Normally I wouldn’t get excited about a “new” saddle but this is a Brooks saddle AND they’ve finally brought back the anatomically designed model that was in production until WWII. Brooks is calling their new line the Imperial and it comes also in the B17 model. The couple of testing models I’ve seen (in pictures) have chromed steel rails and rivets but have a very nice anatomical cut in the top, similar to the Selle An-Atomica saddle, and have their flaps bound with lacing for added flex control. This saddle promises to be a boon for tourers and specifically to those who have perineal issues (or who don’t want perineal issues in the future).
The good news is that testers have raved about them so far including one tester who suffers from and impingement in their hip and suffers from “extreme sciatic pain.” Sounds promising already but what is even better news is that they are “going into production very soon,” according to Andrea Meneghelli, Marketing Manager for Brooks England on BikeForums.net back on August 28, 2008. What I envision as the ultimate in tour saddles is the B17 Special Titanium with copper rivets and the imperial cut and lace, but in the mean time I may settle for just the B17 regular. I can’t wait!
