Rear world experiences with brooks b /c 17

[Tootyred]

Im going to soon need a new saddle...I can feel it in my bones....literally.

So im thinking, as im clocking up fair miles now of a c17 vegetablist saddle. Im hesitant over the b17 as i ride in the wet and ive heard the break in can be painful!

Any thoughts?

 

[grantoury]

I am comfortable on all of my b17's from day one, never needed or experienced any sort of "break in". Could just be me. A b17 may be less compliant than the rubber c17.

 

[Gtpulse]

Just back from 2 days on a B17 and I can say it’s one area I don’t have any comments on which I take as a positive. This one is about 2 years old, fine from day 1.



I give it a rub with proofide maybe every 6 months and make sure I get some to the under side too. I tightened up the adjuster after the first few rides then have left it alone since.

As usual your stature/riding position etc will come in to it. I’m not small or light, 6’2 and 17ish stone. I’ve tried most saddles and have several other Brooks on bikes, B17 is my favourite.

 

[Joe_Rides]

I bought an old, worn-in B17 recently and already find it quite comfy, despite needing to 're-shape' to my bum bones.

It was £20, and already quite tatty. So I'm not too worried about rain.

So...erm yeh...buy a used brooks and save the breaking in for the previous owner!

 

[Ecurie Peril]

I had acute prostatitis and pelvic pain syndrome which kept me off a bike for 2 years. The way back was difficult and I tried many saddles. In the end the B17 was my saviour. I have both new and 2nd hand and would say breaking in new took about 3 months but well worth it

 

[Spankyfart]

Not a fan of the B17, I'm always looking out for the brooks Conquest.
Fantastic saddles they are between the B17 and the B66.

 

[sunympholepsy]

Recommending a saddle is tricky business but… I have tried pretty much every saddle Brooks has on offer and found following: C17 is way better in the carved version, the standard one was way too rigid. B17 are great if you can find a slightly used one ( as Joe says, let someone else do the initial breaking in), feed it with Proofide or similar ( I tend to use Gliptone conditioner which I buy for my old Volvo’s seats) on both sides, ride for about 100miles, tension if necessary. Champion Special with bigger copper rivets are better as the leather has a tendency to split around smaller rivets on standard versions. B17 Ladies, and the aforementioned Conquest are probably my favourites, but as with any saddle a lot depends on the riding position/geometry. And your anatomy of course…
For reference, my all time favourite saddles are Rolls Titanio for more upright bikes, and the good old Flite for racier ones. I also have a couple of titanium railed Gilles Berthoud saddles and really rate them.

 

[Takingabreak]

Im going to soon need a new saddle...I can feel it in my bones....literally.

So im thinking, as im clocking up fair miles now of a c17 vegetablist saddle. Im hesitant over the b17 as i ride in the wet and ive heard the break in can be painful!

Any thoughts?

the C17 and B17 are very different shaped saddles, C17 is more curved. I would expect them to fit backsides completely differently. My backside seems to prefer flat saddles of 150+ mm width. I would think the curved C17 would not be a nice experience for me.

 

[reindeer]

Totally agree. The C's are more like a Turbo. I didn't like it.

 

[Takingabreak]

It's a shame there isn't a central Retrobike stash of saddles for people to try out