Are Brooks saddles good for touring?
The B17 Brooks touring saddle is the first choice of bicycle touring saddle for many long distance cyclists. After using a Brooks saddle for touring over thousands of miles myself, here’s why I think it’s the best bike saddle for long rides.
Are Brooks saddles good for long rides?
But on some bikes, it belongs. And for comfort on long rides, you may never sit on anything better. The Brooks B17 is one of the oldest models from an English company That’s been making leather bike seats for 138 years. For decades, the B17 has been a favorite of tourists and long-distance aficionados around the world.
Are Brooks B17 saddles comfortable?
This is the perfect saddle for touring. That’s probably why almost every bicycle tourist uses one. Once broken in, the B17 offers all-day comfort. I would go as far as to say that this is the most comfortable saddle that I’ve ever owned.
How wide is Brooks B17 saddle?
If a narrower saddle better suits your riding style, Brooks also makes a B17 Narrow, with a 151mm width rather than the standard 175mm.
How long does a Brooks B17 last?
I would say not to worry about breaking in your brooks. It should feel good from day one, for up to 100 km rides. You need to spend the month that you have riding around with an allen key (commuting will work) and focused on getting the saddle positioning right.
How long does a Brooks saddle take to break in?
Install the saddle onto the bike, put on your black shorts, and ride. Even the most recalcitrant saddle (the thick-skinned Brooks Professional) will be substantially broken in within 200 miles or so. The soaking technique is best for thick, hard-to-break in saddles such as the Brooks Professional.
How do I choose a Brooks saddle width?
You don’t want to be sitting on the cantle plate as it will remain as firm as the metal it’s made of and will not conform to the shape of your sit bones. This means you need to add 20 to 30mm to the width for a Brooks in comparison to a regular saddle.
Why are Brooks saddles so good?
The shiny surface, too, helps stop chafing and even heavy cotton jeans have moisture wicked-away quickly by the leather. In short, it might look uncomfortable, but it is in fact the most comfortable kind of seat you can buy.
How do you break in a Brooks B17?
For a Faster Break-in: Apply Brooks brand Proofide to the top (shiny) side of your saddle. Just use a modest amount (a dab will do ya) and massage it into the saddle using a small rag. Next we’ll use that very same technique to apply Proofide to the underside, yes the underside, of your saddle.
Are Brooks seats worth it?
When it comes to bike saddles, Brooks really is the gold standard. Sure, as a basic option a comfortable synthetic saddle like ours is plenty comfortable, but only a Brooks saddle will give you the sort of long-term comfort that will stay with you for a lifetime.