Brooks Saddle Questions!

[Juliegoddess]

Hey Ladies!

My Brooks Flyer S saddle has been the most wonderful, comfy saddle I've ever had. However, it has also become the NOISIEST, Squeakiest thing, too! I was creaking, squeaking and groaning down the road with every pedal stroke.

I took my bike into the shop to see what they might be able to do about it. I was afraid to tighten the nut to tighten up the leather, but they showed me how to do that. They lubed the heck out of "everything" (they said), but it made all the same noises it ever did when I took it home.

All this noise was really starting to affect my ride to the point where I would actually stop pedaling for a bit, just to get some peace from the noise! It was downright embarrassing riding past anyone, too.

I finally took matters into my own hands this morning. I followed instructions I found for inserting a piece of rubber between the metal canticle and the place where the leather rubbed it. This helped SOME of the problem. But the metal-on-metal squeaking and creaking wasn't stopping. So, I got out my little bottle of white oil I use for my sewing machine and I OILED everything! My only concern, though, is that some of the oil seeped onto the leather around a couple of the rivets:


Should I worry a lot or a little???

[KnottedYet]

Don't worry about the oil on the leather.

Did you get oil into the half-ball and socket joint at the very tip of the nose shackle? That's a prime spot for saddle noise, as the ball and socket is where all the flex happens. Seriously, it is the absolute tip of the shackle mechanism. Looks kind of like an eyeball if you stare nose-to-nose with it. Oil the ring of the "iris" of the "eyeball." Then get the back side where the rim of the cup of the socket can be seen.

Needs thin light oil, and I oiled from the front and from the back (where the cup is).

No more noises from any of my three Brooks saddles!

[sundial]

Julie, hope your saddle is now squeak free.

I remember one summer when I was riding on a gravel road happily pedaling along but my Brooks sprung saddle creaked with each pedal stroke. I was coming upon a group of farmers who were standing in a field with a central figure addressing the crowd with a microphone. He stopped, turned to look at me and one by one the other farmers turned and watched me as I peddled out of sight.

[Ritamarie]

So, it seems people love these saddles with a passion. Do they come in Men's and women's models?

[TrekTheKaty]

I love my brooks. Instant comfort and amazingly "absent" on long rides. Do some research in the equipment forum, but i just researched this again when i ordered my second Brooks. Don't order the women's. The brooks are famous for having short seat rails and the woman's is shorter and wider--making it even more difficult to adjust (and not necessary, by the way). I noticed they changed their website to say "S" for short, instead of women's--although they still have a woman's link.

PS, my DH hangs out on "another" bike forum. Someone posted that they weren't happy with their new Brooks. Another poster dared him to post that on the touring forum! They definitely have their following, but like all saddles, they're not for everyone.

[Biciclista]

If he/she doesn't like their Brooks, they can sell it. I never have spares because other people want them!

[Juliegoddess]

Well, my Brooks is beautiful again. NO squeaks, and the oil spot just disappeared on it's own. I'm delighted!

Now...my next question:

While riding up north in this heat wave we've been having here in the midwest, I stopped off by Lake Huron and just, well...JUMPED IN! I was SO hot. And it felt SO good!

But, I was worried about my Brooks with my wet butt on it for the five miles I still had yet to ride to get back to the cottage. This made me realize and take note of what my Brooks looks like when i'm done riding it any other day. It's usually saturated with a good dose of sweat!

It appears that the saddle dried out fine, with some water-staining, and a little bit of a weird, stiffer, almost dried-out feel to the leather on the part that got really wet. Should I apply some more proofhide on the saddle after it dries out from getting wet? And is all this sweating/drying out on the saddle going to ruin it?

~The Sweat Goddess

[Biciclista]

proofhide probably wouldn't hurt.
I can't imagine you were wet enough to hurt the saddle. my husband destroyed a saddle by riding ALL NIGHT and then all day in the rain. I'll bet you weren't on there quite that long.

[KnottedYet]

But, I was worried about my Brooks with my wet butt on it for the five miles I still had yet to ride to get back to the cottage. This made me realize and take note of what my Brooks looks like when i'm done riding it any other day. It's usually saturated with a good dose of sweat!

Didn't hurt mine doing a tri with a wet post-swim butt, nor training for the tri. Sweat just helps break in the saddle... A little more proofhide, and all is well.