April 10, 2021
If you've never had the pleasure of riding a Brooks saddle, we highly recommend it. Not only do you get a handmade piece of bicycling's heritage, you get something that becomes uniquely yours. Take care of it and it will last a lifetime. Sure they start hard but they will become softer after just the first ride and will continue to break in for the next few weeks or so depending on much you ride. It can be helpful to take some rest days for your sit bones and wear padded shorts, but we don't typically recommend using Proofide until it needs some conditioning or weatherproofing. Below is a quick rundown of a few of the popular B17 models and you can find all of our in-stock Brooks England saddles, bags, and grips here.
The Short or "S" version is just a little bit shorter so folks on smaller frames have a little more room when standing over the bike. Other than that it's the same shape and width.
The Carved or "Imperial" has a generous cut out down the top of the saddle for pressure relief and breathability.
And the standard B17 is just that, the industry standard for a quality handmade vegetable tanned leather saddle. Don't worry, It will only get more comfortable and more beautiful with age.
