Brooks Saddles? Standard or Pre-aged?

[jessica47201]

Is opting for the pre-aged version of a Brooks saddle worth the price vs. going with one of the standard ones? I'm getting the B17 or the Flyer. I'm leaning towards the Pre-aged. I know this is vain but my bike is black, so I would prefer one of the black saddles but I think I'm going to put looks aside, and go for the pre-aged. Any imput would be great!!! You gals are some of the the most knowlegable out there and have been helping me greatly. Keep on rockin!!!! I think I have found my new family!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

If you do get the pre-aged and you ride it for a while and decide to keep it, then you can treat it all over with some linseed oil like my DH did to his. His was honey brown and the linseed oil turned it a really dark brown and made it a bit softer too. So you can do that to darken it if you like, but note: once you do that you will not be able to return it, so don't oil it until you decide you want to keep it. Let us know how it turns out for you!

[mayanorange]

Dear ol Sheldon talks about breaking in Brooks saddles here:

http://sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

Worth a read, though I've never tried any of it on a bike saddle. I do think oil can be good for leather, despite what Brooks says officially, but it can be overused.

[Biciclista]

Dear ol Sheldon talks about breaking in Brooks saddles here:

http://sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

Worth a read, though I've never tried any of it on a bike saddle. I do think oil can be good for leather, despite what Brooks says officially, but it can be overused.

Thanks for this, it was nice revisiting that article. It might be worth noting that 50% of the people that ride the Paris Brest Paris ride (a 1200 km 90 hour ride) sat on leather saddles.

[jessica47201]

I think I'm gonna go with the pre-aged version, now I just have to decide on the B17 or the Flyer. I'll just have to overlook the whole brown saddle/black bike thing. In the end comfort is the best. Thanks for the suggestion on reading sheldon's article. I've been to his site lots. It's just that as soon as I think I've decided on the Flyer, I end up reading a thread and think that the flyer will be all wrong for my road cycling and think I should maybe go with the Jett 155mm or the Ruby 155mm. I need to just quite reading the saddle threads and get one. At least Wallbike has a 6 month return policy. If anyone has anymore ideas I'm all ears!!!

[canonsue]

No other ideas, but I just purchased a flyer from wallbike.com yesterday. I have a new Surly Long Haul Trucker and will be riding both paved and dirt roads, so I think the flyer will work well for me. However, it is does add more weight, but at this point, I think the 40lbs that I need to loose off of my body is more of a priority than a few ounces from the saddle.

-Sue

[jessica47201]

Well Sue, I hope that your flyer works out for you. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm not really concerned with the weight, I have about 30lbs to lose. I'm seriously thinking about ordering the Pre-aged flyer on Monday. I figure that if i doesn't work out on my bike, I'll just return it for the b17. I've got 6-months to decide!!!

[andtckrtoo]

I think I am a poster child for how NOT to test a Brooks saddle. My new Surly Crosscheck came with a heinous saddle, but I still wanted to ride it a bit yesterday, so I put in 15 miles. The ride was great, but man the ole bum hurt! Then, I took my DD16 horseback riding (first time in 3 years). We rode 1.5 hours. After that, we went to REI and I picked up a new Brooks Flyer (not aged, I wanted black to match my bike).

I put the new saddle on my Crosscheck this morning and went for a ride (and yes, I was saddle sore when I started). I chose a route that allowed for a lot of drop offs in case the ole bum gave out. I have to say, I ended up riding 42 miles and the Brooks - un-aged and unbroken in felt better than either of my other saddles (even the one I ride distance on). I am a little sore in the sit bones - but it's a different, better, sore than I usually feel after a long ride. It felt right. As I said, I have this on my new Surly, but I will tell you, I'm getting another Brooks for my road bike. Yeah, they are a little heavier, but as I will never win races and I ride for fun, the extra few pounds won't bother me, but believe me a happy bum will make a difference.

Now, I'm not saying everyone will have this experience, but I am just THRILLED with my Brooks saddle. Worth every penny. I'm looking forward to increasing my mileage.

[Blueberry]

Heh - I did the same thing. My cross check was pre-loved (or not, since it was sold), but came with a women's B-17. It DID NOT work for me. I ordered the regular B-17 from Wallingford, put it on my bike, and rode 50 miles the next day. I stopped to adjust it a few times, and I do think it broke in my butt a little (but that could have bee the general lack of riding that year). But, I made it. And the 95 degree temperatures ensured it was broken in quickly

[jessica47201]

Well I finally did it!! I bought my first Brooks. I ordered it tonight. I decided to go with the Brooks Flyer Pre-aged!!! After reading so many threads and getting such great adivce I decided to do it. Thanks for all your help!!!