Would it be worth it? Brooks question.

[blackhillsbiker]

I love the Brooks B67s, but I'd like to move it back a bit further. I didn't do my homework well enough when I bought it, and I thought the womens was wider than the mens. That not being the case, I'm trying to figure out if it would be worth ordering a B67, and trying to sell the B67s. It is nicely broken in, though, and that took some time. I didn't know about Wall's return policy when I bought this one. It can't be returned whence it came.

Deb

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Deb,
You can't lose much by trying to sell it. The honey colored ones tend to sell extra well.
When I went from a B27s to a 'men's' B17 (non-"s") it was WAY more comfortable because I could slide it about a whole inch further back, thus improving my center of gravity on the bike.

Why don't you order the new non-s from Wallingford, try it out, and if you really like THEN you can sell the other one?

[blackhillsbiker]

Why don't you order the new non-s from Wallingford, try it out, and if you really like THEN you can sell the other one?

I decided to take your advice. Otherwise I would always wonder if a non-s one would work better for me.

Deb

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'd be forever wondering too. Let us know how it turns out! :)

[blackhillsbiker]

I have a l-o-n-g torso. If I scoot back at all to get more comfy during a ride, I'm right on the back frame. It is also noisier with the seatpost just under the nose, and I'm not about to get an unsprung saddle. I like this one too much! The new one is due to arrive on Monday. I'll let you know how it goes. Now that my sit bones have accustomed themselves to the Brooks, breaking in the new one should be a little easier this time around (she tells herself optimistically).

Deb

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Now that my sit bones have accustomed themselves to the Brooks, breaking in the new one should be a little easier this time around (she tells herself optimistically).


It was way easier with my second new Brooks. My sitbones were 'seasoned' :D

[blackhillsbiker]

I'll be sorry to see this one go, but I really think I want that extra rail length. I'm loving the Brooks, though, and haven't had any soft tissue pain at all with this saddle. No more cutouts for this biker!

Deb

[KnottedYet]

It was way easier with my second new Brooks. My sitbones were 'seasoned' :D

Way easier on my 2nd and 3rd Brooks, mainly because I knew exactly how to set the saddle angle right off the bat. Ooooh, love me my B67 and B68 saddles! :p

[blackhillsbiker]

The B67 arrived today. I need to dig out the Proofide and get started. Deja vu.

Deb

[sundial]

Blackhills, let us know how you like it. I have a tendency to want the 'S' saddles.

I've grown accustomed to those sprung saddles too. Why more people don't consider them is beyond me....well, for those who are a performance cyclist I understand.

I never used proofhide to break mine in. I broke it in on my mountain bike where I sit more upright. ;)

[blackhillsbiker]

One ride probably isn't enough to tell, but I think I like the S saddle a little better. I like the way it is completely unnoticeable between my thighs. I also like not getting poked by the nose when I stand up. I'm going to do a few more rides on the standard one, though, just to be sure. The odd thing is that I didn't notice my sit bones at all. Maybe they were what got "broken in" during the first few weeks on my other saddle, and not the saddle at all. They really couldn't tell the difference between the two saddles.

Deb

[blackhillsbiker]

Okay, yesterday I was partial to the S. Tonight I went for a ride with minimalist lining shorts and wind pants. I didn't notice the standard saddle at all. I think it has a little more give than the S. It was so comfortable, I was sorry when it got too dark to ride. I guess I need to give the comparison a little more time. Financially it would be better to keep the S, but...

Deb

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I've grown accustomed to those sprung saddles too. Why more people don't consider them is beyond me....well, for those who are a performance cyclist I understand.

The reason I myself don't consider them is because I am perfectly happy and totally comfortable on my non-sprung versions, even over rough bumpy roads. :p So why would I put on a sprung one instead, which is substantially heavier and may possibly develop squeaks (according to previous threads)? that's just me though.... ;)

[blackhillsbiker]

I think I'll have a gently used, sit bone dented, proofided B-67S in black for sale.

Deb

[Buster]

Deb, I might be interested in your saddle, but I'm trying to figure out whether it will work for me or not. I'm looking for a new saddle for the back of my tandem...my sit bones are fairly narrow (130-132), but it seems like all of the sprung Brooks saddles are really wide. I am a bit more upright on the tandem than I would be on a road bike...I wonder if that makes any difference.

If you (or anyone else) has any insight, I'd be grateful. The idea of a sprung saddle sounds appealing for the tandem, because I don't have a suspension seatpost back there and it gets a bit jarring!

[blackhillsbiker]

Deb, I might be interested in your saddle, but I'm trying to figure out whether it will work for me or not. I'm looking for a new saddle for the back of my tandem...my sit bones are fairly narrow (130-132), but it seems like all of the sprung Brooks saddles are really wide. I am a bit more upright on the tandem than I would be on a road bike...I wonder if that makes any difference.

If you (or anyone else) has any insight, I'd be grateful. The idea of a sprung saddle sounds appealing for the tandem, because I don't have a suspension seatpost back there and it gets a bit jarring!

The width is under your sit bones, and believe me, you don't want to be sitting on the seat frame. I ride a wider saddle on the Brooks than I would otherwise. The nose is very narrow and smooth. It is a T-shape. I'm small-boned, but have no issues with this. The springs take the edge off the bumps, but are very stiff and don't make you feel like you're on a pogo stick. :) The biggest issue is that it will feel hard at first. Then you and it become so accustomed to each other that you don't notice a saddle at all. This has been my experience, others might chime in.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Deb, I might be interested in your saddle, but I'm trying to figure out whether it will work for me or not. I'm looking for a new saddle for the back of my tandem...my sit bones are fairly narrow (130-132), but it seems like all of the sprung Brooks saddles are really wide. I am a bit more upright on the tandem than I would be on a road bike...I wonder if that makes any difference.

If you (or anyone else) has any insight, I'd be grateful. The idea of a sprung saddle sounds appealing for the tandem, because I don't have a suspension seatpost back there and it gets a bit jarring!

Upright posture is especially good for using a Brooks. If you are not overly wide in your sitbones, I'd suggest maybe Brooks' "Champion Flyer"- which is their B17 but with springs. For average sitbone width.

[blackhillsbiker]

The leather on this new Brooks B67 is a fair bit thinner and more pliable than my B67S. I spent quite a bit of time this evening fiddling with its position. For some reason I couldn't get comfortable, even though I wasn't having any sit bone pain at all. I felt off-balance no matter how I positioned the saddle. I finally rode back home and switched back to the 'S.' I could tell the leather was stiffer, but I found my "dimples" in the seat, and felt better balanced. I also liked not feeling the nose at all. Maybe I'm just meant to ride the S.

Deb

[blackhillsbiker]

I finally tracked down the creaking noise! It was driving me crazy so I got a small bottle of light bearing/machine oil with a long extendable tube from the hardware store. This morning I put a drop wherever metal met metal on the underside of the seat (taking care not to get the leather). No more creak! Yeah!

[blackhillsbiker]

The B-67 standard is going back. I'm just too comfortable on the 'S' to switch.

Deb

[Biciclista]

congrats on finding a saddle you love!

[blackhillsbiker]

congrats on finding a saddle you love!

Final post in this thread: I LOVE this saddle. It's almost a zen thing!

Deb

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wonderful! Thanks for the happy update. :p