Brooks saddle as diagnostic tool
My new Brooks was making this gawdawful creak yesterday every time my left foot was on the way down and my right foot was on the way up. I shifted around trying to make it stop and just couldn't.
When I got home I bounced around on the seat, and couldn't make it creak. I ran over bumps, no creak. I TWISTED the back end (left down, right up) with my hands and got the creak. Played around, and it turns out I was shifting my bod to the left and pooching out my abs and just generally being a sack of potatoes when my left foot was on the downstroke.
Who knew?
Today I concentrated on holding in my abs ALL the time (instead of just half the time) and keeping my posture steady. Much better. I still get the creak when I'm struggling up the steeper hills, but I'm such a wuss that I have to throw my weight around just to make it, even in my monster granny gear. Hopefully I will get my posture and pedalling more efficient on the hills someday. Meanwhile, you can hear me coming from a mile away!:D
