Brooks B17

Per Andrew Price:

Quoted message said:

Has anyone been able to compare these two saddles? Grateful for any
feedback, as I'm tempted not to take the B17.

Can't compare, but can offer a workaround for the non-sprung issue: a suspension
seat post like http://www.canecreek.com/thudbuster_lt.html. Works for me.

And, if you have reservations about total lack of springing, I'd go with your
instincts and avoid any solution that has no springing at all.
--
PeteCresswell

Andrew Price said:

Has anyone been able to compare these two saddles? Grateful for any
feedback, as I'm tempted not to take the B17.

I have a B17 and I love it. I rode 300km on it yesterday, on roads, on a
rigid steel-framed bike, and today I am feeling no significant
discomfort in the "saddle contact area" (except where the edge of
padding in my shorts rubbed, but that's the fault of my shorts rather
than the saddle).

My only caveat against recommending it would be that if you find the
Conquest the perfect width, the B17 might be too wide for you and you
might be better off getting the narrow version. Or a different saddle
altogether.

If a saddle fits properly, it shouldn't be uncomfortable, even if it is
not sprung - though you might find it takes a while to harden your
backside... er, I mean "break the saddle in".

d.

"Andrew Price" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've ridden a Brooks Conquest saddle for quite some time, and have
always been pleased with it. I'm about to buy a new bicycle (a VSF
T700) which comes with a B17 as standard, but I've got some
reservations about that, as

- it's wider than the Conquest, and
- it's unsprung

The bike itself is also unsprung. Use is mainly on sealed roads, but
some of them have badly patched surfaces.

Has anyone been able to compare these two saddles? Grateful for any
feedback, as I'm tempted not to take the B17.

Try it, ride it, compare it with sitting on top of a concrete bollard.

Say to yourself 'theres got to be something in all this talk of these things
being comfortable. Persist. Endure

Go through that long dark night of the soul where gel starts to look
attractive. Tell yourself you're not going to be beaten by a lump of
cowhide.

Remind yourself that by comparison with a Team Pro it's a feather mattress.

1000 miles later, tell yourself that it is now moulded to your anatomy.
Celebrate by using it on a 200km audax, and find out what 'ischial bursitis'
is.

2000 miles later it _is_ now the most comfortable saddle you've ever had.
Vow to keep it for life.

Spend rest of life praying that the rails don't break - you can't go through
that again!

"Budstaff" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"Andrew Price" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've ridden a Brooks Conquest saddle for quite some time, and have
always been pleased with it. I'm about to buy a new bicycle (a VSF
T700) which comes with a B17 as standard, but I've got some
reservations about that, as

- it's wider than the Conquest, and
- it's unsprung

The bike itself is also unsprung. Use is mainly on sealed roads, but
some of them have badly patched surfaces.

Has anyone been able to compare these two saddles? Grateful for any
feedback, as I'm tempted not to take the B17.

Try it, ride it, compare it with sitting on top of a concrete bollard.

Say to yourself 'theres got to be something in all this talk of these
things being comfortable. Persist. Endure

Go through that long dark night of the soul where gel starts to look
attractive. Tell yourself you're not going to be beaten by a lump of
cowhide.

Remind yourself that by comparison with a Team Pro it's a feather
mattress.

1000 miles later, tell yourself that it is now moulded to your anatomy.
Celebrate by using it on a 200km audax, and find out what 'ischial
bursitis' is.

2000 miles later it _is_ now the most comfortable saddle you've ever had.
Vow to keep it for life.

Spend rest of life praying that the rails don't break - you can't go
through that again!

I've heard the same thing from others, but my B17 was super comfortable
right out of the box. Put it on and started doing my 20 mile commute with no
soreness at all.

Can't you put your Conquest on the new bike ?

Tim

Andrew Price said:

I've ridden a Brooks Conquest saddle for quite some time, and have
always been pleased with it. I'm about to buy a new bicycle (a VSF
T700) which comes with a B17 as standard, but I've got some
reservations about that, as

- it's wider than the Conquest, and
- it's unsprung

The bike itself is also unsprung. Use is mainly on sealed roads, but
some of them have badly patched surfaces.

Has anyone been able to compare these two saddles? Grateful for any
feedback, as I'm tempted not to take the B17.

You know the conquest works so take that. Why take a chance?

...d

Andrew Price said:

I've ridden a Brooks Conquest saddle for quite some time, and have
always been pleased with it. I'm about to buy a new bicycle (a VSF
T700) which comes with a B17 as standard, but I've got some
reservations about that, as

[snip]

Quoted message said:

Has anyone been able to compare these two saddles? Grateful for

any

Quoted message said:

feedback, as I'm tempted not to take the B17.

I have tried the B17 and do fine it too wide; I am a Pro. man myself.
However having said this why not take the bike with the saddle and if you
don't get on with it I am sure you will get a reasonable price on ebay. I
have just looked at the completed listing for B17 and they seem to go for
about £30.

I am not sure if this link will work (watch out for word wrap):
http://search-completed.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=so&sbrftog=1&from=R10&satitle=brooks+B17&sacat=-1%26catref%3DC6&fsop=1%26fsoo%3D1&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=IP45JB&fis=2&ga10244=10425&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&so=Show+Items

John T.

Quoted message said:

Can't you put your Conquest on the new bike ?

Yes - except that I'm keeping the old bike as a winter bike, so I'll
need another saddle in any case.

John Tomlinson said:

I have tried the B17 and do fine it too wide;

That's what I'm afraid of.

Quoted message said:

I am a Pro. man myself.

And I think the Pro is the unsprung equivalent of the Conquest, which
I'm currently using.

Quoted message said:

However having said this why not take the bike with the saddle and if you
don't get on with it I am sure you will get a reasonable price on ebay.

Either that, or just pay the difference and get the bike shop to
replace the B17 with a narrower saddle.

I ride a Brooks Ti-Swift. It is the most comfortable for me and fairly
light.

The most comfortable (decent performance) leather saddle I have ever riden
though was made by a company called "Lepper." I think they are or were in
Sweden. Sadly a wreck a few years ago bent a seat rail and that was then
end of my Lepper...

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Can't you put your Conquest on the new bike ?

Tim

Andrew Price said:

I've ridden a Brooks Conquest saddle for quite some time, and have
always been pleased with it. I'm about to buy a new bicycle (a VSF
T700) which comes with a B17 as standard, but I've got some
reservations about that, as

- it's wider than the Conquest, and
- it's unsprung

The bike itself is also unsprung. Use is mainly on sealed roads, but
some of them have badly patched surfaces.

Has anyone been able to compare these two saddles? Grateful for any
feedback, as I'm tempted not to take the B17.

Just put your Conquest on the new bike.

Jasper

Andrew Price said:

I've ridden a Brooks Conquest saddle for quite some time, and have
always been pleased with it. I'm about to buy a new bicycle (a VSF
T700) which comes with a B17 as standard, but I've got some
reservations about that, as

- it's wider than the Conquest, and
- it's unsprung

I find the B17 a little wide, but why not buy the bike with the B17 and
then stick it on ebay. Looking at the completed listings it looks like
they go for about £30.

John T,

John Tomlinson said:

I find the B17 a little wide, but why not buy the bike with the B17 and
then stick it on ebay. Looking at the completed listings it looks like
they go for about £30.

John T,

Whoops sorry, double posting there. I could not work out why my response
had not appeared on uk.rec.cycle. I have only just noticed the follow-up.
Sorry

JT