Brooks saddles - back to leather?

careful

As an old git I have tried loads of saddles over the years and have been happy with my Selle Italia Flite Max until I started doing 120 + mile rides again. Got saddle sores which may be due to the bibshorts or chamois cream and/or the saddle. I'm thinking of going retro to a Brooks Swift Ti (bit of a weight weannie). There is a price to pay (about £130 and about 2 or 3 ounces. Also I'm not sure about the retro look saddle on my Van Nic Yukon.
I would like to hear opinions on Brooks saddles, especially from anyone who has gone back to leather. Also, should looks matter over comfort.

Chip \'oyler

I've got a Ti Swift on my Viner Maxima. A lot of people have commented that it looks out of place - but I don't care. It's the comfiest saddle I've ever used - and I've been cycling 20 years. My arse was great after the cobbles at the Tour of Flanders Sportive, and my arse was the only thing not giving me pain after the White Rose Challenge this year

You have to proof them quite a bit to begin with but after you've bedded it in you won't find anything comfier.

And I love the idea that I have a hand made saddle sat on my hand made frame.

Go for it - you won't regret it

careful

Thanks Chip\ 'oyler - helpful comments

tatanab

careful wrote:

I would like to hear opinions on Brooks saddles, especially from anyone who has gone back to leather.

Old git here too. I rode Brooks from late 1960s to early 80s and then took to San Marco Rolls due to failures of Brooks Colt saddles. I rode Rolls exclusively until about 2005 when I decided to try Brooks again and bought a B17 Champion. I would "notice" the Rolls after a few hours in the saddle, while I do not notice the B17 at all after a breaking in period of only about 100 miles. Yes, the shape is very different and yes it felt odd at first. I now have 4 B17s (3 in titanium) in regular use and the Rolls are now only on my shopper, the pub bike and others that don't see much use. I have a Selle Italia something or another, a lightweight with cut outs and gel parts which cost about £50 in a sale. It is not a patch on my B17 so it lives on the seldom used TT bike.

Weight and appearance (trendy or not) don't matter to me. I will go further and faster on a machine on which I am comfortable than on any featherweight I am not comfortable on.

careful

Thanks both. Gave me the reassurance I needed that leather was the way to go. I opted for the Swift titan (20% discount at CRC and about the same width as my old saddle). Just completed a 5 hour ride with just a little numbness towards the end. More comfy than previous saddle and I know it will improve as my bum and the saddle bed in (with a little help froom proofide). I think the saddle looks good on the VN too - unusual but classy.

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Chip \'oyler

It looks good on your VN. The saddle will only get better. Just keep proofiding it.