Another Brooks saddle question(s)

[nscrbug]

My new Brooks Team Pro arrived yesterday. As soon as I got it out of the box, I applied a coating of Proofide, as instructed. DH installed it on my bike last night and this morning we went out for an easy-paced 36 mile ride. It wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Sure, it was definitely a much firmer feeling ride and I'm sure I will need to tweak the position a bit more. We did have to lower the seat post a tad, since the Brooks is substantially thicker than my previous saddle (Selle Italia SLK Lady Gel Flow). But overall, my butt wasn't as sore as I thought it would be, after reading the countless "horror" stories about how Brooks' saddles are so rigid and require extensive break-in time.

My first question is - I had a hard time distinguishing where I was actually sitting on the saddle. I understand that there is the metal frame at the rear, but I really couldn't tell if my butt was placed properly on it or not...since the saddle IS quite hard and doesn't give much at all right out of the box. At what point will I begin to notice a difference as to the "sweet spot" of the saddle versus the metal framing?

Second question - the owner's pamphlet that came with the saddle isn't very detailed in explaining how to adjust the tensioning bolt. Is it the standard "lefty loosey, righty tighty"? When I flip it over and look at it...I'm just confused. If I wanted to "loosen" up the tension, would I turn the wrench to the left (as I'm holding the saddle in my hand, flipped to the underside, with the nose closest to my body)?

Thanks for any help you can offer to this Brooks newbie!

Linda

[Desert Tortoise]

First question: I had the same problem and by loosening the bolt 1/4 turn as the instructions said, I immediately felt the diffrence in that sweet spot. I also quickly felt the difference when I was sitting on the metal plate.

Second question: My husband helped me out with that one. However you look at the saddle, top side/underside, think of how you would screw on the bolt. For example, I held the saddle in my hands, upside down so I looked at the rails and plates, with the nose towards my right hand and the seat portion towards my left hand.

I looked at the bolt and (ok, this next part sounds stupid but this is my level of mechanics) and thought, if I had to screw on this bolt, which direction would it go? I would turn the bolt away from me. So to loosen, I turn towards me.

And that's how I did it on mine. Sorry if sounds simplistic or worse yet, offensively stupid, but my brain does not work beyond this level. I mean, I was the person who thought putting on/off pedals was terribly complicated.

Hope this helps and if not, maybe someone else can give a better explanation.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Hi Linda,
the tensioning bolt is usually for when your saddle has been ridden for a year or more and you feel it needs to be tightened up to where it was when new. You shouldn't have to adjust it when new- it's already adjusted correctly at the factory. In fact, lots of people NEVER adjust it. Brooks leather is thick and hard, and changes very slowly to form to your own unique butt shape.

Great that you felt pretty good after your frst ride. But don't be surprised if you do have some very real sitbone soreness the next day, or the next time you get on your saddle. Usually takes a few rides for your sitbones to get used to the harder seat. I was in agony my second ride on a Brooks. My husband assured me the soreness would go away in a few more rides, and it did. Very comfy ever since for me.

[Desert Tortoise]

Ok, I talked to my husband about this and reminded him about what he told me. His reply, "I said that?" Let's just say it wasn't the first time.

Anyway, after we talked about it we realized it shouldn't matter which way the saddle faces. Kind of like the pedal removal. Doesn't matter if the bike is rightside up or upside down, the direction is the same.

BleeckerSt Girl is right about tightening up after the saddle has loosened. Bill at Wallbikes did tell me to loosen a 1/4 turn if too hard initially. And if things get better, tighten it after awhile. It's all very personal and do what works for you. I find every once in a while tweaking something and other things leaving alone for more than a year.

Sorry if there was any confusion

[nscrbug]

So I've been riding my Brooks Team Pro for 2 weeks and have put on 475 miles, so far...and unfortunately, I've not been a happy camper for the last 475 miles. I really wanted this saddle to work for me, but after riding 88 of THE most excruciatingly painful miles yesterday, I have decided to send it back to WallBike for a refund. My girl parts have never been so torn up in all my life! It literally hurt to pee, after I got home from that ride. My labia and clit (sorry for the TMI) were SO inflamed and swollen, I could not even wear underwear for the rest of the day.

I had my DH remove the Brooks last night, and replace it with an old Bontrager WSD saddle that came stock on my 2007 Trek 2100 WSD. NOT the most ideal situation, I'll admit...but the 57 mile ride we did today was like NIGHT & DAY! Granted...that Bontrager saddle is super-cushy and wide (2 qualities I do NOT like), but it has a large cut-out...which made ALL the difference. At least I now know with absolute certainty...that I definitely NEED a saddle with a cut-out. I felt ZERO pressure on my girl parts for the entire 57 miles today...which considering the amount of pain and inflammation I had after yesterday's ride...comes as a total shock to me!

So, now the hunt is on to find me a saddle with a generous cut-out. I am currently awaiting the arrival of a Specialized Phenom 143mm that I won on eBay...and if that one doesn't work out, then next in line is the Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow.

Linda

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Wow, just goes to show how different we all are. Not only in our body shapes, but our bike designs as well. It puzzles me why there was so much weight on your front most parts and not back on your sit bones instead, though.

Sorry the Brooks didn't work well for you Linda. I'd say you gave it a really good try!

[Catrin]

So I've been riding my Brooks Team Pro for 2 weeks and have put on 475 miles, so far...and unfortunately, I've not been a happy camper for the last 475 miles. I really wanted this saddle to work for me, but after riding 88 of THE most excruciatingly painful miles yesterday, I have decided to send it back to WallBike for a refund. My girl parts have never been so torn up in all my life! It literally hurt to pee, after I got home from that ride. My labia and clit (sorry for the TMI) were SO inflamed and swollen, I could not even wear underwear for the rest of the day. ......

So, now the hunt is on to find me a saddle with a generous cut-out. I am currently awaiting the arrival of a Specialized Phenom 143mm that I won on eBay...and if that one doesn't work out, then next in line is the Selle Italia SLR Lady Gel Flow.

Linda

Good luck with your search. While I could not put on more than 30 miles on MY Brooks 17S at a time, I had exactly the same kind of problem that you had. I can only imagine what it must have been like to put >80 miles on that saddle with those problems I could hardly walk after 30! I hope the Specialized works for you, if not, good luck with the SI.. I do recommend the SI Diva Gel Flow - it is probably wide for you though if the Specialized is a 143mm saddle...

Oddly enough the Brooks was fine as long as I didn't ride more than 20 miles at a time...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I think that sometimes the Brooks does not work so well on bikes that put you in an aggressive low racing position....though I don't know if that applies to your case. Brooks are really meant to put your weight on your sitbones, and that means you are not leaning forward down onto your pubic bones.

[Eden]

No - there are people who like a Brooks on their race bikes. Even in a more aggressive position you should still be bearing your weight on your sit bones, certainly not on your pubic bone, and at least for me, sitting more upright moves the bulkiest part of my soft tissues closer to the saddle rather than further away and would be more painful on a solid saddle than a more dropped position.

It has more to do with your anatomy whether or not you like a solid saddle or a cut out saddle. My mom had a saddle that was basically a little thin piece of leather over a *solid* metal frame that she loved.... Some of us just have less compact soft tissues than others. I can have a perfectly fine saddle for sit bone support, but my sit bones alone are not tall enough to protect all of my softer bits, so if it does not have a cutout I'll get nasty soft tissue compression, rubbing, numbness, sores the whole deal. It is not at all pleasant and I would never be happy on a solid saddle for any extended period of time.