Brooks B17

The Brooks B17 is not a normal saddle but a rite of passage for long-distance cyclists. The formula is simple: a 6 mm slab of vegetable-tanned cowhide stretched over a steel frame with steel rails and secured with copper rivets. No gel, no foam, no cutout. In a market where almost every saddle leans on ergonomic pressure-relief channels and synthetic materials, the B17 stubbornly sticks to a 1898 formula — and the reason is that it simply works for anyone willing to invest. On a Koga Signature, a Santos Travelmaster or a classic Gazelle Toer Populair, this has been the standard saddle for cycling holidays through Drenthe or long-distance tours along the Maas for decades. The first 300 to 500 kilometres are the truth test. Fresh from the box the leather is almost concrete-hard and you will feel it in your sit bones after 20 km — saddle soreness is part of the deal. Riders who skip this phase or give up too quickly miss what makes the B17 unique: after break-in, the leather forms like a hammock under your sit bones, with two slight depressions that follow your exact anatomy. From that point you can comfortably ride 100 km a day. Treat it with Brooks Proofide every 1000 km, protect it from rain with a cover or the underside with Obenauf's, and it lasts 20 years. Width is 175 mm, ideal for an upright riding position on a trekking or city bike; the narrower Brooks Swift or Swallow is better suited to more aggressive postures.

Compared with modern alternatives the contrast is stark. The Selle Royal Respiro delivers instant comfort with no break-in but loses its springiness after two to three years. The Specialized Power with Mimic has a pressure-relief zone and works well for intensive riding but lacks the organic feel. The Brooks Cambium C17 — also in this list — solves the water issue with rubber and cotton, but does not mould. The real rival is the SQlab 612 Ergowave with its step-in sit-bone support, comfortable from day one but losing the longevity argument: one B17 outlasts three SQlabs. For women the slightly wider B17 S is recommended because average sit-bone spacing is broader.

Honest about the weaknesses: 520 grams is heavy, the leather hates sustained rain (a plastic bag over the saddle during outdoor parking is not overkill), and 95 euros feels steep for something that hurts first. Incorrect tensioning — over-tightening the hex bolt under the nose — permanently ruins the leather. This is also not a saddle for anyone who wants to sprint in lycra on a carbon road bike. But for the commuter doing 20+ km rides, the long-distance tourer, or the e-bike pendler who genuinely thinks a decade ahead, there is no more logical investment.