Brooks B17 "N" or Selle An-atomica

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

...and b17s would be ok for a road bike? I'm trying to talk X into succumbing to the Brooks side with her road bike....

Absolutely! They are designed for touring long distances, and are narrow nosed, with drops bar posture in mind.

[freshsushi]

The first time I rode my B17 (regular), it rubbed my girly bits raw. I couldn't sit at work very comfortably, everything hurt. This continued for about 3 or 4 more rides - it did slowly get easier and easier, but it really hurt. Out of desperation, I googled up ways to break in your saddle, and someone suggested soaking a towel in water and placing it on your seat.

Whatever you do, don't do that!!! Just tough it out!!!! I did put the towel onto my seat for about 10 minutes, and it did break in just perfect by the very next ride, but I noticed a weird little rough spot the other day - and I'm pretty sure that the wet-towel break in was the reason. I proofhided it, so hopefully that'll prolong the saddle a little bit, but I really don't want to replace this saddle now that it's perfect.

[mimitabby]

Kit, I have a B67 on MY road bike!!

[KnottedYet]

If X likes to steer her bike with her thighs on the bike nose, she might prefer a B17 rather than a B17 Short. ("s" is for "short")

If she rides in skorts, she might like the B17S more. I ride in skirts, but I prefer to use the nose of the saddle to help me control the bike. And in all honesty, the skirts never catch on the full-length nose of my B67. (now, the back of my capris sometimes snag, but not my skirts. I chalk that up to me just being clumsy.)

[Kitsune06]

call me a noob, but steering w/ the thighs is more a road thing than a mtb thing, isn't it? I think back on all my riding with mz cakes and I don't remember ever really using my thighs to do much steering-wise... but in the drops etc I'd assume turning would involve much more weight-lean, and to that end, the thighs would be more important...

[KnottedYet]

It might just be a personal riding-style thing.

I rarely use the drops, but I use my thighs to control the bike.

I tried one of those "noseless" saddles many years ago (on my mtb), and nearly crashed because I couldn't control the bike the way I was used to.

[mtkitchn]

Does anyone have experience with both the Brooks line and selle anatomica? I have a selle anatomica titanico which I absolutely hate. There's way too much saddle and it cuts off the circulation to my legs (too much of a pear shape?). I like the feel of the leather, though. Is a Brooks saddle narrower in the nose and through the middle part of the saddle?

I bought the selle off TE because I heard of a great return policy, but when I got it the package said that if it showed signs of being mounted I couldn't return it. So now I'm stuck with it or have to sell it on ebay! But anything to get rid of it.