Brooks saddles.....

Anybody have experience of them?

 

I've just fitted a B17 to my PCS and I'm going through the 'break in' process! I've only done 11 miles so far and strangely it feels sort of right in a painful way from the outset!

 

Found I've had to raise the nose up where on my normal Speacialised saddle it's nose down. The lack of springing is not really noticeable and I'm stil fine tuning the position...main issue so far is the thing is so dam slippery that I am sliding about all over the place and struggling to stay in a comfortable position.

 

Any advise appreciated!

I use a 1950 Brooks B66 on my Rudge-Wentworth when I got the bike last year the saddle was dry, all i did was rub in a small amount of clear grease to bring back the shine and make it supple.

The nose is set high, I sit on the rear half like you would do with a house saddle There is a sweet spot you just need to find it, to low and your slidding up the saddles nose, to high and your slipping off the back.

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Find the sweet spot and its one of the most comfortable saddle you will use.

Thanks Andy, I'll persevere with it....just like a pair of new leather shoes that tae time to wear in.

Had one 10 years and still ''breaking it in'' Saddle has won out on my Kalkhoff it's not going on that, over-hyped in my opinion.

I have Brooks' saddles fitted to all my bikes. Once they have worn in, they are extremely comfortable. Dress the saddle with Proofide and try to keep it dry.

I'm with Biged on this. I've had a B17 in the past and eventually it got quite comfortable (slightly nose-down, in my case). It's a lot of trouble though, and a modern anatomic saddle can be just as comfortable from new. I suspect they made more sense in the fifties when the alternative was those nasty vinyl saddles with coil springs and what seemed to be horsehair padding.

 

If you're taking it seriously you'll need to dose it with Proofide and adjust the front nut periodically using the Brooks spanner - nothing else will fit.

Proofide was applied as per the instructions and from various Internet threads

 

Did another 10 miles tonight and it's starting to form the required shape. LOL!

 

Yes, they could be overhyped but I wanted to try one as the Speacialised ones I normally use are ok for about 20~25miles before they become really unbearable in a number of ways

 

I have the spanner and will tweak as necessary, I'll know in a few hundred miles or so if the hype is justified.

Specialized Expedition

 

My experience with Brooks saddles links in with wharfitude and Biged's postings. I had a Brooks B33 on my Pro-Connect and rapidly replaced it with a Specialized Expedition saddle. A quarter of the cost and a hundred times more comfortable, plus no more excrutiating back pains.

Well Ive moved from the specialised to the Brooks, no back ache, some discomfort still on the 'sit bones' but a vast improvement in 'breathing' in that sensitive area.... 50 miles down still a few more todo

Brooks saddles

 

Brooks saddles takes me back a few years...

 

my wife and I had them fitted to our Mercian touring bikes, as there were't may alternatives (in those days)..

we bedded them in by applying Neatsfoot oil (from saddlery shops...online?), but from the underneath to soak upwards, and using a plastic bag to sit on, to stop the 'oily-crutch' look...

 

they lasted brilliantly, and even had new copper rivets placed, when the leather started to tear....

I would still be riding this saddle if some toe rag hadn't nicked the bike, complete with Kryptonit D lock, by yanking the hasp out of the wall

 

all the best with this........Barry C.

Like all the different types of bike around, so it follows for saddles, its a horses for courses.

It would be nice if the LBS could let you try before you buy.

 

For the heavier, wider bodied rider I can recommend the B67.

Complete with the suspension springs its like sitting in my armchair at home.....I love it.

I chose the aged version which is based on a softer leather and does not need breaking in so much.

I'm back after a 4 week cycle tour of Morocco and guess what, I bought a Brooks B17 saddle about 3 weeks before I went and did about 800 miles on it in total so feel I can add to this thread.

I have always used normal gel type saddles (Specialized bg and a flight titanium, ouch) but for my expedition I decided to see if all the hype was true and got the B17. Previous saddles were OK for about 20 miles but always a bit uncomfortable if used every day or long rides. The Brooks felt surprisingly comfortable from the beginning and after doing 40+ miles per day it did start to give my sit bones some bruising but after about 300 miles it began to feel more and more comfy and even without the padded shorts.

Now, 7 weeks later I'm impressed with it and suggest you need over 300 miles to get it feeling right and I think it was worth the effort.

Thanks piotrmacheta, 300 miles! Ouch! I'll keep going

I have a Brookes Flyer and for a about a year it has been a PITA...literally.

 

I have perservered because it really is a work of art and design.

 

To begin with I could have hammered nails in with it as it was that hard. It was also like riding on an ice block. I have it dead level and it is now beginning to realise who is boss.

 

Another year and we will be best friends.

 

A Brookes is like a wife. Once you have got used to living with each other you cannot live without each other.............or is that Stockholm syndrome (Google it)

 

Steve

I have been offered a Brooks B17 and wondered how you got on with it in the end NRG ?

 

Regards

 

Jerry

I swapped back to my specialised saddle Jerry. I covered over 500 miles with the B17 but in the end could not get on with it. I kept sliding about on it and found the 'nose' adjustment very sensitive to ones personal comfort...if you know what I mean! The constant adjustment of your backside when riding got on my nerves and it was a relief to re-fit the Specialised.....

Damn not what I wanted to hear. People relate these saddles to marmite i.e. you either love them or hate them.

 

I would have thought after 500 miles it would have worn in nicely.

 

Did you sell it ?

 

Regards

 

Jerry

I still have it, not sure if I should try again or just sell it..

I stuck mine on my exercise bike, i use this 2-3 times a week in the winter months just to keep bike ready.

I thought it might 'break in' the saddle a bit.

Brooks still winning

These comments aren't encouraging me

 

Regards

 

Jerry

I was bought one as a present to fit to my Tasman. Actually, the standard Tasman saddle is more comfortable, less slippy, too. I tried it on my Brompton but since that has one of the best saddles I've ever used as standard, it was unlikely to better that.

 

I know many people love them but that doesn't mean they are 'better' as such. There is an element of 'emperor's new clothes' to it, I think but the bottom line is, if you think it is more comfortable, then it is.

I'm sitting here being smug. I used to spend a lot of time trying different saddles. I often do betwen 50 and 100 miles in a day, so comfort is important for me. Some were definitely better than others, but all were painful in the end.

 

Since I got a bike with air suspension front and rear, I no longer worry about which saddle is best because I don't get that pummelling of the bum that does all the damage. The worst problem I get now is when my underpants pinch my tackle. If only I could find the right underpants!

If only I could find the right underpants!

 

Funny.

 

I think I will ride my Brompton with the stock saddle for a bit. I must admit after 3000 miles I guess if I don't get pain that often its pretty good.

 

Thinking about it there have only been about a dozen times when I have thought that's a little uncomfortable and had to shift my ass.

 

I suspect that trying the B17 would envolve a few months of uncomfort for sure

 

Regards

 

Jerry

Only part of the running in process is due to any saddle, much of it is due to the brain. Repetitive nerve stimuli which are not indicative of lasting permanent damage result in the brain reducing and finally "switching off" the normal pain response after a while, desensitising the offending area.

 

So a saddle which is not causing lasting physiological damage will be accommodated over time, one which is likely to cause harm will not be accommodated.

 

Similar phenomena is observable with a noisy or smelly environment, people get used to them and aren't aware after a while.

One of the other forums pointed me in the direction of Sheldon Brown's advice

 

Leather Saddles

 

Basically a neats-foot oil bath. Other suggest submerging in water for a while then going out for a long ride. There is certainly a lot of mixed advice out there for minimising the pain period

 

Regards

 

Jerry