Brooks b17 narrow or not - please help!

[annabanana2]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the delayed reply - three months or so later and it turns out the 'stockist' I found was basically a $200 shop that went bankrupt and never had the rivet saddle so I am back to square one, and still in pain daily from my too-wide saddle. Any help please? Anna

[Jolt]

How about the Brooks C17? This is their non-leather saddle, made of rubber covered with canvas, and is available with or without a cutout (I needed the cutout, you may or may not). It is fairly T-shaped; I had some slight inner thigh chafing with a Selle Anatomica and have had none with the C17. It is quite firm, so be aware that it may make your butt sore at first if you are used to a softer saddle.

[annabanana2]

Thanks everyone,

Oh Shelia that is annoying! Seeing as I wasn't able to get my $200 back from the shop before it went bankrupt I have even less to spend now on a new saddle The turbomatic does look promising, I am just worried it would be too small like you say - if my sit bones are 135mm wide then would the turbo still be too small? Especially if my handlebars are pretty much level with my seat (I'm too nervous to go lower!). The c17 you mention Jolt looks good too, but the thing is I am very small (86lbs and not very tall, very petite) so the thought of having to break in a brooks saddle as they say i am concerned I would never be able to do, simply because I do not have enough weight on me! Can anyone weigh in (excuse the pun) on this aspect to brooks saddles? Thanks everyone

[annabanana2]

If the outside distance is 135, it will probably be perfect.

Brooks saddles are available in pre-aged leathers, and sweat helps things break in. I think the main concern would be a saddle that is too long front to bac since the bike would be so small, it might feel like you were getting stabbed from behind while standing. Plus, it would take up a lot of the cockpit space. Unfortunately, the shorter saddles tend to be women's, and they tend to be wider.

How do I determine whether the 135mm I was told at the bike shop (using the specialized system) was the inner sit bone distance or the outside sit bone distance? And if my position on the bike is more upright and I ride mainly on the hoods, would that impact at all?