So this magic seat is hard but it's supposed to be incredibly comfortable? It takes hundreds of miles of break in but after that it's nirvana. It's old technology but it's far better than any of the latest and greatest technologies.Hard to believe, right?Here's the deal - the concept of this seat is very simple - it's a hammock seat - meaning instead of sitting on a bunch of padding you sit on a suspension of material. I think the break in factor is an illusion - almost every bike seat I've ever used was uncomfortable at first before getting used to it. So what if people are just getting used to it?I ride motorcycles too - and realized early on that a "plush" seat is horrible after a 2+ hour ride. Why - because what was soft is now creating pressure and bottoming out where it shouldn't. Instead, a harder seat is far superior. Same applies here.So what model to choose? Is this size the same as the narrower or really wide ones? Here's the part they don't tell you - it's all about seating angle. If you ride at a more aggressive angle - you need a narrower seat sized to your sit bones. If you sit upright - you need a wider seat sized to your tuchus.Here's something you can try with your CURRENT seat - without buying anything. Ride 100 yards at the most upright position you can. Stop. Now ride 100 yards at the about a 45 degree angle representing a touring or casual mountain bike. Now ride 100 yards at about a 60 degree angle which represents a more racing/professional/hard core rider position. Which feels best to you? Your seat will tell you which is best. That's the angle the seat was designed for.Now comes the B17. The B17 is the longest running model in the Brooks line - cool, right? It's significantly wider at about 170 mm compared to 140mm for a typical road or mountain bike seat. But the real question is what are your site bones? If you have sit bones that are wider, get the B17 or C19. If you have average build but want comfort, get a B17 or C17. For you narrower people, I have nothing but resentment and fomo so you're on your own.Do you get the B17 if you ride a beach cruiser? No - get a wider model. For some riders it will "work" but not because it's the right model but because it's a happy coincidence with body type. The B17 is for people that want a 45 degree to 60 degree riding angle and have the right sit bones to use it. It's not a "sit up on top" seat.From a pure aesthetic perspective the seat is absolutely gorgeous. The leather is top notch and if it breaks in further I will be ecstatic - but it's already quite comfortable for riding and a huge improvement over my 140mm stock seat. Looking forward to many miles.Are there other seats that would provide just as much comfort? Probably. Is this an awesome seat filled with history and eclectic British style? Oh yeah. I never knew these existed until recently. Knew I had to have one. You do, too. Just pick the right one based on site bones, riding style and riding angle.
