What's your favourite Brooks saddle?

[Danneaux]

"Jeez, that looks just right."

Sure does, John! Sure does.

Best,

Dan.

[Andybg]

My Nomad has a black b17 Narrow and the Thorn Tandem has two black B17 standards.

I prefer the b17 narrow to the b17 but that may be just a case of the the b17 narrow being well broken in before I even tried the b17.

The only change I have considered is replacing it with  a nice brown one. Maybe I could "sell" neading a spare to break in over time

Andy

[NZPeterG]

O' No

I have find one more Brooks Saddle 

Its a Brooks Conquest Saddle in black! if only it was in Brown 

Pete   

[Danneaux]

O' No  I have find one more Brooks Saddle

No! Tragic, Pete!   

Perhaps you could trade it for a brown one?

Best,

Dan.

[NZPeterG]

No! Tragic, Pete!   

Perhaps you could trade it for a brown one?

Best,

Dan.

I would have more luck gotting a New Brooks C17 test Saddle then finding a almost new (Like New) Conquest  as Brooks Stopped making them year's ago 

Pete   

[Relayer]

I once had a B17 Narrow on which I did many thousands of miles, it took a long time to break in but after that is was fantastic.  Unfortunately I was seduced by a Swift with Titanium rails and I let the B17N go with my Galaxy to a new owner.

The Swift Titanium didn't suit me, somehow I felt I always seemed to end up sitting on the rivets.

I have tried a few B17 Titaniums, but I have the same issues as Dan.  I don't want to end up with the hammock shape, and it seems to me the B17s are getting softer/thinner - perhaps to make them easier out of the box I wonder?

...I much prefer the harder ones, as they remain dome-shaped a bit longer. I've several that are just barely broken in that I need to sell, as they are no longer my preferred shape and are a bit too soft for me.

Also, my B17 Titanium recently had some sort of mishap and ended up slightly wonky...



I am now trying out a B17 Select on my RST, hopefully it will retain its shape longer ...



P.S. I am also trying out a Team Pro Titanium on my Audax (again) which will need a lot of breaking in, but if it ends up like the B17N then I will be delighted.

[Danneaux]

Man, that's a lovely bike you have there, Relayer. So nice to see fresh photos if it.

As for the tilted Ti-railed Brooks, I've seen this before. If you have a spare seatpost ("spare" to prevent tweaking a good 'un and so it is out of the bike so *it* won't get tweaked either), it is possible to drill a hole in a stump or log to take the 'post whilst using a stick of hardwood as a gentle pry from below and between the rails to set them straight again (setting the saddle all the way back on the rails makes it easier to accomplish). It is best to leave the clamp slightly loose to allow free movement. I've done it for others with good results provided it is caught before the leather takes a "set" under rider weight in compensation for the tilt. And no, I don't know what causes it in the absence of apparent impact. The steel-railed models don't seem to do this.

Best,

Dan.

[Relayer]

Dan (the veritable mine of information!!)

Thanks for the advice about the tilted saddle.  I have no idea either what the cause was, my bike did fall over once a year or two back but I didn't see any damage at the time and can't recall if it was this saddle or another.  However, it is nice to know that there is a potential cure.  I have a spare seatpost, and also a drill - but not a cordless one, so I guess I'll have to get a suitable log home!

Cheers.

Jim