Does a wider saddle equal a better ride on a touring bicycle?

Before touring around Lake Superior I upsized my saddle from the Brook's B17 and Brook's B17 Champion Flyer's I've used on previous tours to a Brook's B67 saddle. This saddle is approimately 29% wider then the Brook's B17 saddles.

I chose this saddle because I tend to like looking around when bicycle touring. I enjoy seing the scenery so my bike position tends to be very upright. As a result I have found that the narrower Brook's B17 saddles became a bit painful unless I carefully managed my seat position.

With the Brook's B67 I could safely sit completely upright and not worry about my seating position as much. This led me to a much more comfortable ride and the absence of the need for Bag Balm or other similar items. One thing to pay attention to when trying a wider saddle is to make sure that you aren't experiencing rubbing at the insides of your thighs. This wasn't a problem with this saddle for me due to the way that it is shaped in this area.

For me using seating position as a major criteria made a difference when it came to having a comfortable tour. My suggestion to you is to consider a wider then usual saddle for upright positions and a more traditional saddle if you expect to be riding in the drops on a persistent basis.

The biggest relief for me was the release from butt pain during a bicycle tour. If you enjoy taking in the scenery from an upright seating position then I encourage you to consider a wider saddle like the Brook's B67.

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