Brooks B68 and B68S

[KnottedYet]

Ohhhh, baby!
http://www.wallbike.com/b68.html

Anyone want to buy my very painfully uncomfortable Serfas Niva so I can get one of these?

[mimitabby]

I wonder what they're like without the springs?

[KnottedYet]

I don't know. I think the most important thing for my sit-bones is the width and the "T" shaped seat-top. With the seat-post on the Kona Commutermobile the noise factor may be important. But I do like the springs, and Phil's bearing grease did take care of the noise once I moved my B67 to the Waterford.

Since I already have a B67, I think taking a risk on the B68 would be pretty ok. Anybody wanna subsidize my little experiment? ;)

Ppppplleeeeeeezzzzz, someone buy my Serfas Niva.....

[mimitabby]

ha, you're funny.
But I wonder... You could be right that we don't need the springs. And the B17 i tried was just too narrow, so who knows, if it had been wide enough it might have worked?

I wonder if the 6 months are up on the b67 my DH didn't like. I will be needing a new saddle for my MONDONICO.

[KnottedYet]

If he can't return his B67, would you consider selling it to me? Then you could buy a B68 on the Mondonico.

Trek says you need to buy a Selle Italia for the Mondonico (like she has).

[mimitabby]

Ah, Trek,
I am awfully loyal to Brooks, and I'm not sure the Selle Anatomica.. oh, you said Sella Italia. Uh, NOPE, sorry Trek, not going there. there's NO WAY
I am going to ride one of THOSE things.

All I can say is once you ride my Raleigh Cross, you're going to have a new opinion about saddles. The saddle on my Raleigh has a nickname. IT's called the spoiler.. you're never going to feel the same about saddles after you sit on that one. :rolleyes: :cool:

[Trek420]

Ah, Trek,
I am awfully loyal to Brooks, and I'm not sure the Selle Anatomica.. oh, you said Sella Italia. Uh, NOPE, sorry Trek, not going there. there's NO WAY
I am going to ride one of THOSE things.

All I can say is once you ride my Raleigh Cross, you're going to have a new opinion about saddles. The saddle on my Raleigh has a nickname. IT's called the spoiler.. you're never going to feel the same about saddles after you sit on that one. :rolleyes: :cool:

uh oh, they have a leather saddle now, and it's on TE

[mimitabby]

Nice, it looks like my Dh's Selle Anatomica.

http://www.selleanatomica.com/images/R0010582.JPG

[Trek420]

yes, only smaller :p does he like it?

My commuter has a Planet Bike seat right now because the LBS sold outa the Sella last time I was in, acceptable for the commute but not for the longer rides I want to do on it.

[mimitabby]

He loves it because it feels like the brooks but is WATERPROOF.
and since he likes to be in the saddlle for HOURS (like 24 hours) he has already ruined 1 brooks.

[KnottedYet]

The pear-shape of the Anatomica would kill me, and so would the cut-out. Funny how once you find the perfect saddle, nothing else will do!

[emily_in_nc]

It's so cute how your DH's sitbone dimples show up in that saddle, Mimi! It is obviously a very nice fit on him!

Emily

[mimitabby]

Emily! that saddle is off the website! My DH's saddle is actually red.
:o

[emily_in_nc]

Emily! that saddle is off the website! My DH's saddle is actually red.
:o

Oh, that's funny! They have a dimpled saddle in their ad! :p I wonder if they come that way, for your sitbones to just fit right into (and if they don't fit....hmmmmm???)

Thanks for the clarification!

Emily

[KnottedYet]

I read somewhere on their site that the saddles come pre-dimpled.

I'll stick with the orginal: Brooks. Though Selle An-Atomica did do a nice job of duplicating a Brooks, gotta give them credit for that. Do they last 30 years like Mimi's B67? Does the S A-A give out where the leather is unsupported because of the cut-out?

I don't remember who said it, or where on the board it was, (maybe it was LisaSH?) but someone said if a saddle really fits you, you won't need a cut-out because the right saddle will keep you from weightbearing on the soft tissues anyway.

[mimitabby]

I think it was triskelion. Yeah, there's no cut outs on my car seat, my office chair, etc...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I ordered a B68 today, to replace my B17S.
Though I have been comfortable on my B17S for 10 months now, I have found it to be a little on the narrow side for my sitbones. My sitbone dents are sort of half within and half on the underframe on the sides of the saddle. I know the slightly wider B68 will give me about another 1" in width at the sitbone area and is bound to be even MORE comfortable, so I am going for it.
The only difference between the B68 and the B68S is that the S has a shorter nose for women riders supposedly. Can't imagine why I would need a shorter nosed saddle, unless I was wearing a dress maybe? Interestingly, they are both equally wide in the back. The main reason I went with the non-S B68 though is because along with the longer nose, the straight section of the rails underneath will be 1/2" or so longer, giving me the added rail length I need for clamping on the Bagman saddlbag support I ordered to hold up my Little Joe and my Nelson saddlebags.
Cant wait to try out the new saddle!

[KnottedYet]

Let us know how it is!

I've been eyeing the B68, cuz it doesn't have springs. My finances have taken a huge nose-dive so I won't be buying one. (I was gonna get a B68 for Flossie and put the B67 back on the commuter.)

I still love my Brooks! And someday (when I get a new job or a 2nd job or win the lottery) I'll get another one.

[divingbiker]

I just tried out my new B68 on my commuting bike, and I can't believe it feels as good as it does! When I took it out of the box, I thought "no fricking way this piece of particle board is going to be comfortable." But I took it out for a quick spin around the neighborhood in street clothes (no padding) and it felt great. The pebbled top surface seemed to really keep me from sliding around.

This B68 is replacing a Brooks B17S (too narrow and slick) which replaced a Selle Anatomica (too narrow and long-nosed). I hope when I take it for a longer ride I like it as much.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

OK, so I've ridden two 20 mile rides so far on my new B68. I LOVE IT!!!!!

First- I got the non-S model B68 because I wanted the longer rails underneath so I could attach a Bagman rack for my largish saddle bags:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/saddlebag_support.asp
The B68S has shorter rails and shorter nose and not enough room on the rails to attach the Bagman.
The B68 and the B68S both have the same width in back for my sitbones, so that was not an issue. They are about an inch wider there than the B17S I had before.
The width is PERFECT- I can feel how nice my butt fits on the saddle now, instead of being sort of "perched" half on the back and side edge frame of the B17S.
Yes my sitbones are a little bit sore right now because the saddle has not yet formed to them- but I'm proof-hiding like mad and riding a lot. It's not nearly as bad as when i first got my new B17. Guess I have a "Brooks Butt" all broken in already. :D
The longer nose is not proving to be significant at all. The old B17S nose stuck out about 1" in front while riding, and the new nose sticks out about 1 1/2" and doesn't seem to affect anything differently.

But the very BEST thing I have discovered, even better than the width issue, is that the new long rails allow me to shove the new saddle way further back- about 1 1/2" further back than my B17S with its short nose and short rails did. It's Heaven! Now I have more leg power and I feel like I can get "behind" my pedals as I ride- it is SO much more comfortable! Now I know how men get to feel comfy all the time on their bikes automatically. :mad:
It's sort of like the difference between riding a unicyle and pedaling a paddle boat- exaggerated comparison but that's the feeling, getting way more power from my legs and feeling nicely stretched out and "behind" my crank. This back-shoved saddle made me bend in half just a bit more- but being on a Rivendell (where bars and seat are about the same height anyway) this did not feel bad at all- in fact it feels BETTER. I can just hunker down comfortably in the drops, scoot all the way back and spin up those hills now without burning out my legs. :)
I made better time on my ride today- faster in the high gears on the flats, faster up the hills and less tired, and just way more comfortable in general.

I absolutely LOVE this saddle!!!!! My Bagman saddlebag support fits perfectly on it too, with room to spare. :p

Mimi- when you wonder how the saddles are without springs: My DH says springs are good for bikes that have you sitting more upright- like hybrids or comfort bikes. Upright posture puts most of your weight concentrated straight down your spine onto your butt, and you bounce along with most of your weight jarring down on your spine and butt. That's one reason hybrids are not so comfortable for long distance riding. Springs certainly help in that case.
On road bikes, your more horizontal posture is such that it distributes your weight more evenly and horizontally along your hands, back, legs, and seat- so you don't need springs as much.

[xeney]

I really hate the shortness of the Brooks women's saddles. I don't really understand why the saddles need to be shorter, but it seems like you lose so much that it's a bad tradeoff. I have a B17s that I am probably going to replace with a B17 because it is so short that I can't get it adjusted right (plus it looks a little ridiculous).

I have a B67 on my townie, which I think has the same top as the B68, and I love it, although it would be too wide for me on a road bike.

[stella]

I ordered a B68 today, to replace my B17S.

LisaSH, are you selling the B17s?
I'm interested...need a new one for my beater bike...
pm me

[KnottedYet]

Oooooh, I want a B68! I love my B67 on my road bike, though, so don't know if I even need to bother to switch to an un-sprung saddle. (if it ain't broke, don't fix it)

But no-springs is kinda sexy...

Just picture lovely golden Flossie with a honey B68 and shellacked Cinelli cork bar tape with hemp twine. Sigh...

[mimitabby]

Oooooh, I want a B68! I love my B67 on my road bike, though, so don't know if I even need to bother to switch to an un-sprung saddle. (if it ain't broke, don't fix it)

But no-springs is kinda sexy...

Just picture lovely golden Flossie with a honey B68 and shellacked Cinelli cork bar tape with hemp twine. Sigh...

It does sound lovely Knot. I'm going to have matching leather bar tape to go with my Brooks on the bike to be.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

....and shellacked Cinelli cork bar tape with hemp twine. Sigh...

I've done the shellacked cork and hemp twine on my Ramb....

(damn!- gotta get me a new digital camera SOON!) :mad:

Stella: I probably will sell the B17S, but I want to wait a few weeks to make absolutely SURE the B68 doesn't produce any weird chafing over time, etc. I will likely post it under ForSale stuff here on TE, but I'll let you know right before I post it- I might ask for "best offer"- but haven't quite decided yet or thought about the price.

Tomorrow is the test of fire for my sitbones- a 40 mile ride on a brand new Brooks that is NOT broken in yet! :eek: :eek: :o :o

[stella]

Stella: I probably will sell the B17S, but I want to wait a few weeks to make absolutely SURE the B68 doesn't produce any weird chafing over time, etc. I will likely post it under ForSale stuff here on TE, but I'll let you know right before I post it- I might ask for "best offer"- but haven't quite decided yet or thought about the price.

sure! no problem...pm me if you decide to sell, I am definately interested.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If anyone is interested, I put some pix of my new B68 honey Brooks saddle up on this thread:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?p=206956#post206956

[mimitabby]

Lisa, i'd like to see your whole setup, with the bag, the saddle, the whole bit.
oops, i see you posted already! So the bag sticks out on either side?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, i'd like to see your whole setup, with the bag, the saddle, the whole bit.
oops, i see you posted already! So the bag sticks out on either side?

I used to have a small bag for daily riding, but I prefer something a bit larger so I can not only have my flatfixing tools and cable/lock but also buy a pound of coffee on the way home, bring my camera and cell phone, or have a windbreaker or be able to take off a layer while ridng, etc. So for my daily riding I use the Rivendell/Baggins "Little Joe" bag you see in the latest pix on my "bike" page in my signature below. It's just the right size for my needs.
The new photos show not only the new B68 saddle, but also show the Bagman support that clamps to my saddle rails and holds the bag up off the rear wheel nicely. Also you can now see my cork tape all nicely twined and shellacked. :p

[Nokomis]

My B68 arrived yesterday.. figure nothing else worked so I'd give it a try. Ow.

Owx3. why can't my *** find a seat? all I could feel was the edge of the saddle with the rivets under my sit bones. I mounted the saddle flat, and no amount of scootching around would land me in a better position - not to mention it's so short that a little scootching & you're almost off the saddle!

I really don't know what to do. I guess I'll throw the bike on the trainer so I can play around a little bit more, but I don't see it working. I don't know what other adjustment to do or how to fix the fit issues.

ugh - someone please ask their bike fairy to point a friendly want toward my tush? pleeeease?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Are you saying that it's too small for you in all directions (width + length)? Are you extra large? Or is it that it just feels too hard? Can you describe the problem in more detail?

[mimitabby]

was the seat far back enough?
if you felt the rivets, your butt was too far back. :confused:

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yes I would say shove the saddle all the way back to start with. That's how mine is and it's great that way for me.
When you say it's "too short", do you mean the nose or the back of the saddle?

[Nokomis]

I'm not xl - the seat felt too short note to end to give me room to scoot around. It definately felt too hard, but the only thing feeling anything was the sit bones... and no matter if I scooted forward or back I always felt like I was hitting the edge.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sounds to me like you are not used to feeling all your weight on your sitbones. Is that possibly what the issue is?

[Nokomis]

sharp pain? and that being the only part of the body that feels like it is touching the saddle?

[mimitabby]

and do you have padded shorts?
Do your sitting bones hurt when you sit on a wooden chair?

[Nokomis]

padded shorts - yep
wooden chairs - the only one I've had to sit on is my dining set, and those have a nice concave seat that is comfortable to sit on. I've toned up the ol' backside quite a bit over the last few months - not a lot back there to give cush (lol - actually, look a bit like the flying girl in my avatar)

Unless it's raining like mad when I get home, I'll get back out on the bike try to find more intelligent words to use and spend time making adjustments. I think I lost my patience last night ~ yay pms + allergy overload.
Appreciate the questions :)

[Nokomis]

trying to upload a pic of what i'm feeling where - trying veryhard to give this thing a go. From where my bony rear is hitting the seat, not a lot of forward/aft room for adjustments before I run out of saddle.

[KnottedYet]

I find it very hard to believe your sits are wider than mine, so my guess is that you need to slide the saddle farther back on the rails? (far as I know, I have the widest sits of anyone who has posted on the board) Or maybe your sits just aren't used to the pressure?

Have you planted yourself on the saddle and put your fingers under your sits to get a good idea of where you are hitting?

The B67 was quite hard to start with, but I could definitely feel it under my sits and NO WHERE else. Which was an amazing relief for my softer tissues. Took me a couple rides to get it into the perfect position. You have 6 months from Wallingford to try it out, no harm done.

(really dumb question: is the saddle you recieved really a B68? Is it really a B68 and not a B68S?)

[Nokomis]

I've shoved the seat back as far as it would go. I order the B68, will have to check the packaging to make sure that is is. (The image isn't of a B68, I pulled down probably the 67 in order to have a top image similar to the 68 to use.)

The saddle is 168mm wide - the foam / specialized board measured out my sit bones at 140mm and my home trial came at 150 - so if I take the larger and divide that says I have 9mm between my sit bone & the edge of this saddle. I guess that might be the case based on where I feel like I'm hitting - I have felt back there and all I can find under my sit bones is the edge/rivet area.

/sigh - gonna *try* a group ride today, but feel I need to bring a spare saddle somehow.

[RoseC]

The saddle is 168mm wide

Just curious...what part are you measuring? My B17 is 168-170mm wide at the part where my behind goes, which is about right for me. But the B68 should be considerably wider.

My saddle says the model name on the side, if that helps!

I wasn't sure about mine at first, but after a few weeks of lots of riding, I don't think it's coming off. I don't have dimples, but it *is* changing shape. Funny...my right foot is flatter than my left (both are flat, but...), and the indent on that side looks to be a bit deeper, I suppose because that leg is effectively shorter. Kinda interesting.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The saddle is 168mm wide - the foam / specialized board measured out my sit bones at 140mm and my home trial came at 150 - so if I take the larger and divide that says I have 9mm between my sit bone & the edge of this saddle. I guess that might be the case based on where I feel like I'm hitting - I have felt back there and all I can find under my sit bones is the edge/rivet area.

According to Wallingford's site:
http://www.wallbike.com/brooks/standardsaddles.html

The B68 measures 210mm wide X 260mm long(nose to back).

The B17 measures 170mm wide X 280mm long.

If your measurements are correct it sounds like they sent you a B17, which was too narrow for both Knot and me in the sitbone area.

[Nokomis]

According to Wallingford's site:
The B68 measures 210mm wide X 260mm long(nose to back).


You're correct - I was going from poor memory. The stamp on the side does say B68. That saddle was quite the conversation piece on the ride.

I rode over 40 miles on it, and it felt like I was trying to balance on a pair of baseballs - easily slipping off, perching on a very hard and curved surface. If those are my sit bones, they are hitting on the outside edge where I drew the line, and it's quite hard & sore. Sitting now is a new & different kind of sore - though I am glad not to have the A bone pressure bruise! I did have the numb second toe, and spent plenty of time climbing rolling hills out of the saddle. There isn't any way I can think of to adjust the saddle so I'm hitting it differently - I tried plenty of position changes, pelvic tilts etc. to try to find a less painful spot.

Post ride I was joking that it's time to go in for reconstructive butt surgery. Bleh!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If it helps to know- When I got my B17, I had never tried a Brooks before. My sitbones were VERY sore the first week or two I started using a Brooks saddle. Nothing else hurt, just my sitbones. I kept applying Proofhide from Brooks, top and bottom, about 6 times during that first month. My DH said the soreness was to be expected and would fade away, so I trusted him and kept riding. After 2 weeks of riding the soreness faded away. I think my bones just got used to it, because the saddle certainly wasn't broken in yet. (it was my BUTT that got broken in!) :D :D
Anyway, by the end of the first month I was as comfy as could be and by the second month I saw the saddle was beginning to form to my sitbones, with little dents there.
Then I got a new B68 (wider than my original B17), and though I anticipated a week of soreness with the brand new saddle, I only had one day of sitbone soreness and a few days later did a 70 mile ride on it with no problems (just allover tired!). It is still not broken in yet but apparently my bum was used to the Brooks "way of life" and did not mind the brand new Brooks at all. :) It's really comfy for me.
But I remember well that very first sore week! :cool:

[KnottedYet]

IThe saddle is 168mm wide

If that saddle is 168 mm wide, it is NOT a B68!!!!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If that saddle is 168 mm wide, it is NOT a B68!!!!!!

I think she said she got the measurements mixed up. The saddle is marked B68.

[Nokomis]

If it helps to know- When I got my B17, I had never tried a Brooks before. My sitbones were VERY sore the first week or two I started using a Brooks saddle.

How close to the outside edge of the saddle are you? I'm afraid that because I'm over the cantle it won't be able to break in :(

[KnottedYet]

I'm lost.

How does a set of 150mm sit bones not fit on a 210mm saddle?

My 180mm sit bones have a good couple of cms from each edge (measuring the dents I've put in my B67)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

How close to the outside edge of the saddle are you? I'm afraid that because I'm over the cantle it won't be able to break in :(

My behind extends beyond the saddle edges all around except at the nose. My sitbones are about 1 1/4' to 1 1/2" from the outermost side edges of the saddle.

First- are you absolutely sure you have the B68 and not the B17??
Second- Are your sitbones actually sitting on the edges, or is it just an illusion because it feels so hard? Sometimes just because our fatty parts extend over the saddle on sides and back, we might "think" our sitbones are right on the edges, but they really are an inch or two in from the edges. Sit on the saddle and put your fingers right under your sitbones, then try to get up without moving your fingers and see where they are on the saddle top. If this is too hard try just marking with one finger at a time.

My hips are 42" around. I'm pear shaped and I've got "child-bearing hips" like Knot has too. Not "fat", but quite wide. I realize that's not an accurate sitbone measurement, but it gives you an idea of my size. The B17 fit me pretty well and was comfy, but I knew that my sit bones on it were almost at the edges side to side. I changed to the B68 which is quite a bit wider and fits me better. Now i do have room for my sitbones to not sit on the frame edge of the saddle. It's a pretty wide saddle.

I guess we're all just trying to figure out your problem considering you are not used to a Brooks type saddle....

[Nokomis]

It took a while to figure out how to share the detail - it is absolutely the B68.

Process: I set a piece of paper on my office chair, sat for a good long while & built up sit bone impressions. X marks the spot - also circled where the sit bone area left a nice round indent.

The first picture should show the overlay when I compare that to the brooks, and to my other too-narrow saddle, where I'm supported by the A bones, not B.

On the brooks, the center of the sit bones are one fingernail width in from the furthest outside rivet. Is this enough? I tried to draw lines to intersect where the center of the sit bone would hit in the smaller brooks image. Moving front to back on that saddle would e limited to the green line which I measure out to 2" in total -but most of it is hard from the curl of the leather or the pomel underneith.

[mimitabby]

I know you're not going to like this; but that's about where my sit bones are too.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That's not far off from mine either. On my B17 my sit bones were even closer to the edges- that's why I got the B68. Even so, the B17 was comfortable after the first couple of weeks of heavy riding.
Now on my B68 my sit bones are like where yours are. I think yours will be ok after the saddle -and your behind- are both "broken in". :eek:
Have you proof-hide-ed the saddle much yet? That really helps it soften and form to you. Proof hide several times, on both sides (top and underneath).

[KnottedYet]

Yup, that's about where mine are, too. Welcome to the Wide Sit Bone Club! You'll not find many saddles this wide, but yer body will thank you for sittin' on the sit bones rather than on the inferior (that just means "lower") pubic rami.

[Nokomis]

Well poo! :p Guess I'll have to proofhide more and give it more tries.
Does it get less slick?

[KnottedYet]

Yes!

Anyway, you have 6 months to return it to Wallingford! Honest, it takes a couple hundred miles to really know how it's going to feel when it's broken in! (mine felt great from the start, but I was just so ecstatic to have a saddle that FIT, I really didn't care if the leather was still stiff!)

[Nokomis]

Better this ride ~ not settled in place yet, so lots of sliding around & felt it in my shoulders & arms as I compensated to keep myself in place. I'll feel better once I can really become one with the saddle and regain the feeling of control in my ride.

thanks again & again ~
Noko

[KnottedYet]

sounds almost like it's tipped too far forward?

Did you level the nose rather than the whole saddle? The back should flare up a bit higher than the nose. When in doubt, level the nose of a Brooks rather than the saddle as a whole.

I slid left-right for a while, but didn't slide fore-aft much. Proofhide does help the sliding.

[KnottedYet]

Whooo-hooo! Just got back from LBS with my second B67. This one is honey with silver springs for my gold Waterford. My older black one with black springs is now on my black Surly.

Man, I forgot how stiff new Brooks saddles are!

Slathered Proofhide all over it, and it's sitting in the sun right now to bake in all that Proofhide goodness. It's soaking in nicely. Soon I'll rub in some more, sun-bathe it some more, buff it, then.... TA-DA!... put it on Flossie!

(and as of tomorrow I'm supposed to have insurance again, so I can finally go for a ride!)

[mimitabby]

Found some info on the Brooks "S" saddles. My friend (just my size fyi) who is going to go to paris to ride in the Paris Brest Paris 1200 kilometer ride has gotten an "s" sized saddle after 2 years with a regular one. The reason is; it's too long. when she stands it gets in her way. Since women have shorter ARMS
the saddle is shorter!!!!
I thought that was rather profound..

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Found some info on the Brooks "S" saddles. My friend (just my size fyi) who is going to go to paris to ride in the Paris Brest Paris 1200 kilometer ride has gotten an "s" sized saddle after 2 years with a regular one. The reason is; it's too long. when she stands it gets in her way. Since women have shorter ARMS
the saddle is shorter!!!!
I thought that was rather profound..

Why would having shorter arms put you closer to the saddle nose when you stand?? I would think it would do the opposite.
I don't have long arms and the regular length saddles dont' get in my way when I stand. :confused: :rolleyes: Of course I have mine shoved all the way back though. That's another thing- the S models have really short rails which means they wind up not being able to be pushed back at all, thus are closer to the bars in general.

Knot- My second new Brooks didn't hurt my butt during the breakin period much at all- no way like the sore butt of the first one! :p I think my behind is broken in already. ;)

[mimitabby]

because the space between the saddle stem and the handlebars is smaller, so there's less room for a long saddle

[chort]

OK, so I've ridden two 20 mile rides so far on my new B68. I LOVE IT!!!!!

First- I got the non-S model B68 because I wanted the longer rails underneath so I could attach a Bagman rack for my largish saddle bags:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/saddlebag_support.asp
The B68S has shorter rails and shorter nose and not enough room on the rails to attach the Bagman.
The B68 and the B68S both have the same width in back for my sitbones, so that was not an issue. They are about an inch wider there than the B17S I had before.
The width is PERFECT- I can feel how nice my butt fits on the saddle now, instead of being sort of "perched" half on the back and side edge frame of the B17S.
Yes my sitbones are a little bit sore right now because the saddle has not yet formed to them- but I'm proof-hiding like mad and riding a lot. It's not nearly as bad as when i first got my new B17. Guess I have a "Brooks Butt" all broken in already. :D
The longer nose is not proving to be significant at all. The old B17S nose stuck out about 1" in front while riding, and the new nose sticks out about 1 1/2" and doesn't seem to affect anything differently.

But the very BEST thing I have discovered, even better than the width issue, is that the new long rails allow me to shove the new saddle way further back- about 1 1/2" further back than my B17S with its short nose and short rails did. It's Heaven! Now I have more leg power and I feel like I can get "behind" my pedals as I ride- it is SO much more comfortable! Now I know how men get to feel comfy all the time on their bikes automatically. :mad:
It's sort of like the difference between riding a unicyle and pedaling a paddle boat- exaggerated comparison but that's the feeling, getting way more power from my legs and feeling nicely stretched out and "behind" my crank. This back-shoved saddle made me bend in half just a bit more- but being on a Rivendell (where bars and seat are about the same height anyway) this did not feel bad at all- in fact it feels BETTER. I can just hunker down comfortably in the drops, scoot all the way back and spin up those hills now without burning out my legs. :)
I made better time on my ride today- faster in the high gears on the flats, faster up the hills and less tired, and just way more comfortable in general.

I absolutely LOVE this saddle!!!!! My Bagman saddlebag support fits perfectly on it too, with room to spare. :p

Mimi- when you wonder how the saddles are without springs: My DH says springs are good for bikes that have you sitting more upright- like hybrids or comfort bikes. Upright posture puts most of your weight concentrated straight down your spine onto your butt, and you bounce along with most of your weight jarring down on your spine and butt. That's one reason hybrids are not so comfortable for long distance riding. Springs certainly help in that case.
On road bikes, your more horizontal posture is such that it distributes your weight more evenly and horizontally along your hands, back, legs, and seat- so you don't need springs as much.

Thanks for your review of the B68-- I'm going to order mine tonight. I can't wait until it gets here!!!!

[RoseC]

Well, folks, I'm about to join the B-68 fold, I think!

Today, I went on a long-for-me ride of forty miles, and in the process went over 1000 miles on the ol' odometer. I've kind of been planning to reward myself in some way for hitting that milestone (it's about twice as far as I'd ever done in a *full* season before, and it's still early August! Yay me!), and it's also as good a time as any to accept the fact that the reason I *still* don't have dimples on the B-17 (which also has over 1000 miles on it now) is 'cause my butt bones are right on the metal frame. Not quite over the edge, but not inside on just leather, either. It's still comfier than any other saddle I've used, but I'm thinking it's not really the ideal model for me.

So...the plan is to put it on the mountain bike where it'll be fine for shorter distances or sell it, and get a B-68 for Edwina-the-Volpe, who is my commuting / trail riding / long distance cruisin' gal.

I placed the order at Wallingford for a nice honey B-68 like Lisa's. Can't wait to try it out - this may be a match made in heaven! ;)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Be sure to keep us posted, Rose! :p

[RoseC]

Will do! I'll have to take some pictures of my bike with the new saddle once I get it set up! :D I've really been enjoying the Brooks photo thread...

Sure would be nice if it arrived before next weekend, but that may be too much to hope. Soon, though!

[Nokomis]

Well - looks like I've finally reached the "keep" point on my Brooks B68! I rode 40 miles Saturday, 70 on Sunday - and I don't remember the saddle. Yay! As long as my chamois is as wide as the saddle, I'm good to go.