My Brooks Arrived!

I got my new B67 just in time for the weekend! I love the look and feel of it.

I went on my first ride with it yesterday, and am still playing with the adjusting. I really get now what everyone is saying about the short rails. I've got it back as far as I can, but it feels like I still want it back more. The tilt game is still in play too... up too high and my girl bits take a beating; down too low and it feels like my butt is sliding forward to rest in the nose.

But for the first time, when I took my butt off the seat after a 30 min ride, I did not have the rush of pain that comes with recirculation to the butt!

FYI: I ride a Kona Dew hybrid, with BMX handlebars that are a little higher and curved to fit my wrists. It makes me sit a bit more upright than the original handlebars.

ow! rush of pain? yikes. Is it a B67s or a regular B67?

Congratulations! It is definitely a day to celebrate.

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

ow! rush of pain? yikes. Is it a B67s or a regular B67?

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Just to clarify, the "rush of pain" was with my Specialized gel seat, NOT my new B67 (no S). I'm assuming it was from the blood rushing back to all the tissue that was compressed.

I'm glad I didn't' get the S, because it's already shorter than my Specialized, and feels right.

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Originally Posted by jezbael

But for the first time, when I took my butt off the seat after a 30 min ride, I did not have the rush of pain that comes with recirculation to the butt!

FYI: I ride a Kona Dew hybrid, with BMX handlebars that are a little higher and curved to fit my wrists. It makes me sit a bit more upright than the original handlebars.

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Congrats on your Brooks! :) Breaking in your saddle will keep you motivated to ride. And it is very nice to not have that phantom pain off the bike.

Since you ride more upright on your Kona, you may want to consider a seatpost with a longer setback.

I understood it was the old saddle that gave you pain. I can't imagine riding on a saddle like that for more than 10 minutes!!

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Originally Posted by Biciclista

I understood it was the old saddle that gave you pain. I can't imagine riding on a saddle like that for more than 10 minutes!!

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I know better now, but I just assumed that somehow I was the problem... too out of shape, not conditioned enough, not sitting properly, etc. etc.

I was reading about setback seatposts too. I'll have to look into that a bit more.

Brooks with setback seatpost.

Ok... I'm having a little bit of trouble. My butt is doing great, and my sitbones are getting conditioned. The trouble I'm having is the nose is causing some friction on my girl bits. Not bumping or bruising, but just enough rubbing that after about 20 min. I'm getting grouchy. Today I took to squishing my bits to one side of the nose so that it wouldn't be smack dab in the middle :o

I have the seat back as far as it will go, with the nose tilted down as much as it will go (not very far, for either case).

Any suggestions?

Today I noticed that when I wear plain ol' jeans, my girl bits feel more protected. My cycle shorts just have a thin chamois. I wonder if there are shorts out there that offer better protection without adding bulk?

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Originally Posted by jezbael

Today I noticed that when I wear plain ol' jeans, my girl bits feel more protected. My cycle shorts just have a thin chamois. I wonder if there are shorts out there that offer better protection without adding bulk?

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What kind of shorts are you using? So far I am a PI gal and there seems to be plenty of protection without too much bulk. I do notice a little more bulk with my PI baggy shorts than I do the regular shorts.

Jez, are you using a lube of some sort? I find my girly bits get uncomfortable unless I use soemthing. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, either. I just use some hypo-allergenic plain unscented hand lotion. Lasts for several hours and washes out well because it's water based, not greasy. Try doing that, I bet it will help a lot.

Once you go Brooks, you don't go back. :cool:

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Originally Posted by wackyjacky1

Once you go Brooks, you don't go back. :cool:

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Not true! I ditched Brooks after riding them for 7 years. Turns out they were actually too wide for me.

Veronica

I ditched the Brooks, too. In fact, I hated it. My azz hurt all of the time, even after months. I am happily riding a Terry Falcon X on all 3 of my bikes.

Oh, fine, ruin my newly-minted catchy phrase. :p

I use lube on my sit spots, but hadn't thought to use it more in front. I'll give that a try, thanks for the suggestion.

The shorts I'm using are just the house brand from Mountain Equipment Coop. They're really the first pair of shorts I've ever bought, and I'm now in the market to upgrade. Just not sure what to upgrade to!

I'll give PI's a look!

I ride in no bike shorts with my Brooks. I think having a micro-adjust seat post is crucial with these so you can adjust the angle properly - so it doesn't jab you in the vadge - and you don't slide off like I did on my first ride when I came to a stop. :D Once I tweaked and fiddled with it - it seems great! If it is comfortable now, I can't wait until it's actually broken in.

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Originally Posted by moderncyclista

I ride in no bike shorts with my Brooks.

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woo hoo! naked cycling!

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Originally Posted by Zen

woo hoo! naked cycling!

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:eek::D;)

Lmao Zen! How much did I love reading this? So much x infinity. I laughed out loud. I didn't word that well, I guess. I wear pants/shorts of some type just not padded or cycling specific. I wear tops too, just to be specific. :o

What I was trying to say is the Brooks should be comfortable enough to ride without padded shorts.

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Originally Posted by Zen

woo hoo! naked cycling!

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You're so silly!

Zen doesn't wear underwear, and she predictably jumps on any opportunity...


...to remind us of the fact. lol!

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Originally Posted by Zen

woo hoo! naked cycling!

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Does this mean you need more Proofide or less?

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Originally Posted by moderncyclista

:eek::D;)

What I was trying to say is the Brooks should be comfortable enough to ride without padded shorts.

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I'm finding that riding in regular pants is actually more comfortable than cycling shorts. I can't say how they would feel on a long ride though, and whether the seams would bind or chafe. I once got some pretty painful chafing from binding underwear, so I'm a little reluctant to try it.