Lots of people here ride happily on saddles other than Brooks, OTOH some of us went through many trials and tears before landing on Brooks and we became zealous in our devotion to them.

As for shoes, I have these: http://www.dromarti.com/index.php?ma...products_id=29

I just looked up the post I made shortly after they arrived and that was July 2010. They feel as wonderful as they look, maybe better even, because they are leather and now they know my feet very well.