Hello,

been lurking on here for a while now, helped me alot building my first track bike, just have a question that remains.

Im looking to get a Brooks 17 saddle, just dont know to go with the standard one or the narrow one. Basically i only ride around in the city, alot of bumps here so i need some comfort. My riding style is pretty fast, usually race around getting from A to B fast. would the standard one be too wide (alot of inner thigh friction) and is more a easy going saddle to just cruise around? or would it do fine.. and shouldnt i waste 30euros extra on the narrow one?

Cheers

Although some may disagree I think the difference between the two is largely look or style, there's nothing wrong with that, just choose the one you like the most and can afford. Unless you've got a small frame (physically, you, not the bike), in which case the narrow might be more comfortable.

The standard brooks is the size of what you would expect to find on a cruiser bike - narrow is more like a road saddle.

get a team pro. They're rock hard in black though.

if you want comfort, don't get a brooks.

Nah get a rolls, perfect on a track bike

i have a rolls on one bike and that's instantly been comfy and a brooks 17 narrow on the other - still a pain in the ass 10 months on (but getting better). I have high expectation for the brooks in the long term though

i have 4 brooks on 4 bikes. all at different ages and levels of comfort. once they break in you cant beat them though.

it's all bollocks. the Emperors' new saddle.

whatever gabes. brooks mould to your butt, so they take time to get comfy..much like a fine pair of shoes.
i've got over 4000 miles on mine and you can bet my butt was much happier after dunwich than most of the lot!

any tips on how to break in a brooks faster?
like soaking it in water and ride it till dry (then sit in a swimming ring for the next 4 weeks to heal skinless butt)

Er, ride it?

That's so crazy it just might work!

Anybody know a place in london that sells the Brooks bar grips made from leather washers?

Trim it! Innit!

+1

@Platini & nimhbus - point of order, it can't be the Emperor's new saddle because if it was it would just be a nekkid seat-post.

i just thought there would be a quicker way than riding 4000+ km...
it's supposed to soften a bit and take shape from your arse, right?

You're just sore.

different arses, different saddles.

but brooks do need riding in, some more than others.

"whatever gabes. brooks mould to your butt, so they take time to get comfy..much like a fine pair of shoes."

Brooks don't mould to your butt the leather softens over time (I've never seen a butt shaped Brooks!) and then they get (more) comfy?

If you wanna soften one use a leather treatment for bridle gear or walking boots, you could also hit it with a rubber mallet to stress the leather...

The best reason to put a Brooks on your bike is cos you like it's styling

The best reason to not is cos there heavy and only comfy by the standard of the era they where designed in!

...oh and good shoes should by comfy straight out the box to, it ain't 1940!!

the standared brooks, look like ladies seats they are built to last forever but not to comfy out of the box ,you're best bet is to aquire a used brooks and if poss 1 that hasent been tightend ,use leather food and tighten only after a ride or they'l crack.

I love my Regal, really comfy, didn't really get on with a Brookes (borrowed my flatmate's for a coupla months), it wrecked my cornhole... Rolls good too, I have one on Death Bike, er, that's it...

I thought you had a rolls on your spartonius?

rolls:


Regal:


I really want to try either of these.

hipster.

I just want a comfy race saddle, I've tried LOTS, but not those two

got a lovely little arione, in black, 20 pound to you.

I've had no problems with Brooks saddles, been riding them for the last five years. Have a B17 on my road bike, an old one that I inherited that's on the beater, and put a Team Pro on the track bike. Got sore once after spending most of a very hot day on the inherited saddle in jeans and boxers, which was never going to work out well, but that's been about it.

Your mileage may vary.

@nimmo: tried. waaaaay to narrow :(

my bio turbo's starting to come into its own.

i think.

did you not get on with it??

I found the rolls to be a lots more uncomfortable than the previous saddle (B-17), perhaps it's personal preference?

Everyone kept saying how comfortable the Rolls is, I end up buying one and turn out to be really uncomfortable (but not sore), so now I take everyone's advice with tonnes of salt.

rolls hate my arse