Brooks non-leather saddle?

[pll]

So I think I will get a Cambium after all. After riding with it once, I tried a Specialized saddle (I think a Ruby) on a 4 hour gravel ride and I was very uncomfortable. Today I rode nearly 5 hours and I would have liked to lower the nose a little more, but the seat post won't allow me to do so. I will get the version with the cutout. The one thing I am trying to figure out is whether to get the C17 or the C17S, which supposedly is for women, and has a shorter nose. Brooks-connoisseurs: any opinions on the "S" type saddles?

[polly4711]

I just spoke to my bike shop about this. He said that many of his lady riders cant tell a difference between the S andnon-S. Its a 13mm shorter nose and unless you are very petite it is not necessary. I'm 5' 8" so I shouldn't be able to tell'

The main thing he discussed is how the saddles have all worn very differently. For example: two customers with the more beige looking saddle. One rides in jean shorts (is a messenger and her saddle has become blue ish. The other commutes and uses her bike as her main vehicle usually wearing black jeans and her saddle has become more white, . ' Both of them love it.

[pll]

Thanks Polly!

I went with the carved c17 in charcoal and I am liking it. I still have to fine tune the fore/aft position, but it is the most comfortable saddle I have tried. I am no longer in pain and I am not getting lower back pain either. You can see it in the picture below.

[nuliajuk]

I can't help wondering about the UV resistance of this combination of materials. Neither cotton nor natural rubber have very good resistance to ultraviolet light, and cotton is not a particularly strong fiber. Linen or hemp might have been better, and if they'd added carbon to the rubber to resist UV, that would have made it a better buy. Perhaps Brooks will sell replacement tops for it?

[thekarens]

I just spoke to my bike shop about this. He said that many of his lady riders cant tell a difference between the S andnon-S. Its a 13mm shorter nose and unless you are very petite it is not necessary. I'm 5' 8" so I shouldn't be able to tell'

The main thing he discussed is how the saddles have all worn very differently. For example: two customers with the more beige looking saddle. One rides in jean shorts (is a messenger and her saddle has become blue ish. The other commutes and uses her bike as her main vehicle usually wearing black jeans and her saddle has become more white, . ' Both of them love it.

FWIW I have a the regular B17 and when I'm in the saddle I don't notice any difference. The problem is when I'm stopped. I'm short so there's not a lot of room for me to stand to begin with and with the b17 I get stabbed in the back when I'm stopped due to the long nose. Not a big deal for me.

[pll]

I will add two things to my 'review' of the Cambium saddle:

• It was fabulous over a long, bumpy, ride. I rode it on a long gravel ride (95 miles and change for the day), with good stretches of washboard. I could feel the saddle flex and cushion the impact when other saddles would have killed me.
• It's heavy at 400g (when you can get saddles under 200g, even under 100g). I would hope Brooks could make it lighter but I will probaby use a lighter saddle for cyclocross.

[antimony]

The saddle on my Brompton has been wearing a bit, and I've been thinking of trying a Cambium as a replacement -- but I had one TMI-ish question that would be best asked here: for the people who have them, how badly would they potentially stain if one bled on them? I don't regularly try to bleed on my saddles but it's happened. The black one didn't look that black and I wasn't sure it'd be sufficient not to stain. (I'd probably get the black one anyway to avoid blueing it with jeans.)

[pll]

Thanks Polly!

I went with the carved c17 in charcoal and I am liking it. I still have to fine tune the fore/aft position, but it is the most comfortable saddle I have tried. I am no longer in pain and I am not getting lower back pain either. You can see it in the picture below.

A little over a month later, I think the color has faded a little bit. It does not bother me, but it might be worth noting for those worried about stains. This is a picture I just took of it..