brooks saddle fit

Hi all,

I had to end my first bike tour early due to saddle sores (or at least the beginning of them). :( The sore spot is the same on both sides and is just to the outside of the forward-most part of my sit bones- in that spot where my butt and legs join. I'm trying to determine if they come from the saddle or the circumstances ...
The circumstances: I increased from 10 miles on this particular bike to 90 miles in 2days. Both days were hot, humid, and I did a lot of sweating. The saddle is new and hasn't been broken in yet, but felt comfortable on my shorter rides.

The saddle: it's a B17. My sit bones are roughly 135mm Ctr to Ctr, so I would think they'd fit the 175mm B17 just fine ... I have a sella italia turbomatic (153mm wide) on my other bike and have never had issues. I'm definitely more upright on my touring bike than my other bike, but my bars are still an inch or 2 below the saddle height.

Is this just a case of too much too quickly, or do you think it's a bad fit?

I remeasured - at home so it might not be the most accurate- and got 130 c to c and 150ish from outside to outside. When I sit on my B17 it seems like my sit bones are just inside the metal plated area. Since my measurements and my turbomatic seem to be telling a different story, maybe I'll try out a B68 and a Swallow ... (horray for good return policies)

Unfortunately I'm long past the exchange period for this saddle.

I would be so sad if that was the case. Are there any other good leather saddles out there?

i got sores in that exact place when my saddle was not in the right place.
moved it 1/2" (sorry i don't remember which direction) and the soreness went away..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

i got sores in that exact place when my saddle was not in the right place.
moved it 1/2" (sorry i don't remember which direction) and the soreness went away..

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I agree, great answer. I'll fiddle with this saddle a little more before I give up on it ... Different position, different shorts, different day might all the change I need.

Did you buy new, untested shorts for this tour? Any chance your shorts art too big and caused friction because they were bunching up? Had you put in those kind of miles on your bike? Does your bike fit properly--was your seat too high? I ask because it sounds like your hips might have been rocking back and forth to cause that type of chafing.

Actually my shorts were old enough so I decided this particular pair needed to be retired. I've never had problems with them before.
This is a pretty new bike, so I haven't put a lot of miles on it yet - those 90 miles were the most by far. I haven't adjusted the fit much since taking it home from the bike shop but, if anything, my seat's a bit too low. I'm sure there are some bike tweaks (as Biciclista mentioned) I should try before going out and buying another saddle.

that is the same area the Gilles Berthoud Aspin bothered me and I decided it was the way the saddle sloped on the sides. The B17 has a more gradual slope the the GB.
I moved to the Rivet Pearl - same width but with a cut out and a gentler slope on the sides and have zero issues.
Did you check your saddle height to make sure you aren't rocking side to side, even a bit of rocking with hot and sweaty is going to cause a rub. Have some who has good knowledge ride behind you and watch your hips.

I had exactly this problem with the B17, in the same spot (the "adductor insertion into the inferior pubic ramus", according to my lady chiropractor, who checked me out when the area was still red and tender).

I don't know my measurements but after some trial and error found that the B68 is perfect on my mixte (upright position) whereas the Swallow is *BLISS* on my Surly Pacer (roadbike).

Good luck!