I'd like to outfit my road bike and touring bike with leather saddles. Is Brooks the best company out there? They certainly seem to be the most popular.

If I go with Brooks, which models would y'all suggest for the road bike and for the tourer? And is there anyplace I can find out the weights of these saddles? My quick search didn't list any online retailers that had weights for all the models.

Thanks y'all.

I think Brooks is the only major producer of leather saddles still in business so that limits your choices unless you're looking to go for something old off ebay. I had a Brooks B-17 Narrow for a short time on a touring bike I picked up at a pawn shop for $30. It was the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden. Unfortunately it was old and dry rotted from lack of care and the leather split about a month after I got the bike. I'm still debating on the replacement. Many people seem to be very sensitive to the particular model so they may love a B-17 and hate a Professional or vise versa although they are marketed not so much by size as by intended use like touring, argressive riding, handlebar position etc. If you search these forums you'll find some instructions for measuring your sit bones and how to match that to a particular Brooks model.

I think you'll find the answers to your questions here:

https://www.wallbike.com/Brookssaddles.html

+1 and their return policy can't be beat!

In response to the OP. There are other companies out there but Brooks is the major player. For your road bike I would go with a B-17, unless you are really worried about weight, if that is the case look at the Ti Swift. Depending on the configuration of your tour bike the Champion Flyer would be a good choice. My current collection of Brooks Saddles include a Champion Flyer on my Redline 9.2.5 a B-66 on my Raleigh Superbe and my wife has a B18 on her Raleigh Colt. I also have a Wrights 5N on my tour bike (similar to the B17) and an Ideale short nose saddle (can't recall the number) that I use on my grocery bike and my Raleigh Compact.

By all means get one and try it out. Either you love them or hate them, there doesn't seem to be any middle ground on a Brooks.

Aaron

I'm another Brooks fan, with Brooks Team Pro saddles on the three bikes I ride most. At 550 grams, they're not particularly light, but I can ride on one all day and not have a sore butt.

The 2007 Brooks Catalog has descriptions and weights of all their saddles.

I have more Brooks saddles than I have bicycles at the moment and I'm about to order another. I can't decide whether to go with honey because I like the color or black to match the black bike.

Capo #1: Brooks Pro -- After almost 35 years and 50k miles / 80k km, the saddle is showing its age, but it is very comfortable, and it looks great on the bike. I purchased it for $5 when the original owner gave up on it after the first two weeks (which are the hardest, so to speak ).

Schwinn: Brooks Team Pro -- Purchased used on eBay; delightful saddle.

Peugeot: Brooks Competition -- I dislike the tiny rivets which can snag a careless rider's shorts, but this is one very comfortable saddle, and its was only $20 on eBay. The Pro and Team Pro are much better-looking, but this one is ideal for my beater/commuter.

Bianchi: Serfas ARC -- Light and reasonably comfortable, but I prefer Brooks.

I have a brooks b-17, great saddle. Although when last week i transfered it from my beater (more upright position) to my road bike the change in angle caused some pressure in my pereneum and became uncomfortable. If I lowered the nose I would be slide forward and then I had too much weight in my wrists. I got myself an SMP for my road bike (still waiting on it) but I would recommend the Brooks anytime as long as you dont ride in steep angle... my .02 cents

The Brooks can't be beat. In my young fit days, I used a Pro, but now it seems a B17 fits my wide butt better. Hit the swap meets and find a nice broken in one, but I have to admit, I put a new B17 on my Cinelli and its been great from the start. There is a presoftened Pro that might be worth the cost. Anyway, properly cared for, a Brooks will last the rest of your life!

I have a B-17 in honey on my green & champagne hybrid, a stunning combination.

There's a black B5N on my MTB. The narrow makes it nice for getting off the back of the seat.

Brooks really does make very fine saddles and you have to admire the beauty and quality of their saddles. The saddles are boxed very handsomely and there is a feeling of satisfaction and joy at the very moment the purchase is made. That satisfaction turns to a personal connection with the saddle with every mile you share with it.

Frankly, with the availability of these high quality, comfortable, and beautiful leather saddles, I cannot imagine why anyone would use synthetic saddles.

There are other good quality leather saddle makers. Lepper makes a very nice saddle which I have used with great delight for many years.

I have used some Chinese saddles on my Chinese bikes on tours in China. They are "OK", but NOTHING compared with a Brooks or Lepper.

If there is one bicycle item you can buy that will really give you a sense of satisfaction and pleasure, it is a fine leather saddle like Brooks or Lepper.

I have a B17 on both my girlfriend's and my own touring bikes. I concur that the top of the handlebars must be at least level with the top of the saddle or else there is a bit of pressure that is not nice with the B17... due to the nature of it's design I would not tilt it forward either or else the rear would be too high. I found the B17N too narrow and my sit bones road on the frame. I have a professional select on my fixed gear and it is great though it did require more break in then the B17 which was great right out of the box.

I've ridden Brooks Pros for 28 years. I've just started riding a Persons #77 Deluxe. So far, so good.

TCS

Sorry, but with all due respect I have to disagree with that. The Brooks 'Pro'. the 'Swift', and the 'Swallow' all three are designed for an agressive riding position, ie: bent over and in the drops. The saddle nose to bar height on my Tommasini is about 3 inches, and in that kind of bent over position the Brooks 'Pro' I'm using is perfect for it. It is the most comfortable saddle I've ever ridden, and it replaced the Selle Italia 'turbomatic 3' saddle I used for years.

What I like about the Brooks 'Pro', besides the superb quality and old school looks, is the narrow nose and more rounded seat area as compared to the B-17 saddle (which is an excellent saddle, although dsigned mainly for a more upright postion).

The narrow nose is for the extra inner thigh clearance needed for for most riders using an agressive riding position with the pelvis rotated. That little bit of engineering in its design is why they dubbed it the 'Professional'. Its made for hammering in the drops.

B17 is the way to go, I have three and they are good right out of the box.

I don't like the Pro, but I don't like drops either.

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one that bought a Person's #77.

If you want new Brooks is the only way to go, but I have ridden Ideale for 30 years, and still look for them on the evil 'bay.
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Brooks is my choice- I've got 2 B66 models and they're both great.

Can you recommend an Ideale model? I'm looking for a saddle for my '74 PX10lE. I don't want another plastic Ideale 2001 like it came with. I think the '73 came with an Ideale 90. I've got a search for Ideale saddles set up on eBay. I check it daily.

What I'm looking for is the Ideale saddle that's the most B17-like. My moustache bars will be at seat level.

Most of my bikes have either B15 or B17 saddles plus one with a Team Pro & I use a B72 on my touring bike.

Other leather saddles I still ride: A very comfortable French Pryma (nearing the end of its useful life) and a Sella Italia leather saddle that is similar to the Pryma but with thicker leather.

Some leather covered foam & plastic saddles that are comfortable & work for me are: Koski, Gippieme Team, Avocet, Turbo, Sella Royal. The Brooks Vitesse is a similar type saddle but was surprisingly uncomfortable to me. Don

Ideale 42. There's one on the Triplecross, one on the 512, and one on the Atala, all bar level or lower. The 43 is the same thing with a shorter nose.
Also goes for less than the 90.
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Thank you!

I just found an Ideale 90 at the thrift shop down the street, seems to be in quite good condition. Is the 90 more like the B-17 or the Pro? Should it go on my tourer, with the bars even with the seat, or on my road bike, with the bars a bit lower than the seat?

Thanks for all the advice so far, by the way.

Would someone please post the pix on the wallbike site to the Hot Women on Bikes thread?

What, is your computer broke?