Brooks or Selle An-Atomica?

[nscrbug]

Ok, I am at the point where I am seriously considering the purchase of a leather saddle. I've already tried out a myriad of different saddles, and still have not found "the one" yet. At the moment, I am riding the stock saddle on my new Cannondale Synapse - a Prologo Kappa Dea. I've logged approx. 400-500 miles on this saddle...making small adjustments along the way, yet I still cannot get comfortable. I experience pain and numbness/tingling in both the sit bone and soft tissue areas. It's simply not a pleasant riding experience on this saddle. Some of the other saddles that I have tried are - Terry Butterfly Tri Gel, Specialized Phenom 143, Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour, Cobb V-Flow Plus, Selle Italia ProLink Light Gel Flow, and Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow. I'm tired of spending money on saddles that just don't work for me.

I desperately need (and WANT) to find a saddle that will allow me to fully enjoy riding...because right now, I just don't...and that makes me very sad.

I've been measured using both the Bontrager and Specialized measuring tools, and on both I have measured out in the "medium" category - 143mm for Specialized saddles and 150 for Bontrager's WSD saddles.

I am considering the Brooks B17N (152mm), because I fear that the standard B17 (170mm) will be too wide and cause chaffing. Does this sound like a reasonable assumption? I would also consider going with the Imperial cut-out on the B17N, as I have benefited from cut-out saddles that I have tried. Then there is the Selle An-Atomica...which after reading over their website, really intrigues me. But again, I fear the width of the Titanico (165mm) would be too wide for me. I'm not sure if they are producing their medium-width Robusto saddle...does anyone here know? It is not offered on their website...looks like they are only offering the Titanico.

Can anyone give me some insight on either of these leather saddles? I don't want to make another buying mistake. THANKS!!!

Linda

[Desert Tortoise]

Funny, I went through the same thing. After trying numerous saddles, I narrowed it down to a Brooks and Selle-An. I tried the SA at a bike expo on a trainer and it was so nice not to hurt in the sit bones and all. It did feel "soft" but I'm not sure if that was because it was a demo and not adjusted to me, etc.

I went with the Brooks Team Pro S. Boy those "S" models have short rails! Anyway, not sure if the measurements you got are center-to-center or outside-to-outside. I measured my sitbones and came out 140 center to center and 160 outside to outside.

The Team Pro S (which is the same as the B17s) width wise fit beautifully on the sit bones. When I'm able to sit in center where the sitbones go, wow! No pain. Unfortunately the rails are so short I ended up pushing back and riding on that hard metal at the back edge. It has to go back for a B17 (same as this only with longer rails).

By the way, first time out that saddle was hard as a rock but once I loosened the front bolt 1/4 turn, world of difference. I know I said this before but wow-oh-wow when the sitbones are in the right place. For me to do this on this saddle though means I have crunch up and it feels like I have no saddle nose. Down hill I like scoot back but that puts me on the metal, not nice over bumps.

Good luck with your search.

[KnottedYet]

Wallingford Bicycle Parts www.wallbike.com gives 6 months free trial on all Brooks saddles.

6 months test-ride!

I don't know of any other bike shop IRL or online that gives six months trial period.

No, you don't want a B17N. You want at least B17, B17S or even a B68. Don't forget there is a metal cantle plate under the outer 1cm of a leather saddle. You can't put your sit bones there. On a B17N your bones would be on the cantle plate, not the suspended leather.

Wide saddles don't really cause the chaffing, wide noses and too-much-pear transition are the big culprits. B17 is still fairly pear shaped. B68 is T shaped.

Let's assume the 143-150 you measured out at the shop is your center to center measurement. Your outside-to-outside is probably around 163-170. Add at least 1 cm to each side of that (for wiggle room as you corner and shift around, and to keep you off the cantle plate) and you are looking at a saddle with an overall width of 183-190.

Since 6 months is free, I'd start with a B68 (which is 210 wide) from Wallingford. Ride it a few months, and learn from that experience if you'd prefer a B17 (170 wide) or B17S (177 wide, but very short). Ride the B17 for a few months.

If my back-of-the-envelope guess for your outside measurement sounds off, do an outside measurement of your own, add 2cm to that (for the cantle plate) and look for a saddle that wide.

[Biciclista]

I agree with Knot. You do NOT want the B17N. At the very least start with the B17, which is the same width as the sella an-atomica

I don't know why they are selling the "s" Brooks models. the only application I can think of that would be useful is the stoker position on a tandem.

[OakLeaf]

Lind, did you mean your measurements were 143-150, or that's the width of the saddles the shops recommended for you (which would mean a measurement closer to 120)?

[nscrbug]

Lind, did you mean your measurements were 143-150, or that's the width of the saddles the shops recommended for you (which would mean a measurement closer to 120)?

That is the width of saddles that the shops suggested to me, based on my measurements on each of their respective measuring devices. I fell in the "mid-range" category on both the Bontrager and Specialized butt measuring pads. The mid range for Specialized is 143mm and for Bontrager saddles, it is 150mm. I never did get an actual number out of either one of them...they just told me which size saddle would be best for me.

So...does that drastically change things for me? Should I still be looking at a standard B17, and not the B17N? Same goes for the Selle An-Atomica...wider Titanico, or narrower Robusto?

ETA - On a side note...while I really like the 6-month return policy of the Brooks at Wallbike.com, I much prefer the Selle An-Atomica because it is offered in white (my bike is white)...although the return policy for the SAA is only 30 days, which may not be enough time to get a good enough feel for it. Any comments on this?

[Veronica]

It sounds like your sit bones are narrower than mine. I rode a Brooks Finesse -177 mm - for several years before it finally dawned on me that it was too wide and the cause of my shoulder rocking and saddle sores. So going with a regular Brooks B17 sounds like a bad idea to me.


I do love my Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow and will buy yours from you if you still have it.

Competitive Cyclist does do a saddle demo program. Most of the saddles in it are men's. But by riding each of them in the trainer and taking careful notes about how each felt, I was able to figure out that the Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow was the saddle I wanted from how they described each demo saddle on their website. You might give that a try.


Veronica

[nscrbug]

It sounds like your sit bones are narrower than mine. I rode a Brooks Finesse -177 mm - for several years before it finally dawned on me that it was too wide and the cause of my shoulder rocking and saddle sores. So going with a regular Brooks B17 sounds like a bad idea to me.


I do love my Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow and will buy yours from you if you still have it.

Competitive Cyclist does do a saddle demo program. Most of the saddles in it are men's. But by riding each of them in the trainer and taking careful notes about how each felt, I was able to figure out that the Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow was the saddle I wanted from how they described each demo saddle on their website. You might give that a try.

Veronica...after I had my SLK on the bike for a few hundred miles, it started to "droop" on the left side. I could visibly see that the left half was sitting about 1/4" lower than the right half. Now some folks on here have said that this is just the saddle conforming to my body...and while I would agree with that somewhat, it did cause me a fair amount of pain mainly due to the fact that I could feel a "ridge" where the left side had dropped down. Have you experienced anything like this with your SLK? I understand the concept behind the "split" design and that each side flexes independently...but I did not expect the saddle to physically look lop-sided after I got off it. I've been offered the option of sending it back to the distributor for warranty evalution, but I'm still trying to figure out if this is a defective flaw in the saddle or if it is supposed to do that. What's your take on this?

Linda

[Veronica]

I've got a couple of hundred miles on two different SLKs and have not seen that. I remember now you posting about the droop. My right leg is shorter than my left according to my tailor. So you would think I'd have a droop by now too if the saddle was designed to flex that much.

I'd send it in for evaluation. The worse thing they can say is that it's not a defect. But you may get a new saddle out of it.

Veronica

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've been measured using both the Bontrager and Specialized measuring tools, and on both I have measured out in the "medium" category - 143mm for Specialized saddles and 150 for Bontrager's WSD saddles.
I am considering the Brooks B17N (152mm), because I fear that the standard B17 (170mm) will be too wide and cause chaffing. Does this sound like a reasonable assumption?

No, it sounds like a B17N would be way too narrow for your sitbones. Try a B17 first, or even B68. I concur with Mimi in avoiding the "S" models. I didn't like the B17S much for various reasons. I've ridden both B17 and B68 and they are both great. B68 is for the widest sitbone span (me). B17 is for average width bones.

Then there is the Selle An-Atomica...which after reading over their website, really intrigues me. But again, I fear the width of the Titanico (165mm) would be too wide for me. I'm not sure if they are producing their medium-width Robusto saddle...does anyone here know? It is not offered on their website...looks like they are only offering the Titanico.

You might not want to order a Selle An-Atomica right at this point in time. Sadly, the designer/owner Tom Milton died recently during a double century ride, and it looks like customer service is not functioning much at the moment. they might need to settle the estate before others can continue making/selling the saddles:
http://audaxvermont.blogspot.com/201...-lives-on.html
Note the comment section.

Can anyone give me some insight on either of these leather saddles? I don't want to make another buying mistake.

Did.

[nscrbug]

No, it sounds like a B17N would be way too narrow for your sitbones. Try a B17 first, or even B68. I concur with Mimi in avoiding the "S" models. I didn't like the B17S much for various reasons. I've ridden both B17 and B68 and they are both great. B68 is for the widest sitbone span (me). B17 is for average width bones.



You might not want to order a Selle An-Atomica right at this point in time. Sadly, the designer/owner Tom Milton died recently during a double century ride, and it looks like customer service is not functioning much at the moment. they might need to settle the estate before others can continue making/selling the saddles:
http://audaxvermont.blogspot.com/201...-lives-on.html
Note the comment section.




Did.

Hmm...thanks for the heads up on this. Probably why I haven't gotten a reply to the email I sent them 5 days ago. I think I will give the standard B17 a shot and see what happens.

[Veronica]

I think I will give the standard B17 a shot and see what happens.

I don't understand why you are going to try a saddle that measures 170mm when you have been measured for 143. At least if you get it from Wallingford you'll be able to send it back.

Veronica

[nscrbug]

Well...I pulled the trigger and just ordered myself a Brooks Team Pro in white from Wallbike.com. I'm excited to try it out, but also nervous at the same time. I've never spent this much money on a saddle before, so hopefully it will be a keeper...but if not, then at least I have the comfort of knowing that I can return it within 6 months. I opted for the Team Pro (160mm) because it is more of a true T-shape...and also because I still firmly believe that the B17 (170mm) would be too wide for me. But I also cannot deny the fact that I was completely drawn to the white leather. It appears to be the only unsprung saddle that Brooks produces in white, at the moment. My bike is white and came with a stock white saddle, so I'd like to stay with that color theme. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed in hopes that I did not make another saddle mistake. I'll report back once I've put on a few miles.

[Veronica]

I hope it's perfect!

I've had 5, I think, Brooks saddles over the years. My green ones seemed to get comfy faster than the black ones. So give it some time.

Veronica

[KnottedYet]

If the 143-150 mm is the SADDLE measurement, of course your sit bones will be narrower! My goodness!

Everybody, repeat after me: Measure Your Sit Bones.

If 143-150 was the saddle, then I think you are just fine with the Team Pro. Remember that all Brooks (and other similar) saddles will have a cantle plate, and you must not count that as acreage for the bones. Putting a bone on a metal plate is not what suspended leather saddles are all about... (so the actual contact c-to-c of the Team Pro is 140 mm, as the cantle plate is about 1 cm wide)

Brooks take about 100 miles or more to test properly, and some fiddling. Wallbike's 6 month trial is pretty sweet, and Bill Laine is great about helping over the phone. There are enough women on TE who ride Brooks that you could probably get questions answered here even easier than calling Bill.