Brooks B17 Saddle: Great Divide/Touring Saddle?

[blurltd]

Anybody out there using this for extended periods of riding? I'm thinking of trying them out for my Great Divide gear shakedown rides. Looking for something super comfortable and reliable for those real long days in the saddle.

Any riders complete the Great Divide on this saddle? Please let us know of your thoughts and experiences with this saddle.

For reference, I'm currently on a WTB Pure V, Feeling OK, but I think looking for the holy saddle.

I also know that saddle preference is a touchy subject.

[drews256]

I used a Selle Anatomica NSX for the Great Divide. It was super comfy on the long days as long as my seat post didn't shift the whole seat up or down. I would think a well broken in B17 would be a good option for the GD.

[THE LONG RANGER]

+1 on the Selle Anatomica NSX - used it out of the box for the TD in '12. Still used daily on my Do Everything bike. Actually replaced a B-17 that was all mishaped, and causing me knee pain - THAT pain went away after three days, during the divide. Whoo boy, could that have gone the wrong way.

[the tortoise]

B-17 for me. Awesome saddle. My favorite ever.

[JRA]

Fizik Arione for me.

But no Divide experience for me yet.  Plenty of long days in the saddle though.

[NathanM]

I have 2  B-17 standards and I think they're great, never had any issues.

The first one has over 20,000 km of touring on it and still has a a lot of life left in it.
The 2nd has completed TourDivide in 2012 and then again in 2013.

[Dumpster Juice]

For me it is the Selle An-Atomica ...

[Mini Bear]

I don't have the B17, but I've got the Brooks Cambium, which is the exact same shape as the B17. I didn't do the Divide, but did do the CTR on it. Very, very comfy. I'd been a bit of a Brooks hater; I think it's ridiculous to have to ride a horribly uncomfortable saddle so that someday when it grows up it will be a comfy saddle, but I digress... But I opted for the Cambium after only a week of riding it beforehand and I couldn't have been happier. That said, I'm not entirely sure its what I would use for a whole mess of gravel-grinding a la Tour Divide. Even on the relatively short road sections of the CTR, the lack of any padding in the nose made itself readily apparent when I got down into the ol' TDR Tuck.

[cossrider]

I tried a Brooks Swift which is a bit narrower and then went to the B17 std, can't be happier and don't think the break in period is very much at all.

[blurltd]

Nathan,

Do you ride with or without padded shorts? This question applies to all you leather saddle riders. I've heard some people ride without. Kind of like when you were a kid on those hard plastic BMX rides. No padded shorts back then. But of course I wasn't riding 60-100 miles a day.

Thanks

[the tortoise]

Padded lycra for me on my B-17. A good pad and a good saddle are essential in my book. Baggies may look cooler but the additional seams and material bother me on longer rides.

[thesergeant]

I did a 500 mile tour on my Fargo with a B17S and found it super comfortable.  So comfortable in fact that I shipped my cycling shorts home and just wore compression shorts and baggies.  BUT, I did have serious hand problems, numbing, etc. 

My experience with the B17 is that in order to keep from sliding forward and off the saddle you need to tilt the saddle ever so slightly nose up.  What ends up happening though is that I roll my hips backward (more upright) to keep pressure of my perineum and end up using my hands to "prop" myself upright.  This leads to hand excess hand pressure, which compresses the ulnar nerve and leads to tingling and numbing. 

I think it really comes down to your individual anatomy.  Set your brooks up, then take it for a spin.  While riding float your hands above your bars while seated in the saddle.  If you find that you slide forward off the saddle or experience pressure in your perineum that I'd suggest a different saddle.  You butt may be okay on a long ride but your hands will pay for it.

If the brooks doesn't work out for you I'd suggest looking into the Selle Anatomica like others have suggested.

[wahday]

I also have a fizik arione. I like it a lot but for long hauls where you are not moving weight around much I find it not so comfy. I covet the brooks b-17...

[dave]

I'm looking for a comfortable saddle for long rides, too (isn't everybody)--I've had the opposite problem of most people.  I own a couple B-17's and they just don't work for me--serious issues with numbness and pain.

Everybody at CrazyGuyOnABike raves on and on about how great Brooks saddles are, and the above comments are positive.  I'm jealous of everybody's positive experiences.  Just goes to show how individual of an issue this is.

Nowadays I'm looking at getting something like a Kontact or Adamo or even a noseless saddle, as a sort of preventative treatment to avoid any future numbness. 

[wunnspeed]

It all depends on you. I tried a B17 but it was too wide and short for me. I switched to a Ti Swift and would have one on every bike if I could afford it or find it.

[falkenjaeger]

I'm looking for a comfortable saddle for long rides, too (isn't everybody)--I've had the opposite problem of most people.  I own a couple B-17's and they just don't work for me--serious issues with numbness and pain.

Everybody at CrazyGuyOnABike raves on and on about how great Brooks saddles are, and the above comments are positive.  I'm jealous of everybody's positive experiences.  Just goes to show how individual of an issue this is.

Nowadays I'm looking at getting something like a Kontact or Adamo or even a noseless saddle, as a sort of preventative treatment to avoid any future numbness.

I had major problems with numbness. as well I now use an SQLab saddle (612 active). Works great for me. Be sure to get the correct size. Good luck!

[vikb]

I use a B17 on my bikepacking rig and love it. All day comfort with no padded bike shorts.

I use a Selle Anatomica Titanico on my trail bike and love it as well. Super comfortable.

[dave]

That SQLab looks interesting. 

For the last month, I've been using a Kontact saddle.  I have found it to deliver on their claims of really putting your weight on your sit bones (and somewhat more on the big muscles of your legs, too).  So far, I like it.  It definitely feels like you're sitting on the saddle, not *in* the saddle like with many others.  This is nice, and the angles of the side cutouts allow my legs to move more freely, too.   

In about a month, I'll be starting to ride a lot more in training for big summer tours, so we'll see how it fares on rides longer than the 20-milers I've been doing.

[Thumby]

B-17 for me on TD, it was a perfect piece of gear.  Still using the same one on my race bike, 3 yrs of service. 

[Cortvald]

I just got fitted with the Retyl idea in mind.
The fitter offered me a new sadel and swapped my Selle Italy Flite 1990 model out with a SQlap 611 active MTB.

Its super wierd in the beginning, feel like im sitting on two poles, but after 2 weeks, its awsome,... hope its gonna last all 4500km...