My new Brooks has arrived

[firelady]

Hey you Brooks lovers I am looking into getting one myself. I am 6' tall and have the hips to match. Sit bone to sit bone is 177mm. I ride long distances on mostly improved bike trails these days. Trails are limestone gratings for the most part. I will be going on a bike trip DC to Pittsburgh in Sept on my new Cannondale. I ride on an old women's Avocet saddle that has seen better days. It was a great saddle 25 years and 30 lbs ago (before kids) After having kids my girl parts changed along with the added weight my old saddle just doesn't hit right. Any suggestions on which Brooks to start with?

Thanks

[KnottedYet]

Brooks B67 or B68
(and anything else based on the B66 top: B66, B18, B72, etc.)

The other models are going to have you planting your sit bones right on top of the metal cantle plate (for example the B17-S is 177mm, the outer cm on each side is cantle plate so your suspended leather sit-spot is 157 mm) or missing the saddle completely (for example, the Swallow, which is 152 mm).

There are many reasons *not* to get a B67-S (short) or B68-S (short). The short nose means less control of the bike for some folks, and the resulting shorter rails mean some fitting issues. YMMV.

6 months free trial/full refund at www.wallbike.com

[sundial]

Also, just want to reiterate what Knot has stated previously regarding saddle width: get the widest saddle possible for your sitbone width. You don't want to ride with your pelvic floor supporting the the full weight on the saddle or else you'll open up yourself to a whole lotta problems.

[sarahspins]

There are many reasons *not* to get a B67-S (short) or B68-S (short). The short nose means less control of the bike for some folks, and the resulting shorter rails mean some fitting issues. YMMV.

I think this is definitely a YMMV thing, but I haven't had any fit issues with my B68s saddles... I initially bought them because I got a great price on them, or I might have chosen the "regular" versions. When I wanted to try an imperial, I went with the "s" as well.. mostly because the position of my others hadn't been an issue, I just wanted to see if a cutout would make much difference for me (jury is out on that so far.. I don't hate it, but I'm not sure it's helping anything).

I haven't noticed any difference in terms of "control" on the bike due to the shorter saddle... but of course I don't have much to compare it to.