Brooks Saddles

[nuthatch]

I started with the B17S and it was too short for me. There didn't seem to be enough variety in where I could perch because of that quicker narrowing of the saddle. I traded (good old Wallingford!) to the B17 after about three weeks and the nose doesn't seem too long at all.

The Team Pro (I have the B17 on my commuter and the Team Pro on my weekend bike now) is the same size as the B17S but it's made of thicker leather. It works fine for a more horizontal position on drop handlebars. But I've got to say, I wish it had a longer sitting area because I like to move around. The girly bits are still a bit of a problem on very long rides. Your sit bones can force the leather to shape to them but you have to get just the right position to protect those softer parts.

Be prepared to work at making this type of saddle personalize itself to your shape. Some folks love them immediately and others, like me, have had to work for miles and miles to get the leather to shape into a more comfortable form. Once, they are at that point, you don't think about the saddle anymore, no matter how long the ride is!