Brooks Imperial

[uforgot]

Yes, the one on the right 'looks' really wide partly because it is so short, the B17 "S" model.
It's actually 177mm wide, - too narrow for my sit bones. And the non-S model is 170mm.

The B68 as I said is 210mm wide and is the only saddle that actually fits my sit bones width-wise so I'm not riding literally on the saddle edges with my bones.

Yeah, and that 6 month guarantee from Wallingford is a good thing too. I figured that easily having an almost 10 pound baby, not to mention a German heritage, guaranteed wide sit bones. I just HAD to try the B68 based on rave reviews. Well, apparently I don't have wide sit bones. That B68 I got felt like I was sitting in a hammock. But Lisa's old B17 s? Perfect! I regretted selling it, but it found a good TE home, and now I'm enjoying Xeney's B17 S. I'm sticking with it.

Edit: As for the Imperial, wonder why the cutout on the S is so narrow? Almost looks pointless.

[Thorn]

I was really disappointed when the Imperial line came out. The B68 Imperial doesn't appear to be a go and the B17S Imperial? Eeks....such a tiny pincher cutout.

I have a B68 that has been chopped and channelled by Selle Anatomica. Even then I've taken a little sand paper and modified the cutout. Given DivingBiker's (?) problems with her B68 breaking after the SA mods, I was really looking forward to the B68 Imperial for my second bike's saddle. But now I wonder if they would have put in a generous cutout or a pincher?

On the one hand Brooks sells a good saddle so you gotta love 'em; on the other hand, they seem to have fallen short here. Reading this board you'd think there was a solid market for a good women's saddle--wide enough, cutout and a long nose. Yes, the Brooks is based on a historically solid design, but today's women is riding just a tad bit more agressively than the 1900's woman.

[Veronica]

Not all women need a cutout. I love my Brooks Finesse.

Veronica

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Not all women need a cutout. I love my Brooks Finesse.

Veronica

Yeah, I don't need a cutout either, my men's regular B68 is just perfect for me on both my bikes. I feel really lucky that I found a saddle that is totally comfy for me.

[OakLeaf]

Not all women need a cutout. I love my Brooks Finesse.

Veronica

But since the women who do need a cutout are those of us who are, let's say, more generously endowed down there, I don't see the point of a cutout that's only half the width of what it's supposed to be relieving pressure on. As someone who definitely needs a cutout but who enjoyed an old tensioned leather saddle on my very first "ten-speed," I was eagerly anticipating the Imperial, but now that I see it, I'll stick with my Specialized, thank you very much. That cutout just looks painful.