Brooks bike saddles. Are they worth it?

It's Christmas, I commute to work on my bike, and when wife asked me what I wanted I kind of drew a blank, but then came up with the idea of a fancy new saddle. I'd like some input please.

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Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on December 18, 2013 at 6:35pm

I went to my LBS, Uptown Bikes, with the same question. I had been riding a KHS Brentwood with the stock saddle and was getting sores where the sun don't shine. John had a box of used saddles and for 5 bux, he took my old saddle and replaced it with a sleeker model. It made a huge difference and saved me some money. If you do get yourself an expensive saddle, then make sure you install it with some theft deterrence in mind. 

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on December 19, 2013 at 1:12am

I have two Brooks saddles, albeit one designed for my upright bike and the other for my touring bike.  I love both of them.  And if I am going to leave my bike unattended, I at least put an ugly plastic bag over them.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on December 19, 2013 at 3:35am

Make a stand against the British tyranny! Say no to Brooks! Buy a Elkhorn, WI made Selle Anatomica instead.

Honestly, they are great saddles, but I don't think you need either one for a normal commute. I have a Brooks and a Selle Anatomica and they sit on my long-distance bikes. My commuters have cheapy WTB saddles. I don't worry about theft, or my saddles getting wet, etc.

If you get one, make sure you get one that fits your riding style as Lisa mentions.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on December 19, 2013 at 3:45am

It is certainly not a matter of need for commuting.  But if it is a gift . . . .

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 19, 2013 at 3:57am

I would say anything that makes your commute more troublesome - such as now having to worry about someone stealing your saddle, is something to avoid.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

It is certainly not a matter of need for commuting.  But if it is a gift . . . .

Permalink Reply by Casey Carnes on December 19, 2013 at 3:59am

I agree.  WTB Speed V for the commuter, all my other bikes get fancy saddles...

Tony Adams 7 mi said:

I would say anything that makes your commute more troublesome - such as now having to worry about someone stealing your saddle, is something to avoid.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

It is certainly not a matter of need for commuting.  But if it is a gift . . . .

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 19, 2013 at 4:07am

One minor problem with that plan is when your commuter breaks and you are too lazy/busy/broke to fix it for a while so you end up commuting with your touring (or whatever) bike.... don't ask me how I know...

I guess in that case you could just swap saddles until you get less broke, but if lazy and/or busy is the problem, then you still have to worry about that fancy saddle on your beat up old Magna. 


Casey Carnes said:

I agree.  WTB Speed V for the commuter, all my other bikes get fancy saddles...

Tony Adams 7 mi said:

I would say anything that makes your commute more troublesome - such as now having to worry about someone stealing your saddle, is something to avoid.

Lisa Curcio 4.1 mi said:

It is certainly not a matter of need for commuting.  But if it is a gift . . . .

Permalink Reply by Michael on December 19, 2013 at 4:49am

Not worth it. According to Sheldon Brown, they only last 100,000 miles or so before you need to get a new one.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on December 19, 2013 at 5:18am

If I had known that . . .  On the other hand, so far I only get 3 to 4 thousand miles a year in, and split between two saddles that probably means only 49 years left on those saddles.  I will be pretty surprised if I am still around then, much less able to ride a bike. :-)
 
Michael said:

Not worth it. According to Sheldon Brown, they only last 100,000 miles or so before you need to get a new one.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 19, 2013 at 6:00am

I have a Brooks B67 on my city bike and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. If I leave the bike for more than a few minutes, I use the ugly plastic bag camouflage, as Lisa mentions.

Permalink Reply by David P. on December 19, 2013 at 10:53am

If your butt likes them, then yes, they're probably doesn't; if it doesn't, they're not. I rode on saddles like an Avocet Racing for years and liked it a lot, but when I tried a broken-in B17 it was love at first sit, so now the bikes I ride all the time have them. Yes, they're commuters and get locked up everywhere but what's the point in saving the saddle you like best for the bike you ride least? If you can borrow one, try it for a while and see if you like it.

Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on December 19, 2013 at 11:39am

Besides your LBS, Wallbike.com is a good place to buy a Brooks. They have a 6 month satisfaction guarantee and a crazy-good selection. 

Brooks  saddles come in a variety of widths and shapes, broken-in, pre-aged, vegan, sprung, double sprung, cut out, laced, chamferred, raw, hairy, embossed, machine riveted, hand hammered; with titanium, bronze, chrome, or painted rails; with or without bag loops.

Also Berthoud makes some great leather saddles if you're not into the hammocky shape of some Brooks. 

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