Customer Reviews

Brooks Saddles B66 Bicycle Saddle with Clamp (Men's)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was pretty dubious about Brooks saddles until I inherited my dad's Raleigh Sports. The original Brooks was gone so I purchased a replacement for it because I was restoring it to like new condition for sentimental reasons.

From the very first minute this saddle was more comfortable than any other bike saddle I've ever used. It has only gotten better as it has broken in. Now I want to put a Brooks on my primary bike too.

Pros:

*Firm wide leather hide saddle has plenty of support for your sit bones and cradles your behind rather than sitting on an overstuffed bean-bag that rides up your crack.
*Spring suspension makes riding an upright bike a breeze even on pothole-strewn urban streets.
*Double-rail construction of the B66 gives more frame support and less flex where it isn't supposed to be -especially for heavier riders in the upright riding position.
*Long-lasting performance. A properly cared-for Brooks will last you nearly a lifetime -It might even outlive you if you aren't an everyday rider.

Cons:

*Leather saddles require somewhat regular maintenance with Proofhide leather treatment to stay supple and so they don't dry out or get saturated with moisture. It isn't zero-maintenance like a cheap vinyl/plastic saddle.
*The leather needs to be protected from the elements. Don't leave this seat out in the rain uncovered or even ride in the rain without covering the bottom of the saddle as well as the top. Water will cause the leather to stretch and ruin the tension and shorten the lifespan. Proofhide helps protect against moisture in the air or sweat but can't stop rain. A simple plastic bag will do the trick, tied snug around the seatpost.
*Brooks saddles are so sought-after that they are not only expensive when new, but a target to thieves as the used prices are quite high too. In some areas it is just not safe to leave a Brooks out where thieves can steal it. Overnight outside is foolhardy in a big city.

I replaced the original seat of my 1972 Schwinn steel framed Racer. If you're not familiar, the Racer is a city bike, you sit very upright like a Dutch bike. That's what this seat is made for, sitting upright so the springs absorb all the bumps on the road. It's like riding an entirely different bike. This saddle is unbelievably comfortable, you may not think so by looking at it, one molded piece of hard leather, but, ergonomically it's amazing. And the large springs make even Chicago's horribly maintained city streets easy to bike on. I go over any one of the 673 major bumps in the road on my 2 mile commute and the springs absorb all of the shock. Definitely recommended, was planning to replace my bike but this seat changed my riding experience, worth every penny.

Installation was easy, it comes with enough hardware to fit old to new bikes, I did it myself in about 10 minutes. It's a good idea to use a better wrench than what they include. You also may want to consider a small seat lock if you're leaving the bike locked and unattended.

I actually have a difficult time imagining how this design could be improved. My first Brooks saddle was a B72 which I purchased in 1977. It was far and away the most comfortable saddle I'd ever used up to that point, but I didn't ever apply any type of leather dressing to it, and eventually the leather dried out and cracked around the rivets. I purchased this B66 as a replacement, and have been riding it for more than 10 years now, being careful to apply Brooks Proofide from time to time. After more than 10 years of use, it still looks almost perfectly new, with just a slight "polishing" of the rivets visible.

This is a fairly wide saddle, 210 mm, and well suited for bikes with an essentially upright riding position. I've got it installed on an old mountain bike whose handlebars are a couple of inches higher than the saddle. I have used lower handlebars on this bike in the past, even level with the saddle, and it works equally well, just needing a small adjustment on the tilt. Either way, I can literally ride for hours without any sort of soreness or numbness. The firm leather provides exactly the right amount of support, flexing just enough beneath you to distribute pressure over a wide area, instead of concentrating it in a small area.
The twin coil springs in the back do a nice job of absorbing some of the shocks which get past the tires. Like the leather, they are somewhat firm, but they provide a noticeably smoother ride.

Additionally, the leather does not seem to trap much body heat, and in fact has three small "ventilation" holes on the top, so feels noticeably cooler when riding in warm weather.

This saddle has four thick wires forming the base, which attach to the clamp. The clamp is designed to be used on old-style "straight" seatposts. However, the saddle can be used on modern seatposts by simply NOT using the included clamp, and instead using the Breezer "Saddle Sandwich" which is sort of an adapter for the four wire base. Or you can just order the B67, which has two wires on the base, like most other seats.

Because such saddles are attractive to thieves, I recently tried two days on a "modern" gel saddle with a relieved center advertised as a "comfort" saddle for upright bikes, thinking that I might use it as my "commuting saddle". What a huge disappointment this turned out to be. In less than 30 minutes, I was noticing the significantly greater pressure on the soft tissues between my "sit" bones, and was soon looking for opportunities to stand on the pedals. I was also getting off the saddle to stand at traffic lights. After two days, I'd had enough, and returned it to the store from which it had come.
With the Brooks, I just remain seated and put one foot on the curb while waiting for lights to change. For the HUGE difference in comfort, it is well worth the slight extra trouble to remove the saddle and seatpost, and bring them inside with me while at work or the gym.

Admittedly, this is not a cheap saddle, but it isn't SO much more than some of the higher-end vinyl/lycra/gel types. When considering the purchase, bear in mind the long, long service you are likely to receive (given proper care) and the extreme improvement in riding pleasure which you are likely to experience. Pro-rating the cost over so many years makes it apparent what a great value this saddle actually is.

This is my first leather saddle, and I was surprised to find that it fit so well. It does take a few weeks to break it in, but it is not as awful as one may think. In the end you have a long-lasting and comfortable bike seat. Don't forget to get some "Proofide".

I've ordered two B66s- one from Amazon.com and one from a marketplace vendor. Both times I've received a single-rail B67s with a seatpost clamp attached to it, labeled as a B66s on the package. I'm guessing that Brooks is transitioning the heavier, double-railed B66s out of existence, and selling the B67s with clamp in it's place? If this is the case, don't charge me a 35% premium just for a two dollar seatpost clamp! Had I thought about it sooner, I probably would have just ordered a B67s (and used a spare clamp I had) and saved the money. After contacting customer service, Amazon was kind enough to refund me the price difference between the B66s and the B67s instead of attempting another two-week-long exchange that would have probably gotten me the same wrong saddle.

The saddle itself is great (the B67s I received, that is). Just like a slightly shorter version of the two B66 saddles I own, only with a single rail and stamped 'B67s' on the side of it.

Just be aware that when you order this product, you might not be getting what you expect, and you're paying more than you should for what you're getting.

I read that a hard seat was good for the back. I found this seat to be too hard and it irritated my back. Returned the seat.I am 63 yr old and already had back problems so maybe it would be better for someone else.

This bike saddle is the best I have ever owned. So comfy!!! The shipping was lightning fast and I love it!