I ordered my B17 Champion Special from Wallbike today. Spoke with Bill there, and he was very helpful.

Oh, and naysayers be damned..........I ordered it in Honey. :)

Can't wait to see it in person and mount it on the ride! Thanks for all the input the other day!

post a pic if you have the means--would love to see it. and would most appreciate a ride report after suitable break-in period. congrats! (you have been assimilated.)

....until the castration heals!!! :D

Your ass will thank you.

Brooks Swift, in Green, to match the British Racing Green frame.

That's exactly what I put on my BRG Waterford, :)
Also am considering a brown Team Pro for my fixie project, which at the moment is adorned with a B17 off another bike.

That's exactly what I put on my BRG Waterford, :)
Also am considering a brown Team Pro for my fixie project, which at the moment is adorned with a B17 off another bike.

It's a beauty. Very comfy. The color also takes on a really nice patina, and winds up looking very classy. The B.17 is the height of comfort, but the Team Pro is still dandy. Love them both.

I have the finese. It's shorter than the brooks I had on my old bike in the 80's. I find it more comfortable with the nose tilted way up for some reason. I've been thinking about getting the b17 for my mountain bike.

I've got a Swallow on my road bike - love it :-)

Just opened up the FedEx box, and there was the finest seat I've ever laid eyes on: Honey leather with copper plated rivets and rails. :) Even better in person than over the net!

My brain is telling me this is going to be like sitting on a solid piece of hickory. Let's hope not! My mindset is this will require the full Brooks break-in period: that way if it's comfortable right out of the box, I'll be pleasantly surprised!

Going to take it home tonight, give it a coat of proofide, mount it on the bike and take it for a spin (trainer if it's raining).

Oh, and I'll post a pic or two!

just don't submerge it to 30 meters and it'll be fine. a little "weathering" gives these saddles character. don't be the one on the club ride with a grocery bag wrapped around your beautiful english saddle. mine have both been soaked through & through AND covered completely in mud and/or winter precipitation. and they're comfy, look great, and are holding up well. if on the other hand you don't want to get yourself rained on, that's another matter. :)

when i ordered my first brooks from wallbike, fedex took it from nawlins to portland oregon, then to my front porch in memphis. funny, as it probably went through the memphis hub twice between going completely across the country. hmmm...?

both my b17 narrow saddles felt like a cinderblock out of the box. through bill laine says they don't really break-in all at once, mine have seemed to do exactly that. right at around 600 miles. this probably depends a bunch on rider size and riding habits, though.

good luck! post a pic when you can!

-J

don't be the one on the club ride with a grocery bag wrapped around your beautiful english saddle.
-J

True that!

The Avocet saddle cover has a water resistant rubber coating, and fits perfectly on a B17. I'm about to cut holes in mine for the saddle bag loops, but otherwise it seems to be custom made for the B17.

I found another water resistant cover for my Swift, but can't remember the brand off the top of my head.

The only way I'm going to cover up this fine piece of English leather (NOT the cologne! :)) is with my backside.

I'm not too concerned with getting it wet, once I have a coat of Proofhide on it. I just prefer to NOT ride in the rain.

As for the cross-country Fedex delivery, count your lucky stars it didn't end up on a deserted island for 4 years with a FedEx exec! A Brooks might not float as well as a volleyball.

Brooks Swift with TI rails, the best darn seat I've ridden on in over 18 years!! Took about 400 miles to break in but about 800 to really feel good with no treatments to assist in the breakin time.

Brooks Swift with TI rails, the best darn seat I've ridden on in over 18 years!! Took about 400 miles to break in but about 800 to really feel good with no treatments to assist in the breakin time.

Mine was the opposite. It felt fine until about 1000 miles. Then it hurt so bad I had to take time off of the bike.

I don't know, I really wanted to like it, but I just didn't.

I read about how great Brooks saddles were for months before I reluctantly bought one, but now I am just disappointed.

Sorry.

My other brooks was on a bike when I commuted and was in the weather all the time and was just fine. I did treat the leather like I would a hiking boot. Be careful not to over soften, I don't think the proofide will do that though.

My biggest problem when I first rode mine was that I slid around, and it was not back far enough or tilted the way I want. I got a new seatpost and it seems OK now. The finese is for women and is rather short, I could have done with a longer seat. It still feels hard but for some reason hasn't been uncomfortable, it seems to flex or something. I got it because the seats I was using got more uncomfortable the more I rode them, I think the padding compressed or something.

As an owner of a B17, a B17n. a B66, B72, and a Team Professional, I'd have to say that the Team Pro is the most comfortable saddle (the B66 is awfully nice, but I doubt it would work well with the nose pointed downwards on a road bike). Black saddles always look a bit 'weathered' after a few years, but they do hide the nicks and scratches well. Still, nothing looks quite as nice as a honey Team Pro after it's been well used for a few years.

Mine was the opposite. It felt fine until about 1000 miles. Then it hurt so bad I had to take time off of the bike.

I don't know, I really wanted to like it, but I just didn't.

I read about how great Brooks saddles were for months before I reluctantly bought one, but now I am just disappointed.

Sorry.

No reason to be sorry, everyone is different, but most tourist do ride on Brooks-the B17 seems to be the favorite with that crowd.

Have you tried the new saddle called the Flow? There are some folk swearing by it, with most saying they didn't even have to break it in and rode 100 miles first time out. I think this site has a test report on that saddle.

[QUOTE=Dave_Stohler]As an owner of a B17, a B17n. a B66, B72, and a Team Professional, I'd have to say that the Team Pro is the most comfortable saddle (the B66 is awfully nice, but I doubt it would work well with the nose pointed downwards on a road bike).

Then don't point the nose down! The nose on my finese is pointed way up. It looks like it would be uncomfortable but it's not. Not for me anyway I imagine the case might be different for a guy.

True that!

The Avocet saddle cover has a water resistant rubber coating, and fits perfectly on a B17. I'm about to cut holes in mine for the saddle bag loops, but otherwise it seems to be custom made for the B17.

I found another water resistant cover for my Swift, but can't remember the brand off the top of my head.

Wallbike has Selle Italia covers that fit a Swift rather nicely.

I ordered it form the link below on Wednesday evening, and it arrived today, talk about fast service! They are also having a 10 dollar off on all Brooks saddles, and their prices are about as low as I've seen as it is. I just put a coat of Proofide on it, and will put it on the fixie(that would be the fixie with no rear wheel to ride the damn thing) tomorrow, :) The B17 will either go back on my SS or on my sons Bianchi Premio.

http://www.permaco.com/

Brooks saddles always have that old school allure to them but I always wondered, does the proofhide or the leather eventually leave color marks on your shorts?

I wanted to try one on my commuter bike but I usually ride in my work clothes and that would create an embarassing mark...

It fit fine on my Thomson, though it is all the way back. Will try it like that for a while before buying a set-back post.

I'll try posting pics again, as it didn't work for me last week. Couldn't see the upload section.....:(

My wife asked me "why didn't you get black?" I said "did you SEE the honey saddle?"

I think it give my modern bike a retro touch!

First ride impression, albeit only 6 miles, was comfort comfort and more comfort! I ended up tilting the nose slightly upwards. I had it dead level and felt like I was gonna slide off. I do feel more pressure on my hands......my guess is because it's farther forward than I'm used to.

http://www.cyclingnews.com/tech.php?id=tech/2004/reviews/brooks_b17

Here is the conclusion:

The verdict
Several treatments with Proofide and lots of miles later, the leather on my B.17 became softer and gradually conformed itself to match the more delicate portions of my anatomy, personalizing the fit and becoming even more comfortable. After six months, my B.17 now carries me over the road perched atop cycling's equivalent of a comfy leather couch. A comfy Edwardian-era antique leather couch. It's a very civilized way to cycle.

At this stage the Gentle Reader will be excused for thinking that, yes, a Brooks is probably a fine choice for the more pulchritudinous cyclist, but that it may not be an appropriate selection for the more diminutive rider. And the Gentle Reader may have a point here. I would not expect a smaller rider to have as easy a time as I had breaking in a Brooks. However, given my experience with my B.17 (and a Brooks Team Professional that I also recently purchased), I now greatly suspect that the horror stories surrounding the break in period for a good quality leather saddle are greatly exaggerated. It may take longer for a B.17 to yield to a smaller cyclist but, if my experience is any guide, the effort is certainly worth it.

Is the B.17 the perfect saddle? Of course not. Based upon its size and weight alone, the Brooks B.17 will not be anybody's first choice when putting the finishing touches on a lightweight racing bicycle. As much as I dearly love the thing, the B.17 has not replaced the Flite on my modern titanium and carbon wonder-bike: it is just too heavy and retro looking. Looks and current fashion do count for something, after all. But for just about any other application where all-day comfort is to be valued more than shaving grams, a Brooks B.17 makes wonderful sense.



Interesting!

I bought a black w/Ti rails B.17 Champion Special from Wallingford Bicycle Parts this morning (LOVE their return policy!)...it'll be here this Thursday...my rear and I are 'looking forward' to breaking it in during the next three months or so, but the good news is that my clydesdale mass and my goal of riding a minimum one-hour each day around my personal circuit during my work week and the longer 2-hour+ rides on my days off from work could give me that 'custom fit' sooner ...all I know is that the old Team Pro I had on my Columbine steel when I was younger and lighter was THE most comfortable sporty saddle I've ever ridden on ONCE IT WAS BROKEN IN...unfortunately, I lost it during one of my many relocations...its going on my RoubaixComp27 (not a 'classic' bike, but the saddle is!)...I'm ultimately going for comfort in a sporty ride...old-tech meets new-tech...stay tuned...

i'm really liking my brooks saddle. i just got one that came on an older road bike so it has about 25 years of 'breaking in" and not by me. :) it's more comfortable then i thought it would be when i first saw it but i was looking forward to trying it out since many folks swear by them.

but i also like my SI flite gel. it's nice to have a couple of different saddles that are both comfy.

i'm really liking my brooks saddle. i just got one that came on an older road bike so it has about 25 years of 'breaking in" and not by me. :) it's more comfortable then i thought it would be when i first saw it but i was looking forward to trying it out since many folks swear by them.

but i also like my SI flite gel. it's nice to have a couple of different saddles that are both comfy.

Your comment about a used saddle brought back memories of why I bought my Team Pro...I rode a buddy's Paramount back in 1978 had it had a well used and nourished saddle that I think he acquired from his older brother. I rode that saddle that was 'molded' for him and yet it was super comfy for me as well (he: 5-8/165...me: 6-0/190 circa 1978 of course :D )...anyway, I bought my Team Pro and suffered through the break-in period, but when it was all said and sone, it was THE saddle for me...(somebody out there has my saddle :mad: ...I hope that you're taking good care of it)

Conditioners do just that, condition the leather. You use VERY little of it. The dye on colored leather MIGHT bleed (no experience) but that would be early in the process if it got wet, I would think. Stick with brown and you won't have to worry.

Under the nose of the saddle is a nut that can tension the leather. Most people don't need to touch this but once in a blue moon. However, if it was not tight enough to start, or if the nut worked loose as you rode, that might account for the pain after 1000 miles. The leather sags and pain ensues.

That might be the reason. Or maybe you have the rare butt that it won't fit. Not to worry, you just can't be one of the "cool in-group" at the next ride ;)

Do these saddles work well for clydes? 260lbs!

Do these saddles work well for clydes? 260lbs!

I weigh 235~240. I'll be the first to tell you (as other Brookies will tell you) that the Brooks B.17 model or any of the unsprung saddles may not be for everybody. I think the potential discomfort during the initial break-in period and the patience or hours/miles required to break it in may be an obstacle for some. You really need to put some time into these saddles...it could take several months...probably less at our body weights.

That being said, once it's broken in to fit YOU, it'll feel like buttah!...like your favorite baseball mitt or your favorite leather chair or couch...gorgeous to look at...an 'earned' comfort...and you will be hard pressed to find a sporty saddle, as comfortable and as good looking as a Brooks un-sprung saddle. A well used and nourished Brooks is like a gorgeous heirloom, imho, especially on a classic steel racing bike...old school technology, yes, but a lot can be learned from the 'old teachers' when it comes to saddle comfort...talk to the folks at Wallingford Bicycle Parts...they have a 6-month return policy if its not the saddle for you...for details go here: www.wallbike.com or call them at 1-888-731-3537

Good luck!

I ordered it form the link below on Wednesday evening, and it arrived today, talk about fast service! They are also having a 10 dollar off on all Brooks saddles, and their prices are about as low as I've seen as it is. I just put a coat of Proofide on it, and will put it on the fixie(that would be the fixie with no rear wheel to ride the damn thing) tomorrow, :) The B17 will either go back on my SS or on my sons Bianchi Premio.

http://www.permaco.com/

That's nice, considering they charge $20 more than wallbike.......