel rails that I might be persuaded to sell. I bought it for my partner, she looked at me as if I was jesting (she isn't really a cyclist) and it has lain in a cupboard ever since!

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/brooks-b17-s-select-organic-leather-saddle-prod25171/

**Brooks B17 S Select Organic Leather Saddle
**

This version of the B17 is made with Brooks' extra tough, organic leather for high mileage cyclists.

tell that to the cows

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/cow-emissions-more-damaging-to-planet-than-cosub2sub-from-cars-427843.html

B17 gets my vote. Over 100 reviews on Wiggle for this model and all positive. I've had mine for over a year. I didn't have any problems 'breaking it in' it was comfortable from the start, but everyone is different.

Not sure about buying one second hand, esp if it is well worn in. It will be moulded to seller's arse

I have B17 Narrow on one bike and Team Pro on another. Both have been comfortable straight out the box. Team Pro is more rounded where B17N is more boxy and that makes getting on/off saddle and changing position more comfortable on the Pro.

Does anybody know of any decent alternatives to a Brooks? Aesthetically they are just what I need for my current revamp of my bike but they seem pricey. Don't get me wrong, £70 is great for a quality product with a proven lifespan but if my arse doesn't get on with it, as can be the case, I figure I'll be making a big loss if I sell it on.

If I understand rightly, second hand Brooks are kind of pointless because they're broken in to the previous owner's bum so: a) that puts me off buying a cheaper second hand one and b) it puts me off the idea that I could sell mine on if I didn't like it because of the loss of value. As far as I can see, broken-in Brooks go for about £30?

So my question is are there other "classic" looking leather saddles at a slightly cheaper price point? A search on Wiggle and SJS doesn't bring up much. Maybe the San Marco Regal?

I've never had any problems using secondhand Brooks saddles. Just Proofide them regularly for the first few months and they seem to re-shape themselves.

A cheap Brooks is the old B5N which was their cheapest leather model back in the 60s and 70s (I think). Also, look around car boot sales - I got my honey Brooks Professional for £10.

the B17 is usually less than £70, here's one for £53...
http://www.evanscycles.com/products/brooks/b17-std-saddle-ec007597?query=brooks%20b17

You can break in a second-hand one.
Just give it 2 or 3 weeks of riding and it will be the shape of your arse rather than the previous owner's.

The real problem with second-hand ones is that they've probably been stolen.

edit: I knew I'd seen a thread about cheap rip-off ones.
https://www.lfgss.com/thread63695.html

Thanks for the help guys, great as usual!

I got this one and couldn't be happier. The saddle that came with my bike was not for me whatsoever. It put a lot of pressure on the wrong parts, you know what I mean (the gooch). This one has alleviated the problem, I would highly recommend: http://www.brooksengland.com/en/Shop_ProductPage.aspx?cat=saddles+-+touring+%26+trekking&prod=B17+Imperial

Recommendations/reviews wanted please.

B17 s imperial: "Touring and Trekking" as above but with a cut out. Ladies, does it make that much difference?

I read a review of the women's version that said the cutout was in the wrong place and it was not long enough, she said that the men's version was designed better...

I suppose everyone is different though

This thread (and the one about trad leather saddles) delivers.

The cheaper Brooks tend to have thinner leather (as does the swift, at the other end of the price scale,) and they adapt to your shape more quickly. The professional is in my experience the hardest to break in, but I still reckon they are worth it.
A used Brooks usually has been softened by use as well as moulded, so can become comfy quite quickly, I have two that came with bikes, and are lovely now.

brooks saddles are all made with the same leather thickness, with the exception of the new organic ones.

^ I'm not sure on that. Look at the quality/thickness of one of the brooks that comes standard on the low end pashley's - Definately different to a standard b17 etc.

I don't know whether this is because they make them specifically for the pashley's to cut cost's, but they feel cheap and nasty in comparison to a usual brooks.

Don't Pashleys have the "vintage" stamping? That makes the leather look like plastic to my eyes.

I suspect the swift breaks in easier simply because the shape doesn't have the structural strength that the B17 pattern does.

Ive got a B17 special ( comfy straight from the box)

Swift Ti (a bit on the sharp side at the mo, but shaping up nicely!)

Conquest all terrain (comfy as fook as it's sprung, bought 2nd hand but lightly used)

Professional (2nd hand, quite 'moulded', but has shape shifted to my arse nicely!)
I had a swallow too, which was very comfy from new.....I only did a few miles on it though.

Basically, I am lucky in that my arse suits all the ones Ive owned......whereas, I don't really get on with Rolls's.......buy one 2nd hand, if it doesn't work out for you, sell it on for the same sort of dosh.....or offer it for a trade on here, someone will have it

Bought a B17N the other week. I've only covered about 45 miles on it so far but it's not too bad. It's firm, for sure, but that should change soon enough. I'd say go for it :) The B17/B17N can be had for as little as £55 if you shop about (fat birds - though their customer service is pretty shocking). I bought mine locally and paid more, but y'know... support your LBS and all that.

Factor in £6ish for Proofide though...

I've been riding a Brooks Swift for about 4 months now and it's not really getting comfy at all. I started by giving it the Neatsfoot Oil treatment following the instructions by Sheldon Brown. I have tweaked the position many times but it's just not happening. So I've gone back to my San Marco Rolls which is better but still not hugely comfortable. Should I give the B17 a go or just give on Brooks?

B17 is another solution, different shape and width probably make it more comfortable.

never use neatsfoot oil, if it's not comfortable, it's not comfortable.

as for brooks saddle in general, not everyone fit on it well, I know I don't (and they are comfortable).