In this day and age when manufacturers of almost everything cut corners to save costs, it is nice to know that some companies are as good as they ever were. I bought another new Brooks B-17 N right after Christmas and have over 40 hours on on the training stand so far. So far it shows no signs at all of softening or breaking in, (fortunately it is still comfortable). Granted all I can really compare it to is my other one that has close to 15,000 miles on it. All I can say is it a good thing my tail is "Brooks Shaped" from riding on Brooks for over 40 years.

For what it's worth, the new one is 6.1 mm thick and my older one is 5.3 mm thick...both solid quality.

The price of a B17 is actually pretty reasonable too when compared to other saddle prices.

I'm a new convert to Brooks(less than a year) and I'll I can say is what took me so long....

I spend upwards of 5+ hours per day on weekends in the saddle and I have zero discomfort. For what it's worth, I use a B17 and Swift

all I can say is I SOOOOOOO look forward to spending 5 hours a day in the saddle again....

Snow is almost gone, rain today, but it will take a bit more than what we had to wash the roads clean.

I figured I would get the new saddle in December and break it in on the stand, an hour at a time. Come warm dry weather it comes off the Langster and onto the Bianchi, the brown will look sharp with the Celeste. I was going to get the elk wrap for the bars but since I have a nitto technomic stem, unless I pull the stem and bars off, and cables......it will be a royal pain to sew it on. I am planning to pull the Bianchi apart anyhow so I may do it. I noticed they have "seconds" on Velo Orange of the elk-wrap.....think it would be ok? Or for all the work, would I be better off getting the "firsts"?
BTW I just got a NEW set of alloy Nitto Randonneur bars to replace the old steel Randonneur I had on my langster...VERY nice....Nitto is another company that strives for excellence....Nitto and Brooks is a winning combination!

I know you are a "fixed" guy, but I dearly love my Bianchi /campy 9 speed! It may well have to do with the steel frame that fits me like it was custom made for me. Every time I mount her....I have a "moment" ......AHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhI love that bike....

Just out of curiosity Dave, when you ride, do you normally fly solo or with other people?

Riding on the stand I move around a lot less so saddle discomfort comes on in less than an hour riding the same saddle that's fine for 300k.

Because there's no bouncing and less getting up and down I'd think a saddle would break in more slowly on the stand than on the road, but I been fullashit before.

If your saddle feels the same after 40 hours on the stand as it will after 15,000 miles it probably won't feel the same after 15,000 miles as the other one does.

Always wondered if peoples butts broke in as much as their Brooks Saddles do. Setting an expectation that you'll need a few hundred miles to get comfy is probably a good plan for the maker and the consumer.

Just out of curiosity Dave, when you ride, do you normally fly solo or with other people?

99% is solo... I have to cram a lot into my weekends and it's hard to work around a group ride schedule. With yard work, honey do's, and my son's hockey, I can't always plan on riding at the same time each day. Plus, driving to meet someone or waiting for other people can turn into 7 or 8 hours total. I'd rather ride 5 or 6 hours at my own pace.

Riding on the stand I move around a lot less so saddle discomfort comes on in less than an hour riding the same saddle that's fine for 300k.

Because there's no bouncing and less getting up and down I'd think a saddle would break in more slowly on the stand than on the road, but I been fullashit before.

If your saddle feels the same after 40 hours on the stand as it will after 15,000 miles it probably won't feel the same after 15,000 miles as the other one does.

Always wondered if peoples butts broke in as much as their Brooks Saddles do. Setting an expectation that you'll need a few hundred miles to get comfy is probably a good plan for the maker and the consumer.

No doubt, I just figured I would get some hours in on the new one before I hit the road with it. Actually I've ridden as many as 37 miles on it on the road and for sure, it is better than an hour on the stand. Then again on a fixed with 48/18, hills are usually met with enough resistance that I am up on the pedals and off the seat.
The new one is plenty comfortable and it will be broken in soon.
I liken it to a new pair of jeans...as soon as they are broken in, the wearing out process begins.

My oldest Brooks has a pair of "dimples" matching my "sits-bones", The extra .75 mm of leather may extend the break in as well....I mean, I only weigh 130 on a "fat day" now....and the season has not begun yet. I also sit a bit more upright on my road bike.

I need to disassemble my Bianchi and grease the threaded parts, I was going to get on it today but work got in the way.I just hate when that happens.

As for the "broken in butts...." absolutely.....I'm telling you, I have a Brooks shaped tail after 40 years of riding on them!

btw, it helps to be able to slather the underside of the saddle with proofide and set it in the sun to soak....and the best I could do now is set it by the wood-stove