Brooks Saddles

[Batbike]

So MANY TE women like Brooks saddles! I must admit, I NEVER looked at them UNTIL I kept reading about how great they are here on TE. I have scanned past posts and made notes of what models people like. I measured my sit bones and compared ... now I am CONFUSED!!

Per website, seems I would use a B17N, Swift, or Finese. I base this on: My sit bones are a just over 5 inches, or 130 - 135 cm. I like a long narrow nose to avoid thigh rub when I pedal. I ride a standard road bike.

So, for all you Brooks-Lovers ... here is my question: Is there anyone out there who is similar to me and what saddle to you like?!!

Thanks, in advance, for your opinions/comments/input!!!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

First, read this thread:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=14348

Then I suggest you CALL the good people at Wallingford- they can really help you decide which Brooks saddle will be just right for you.
http://www.wallbike.com/index.php

[Batbike]

First, read this thread:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=14348

Then I suggest you CALL the good people at Wallingford- they can really help you decide which Brooks saddle will be just right for you.
http://www.wallbike.com/index.php

Lisa -- thanks, I have read the TE thread AND I have visited Wallingford. It is Wallingford that gave me the suggested saddles mentioned ... just hoped there were ACTUAL WOMEN on TE that were riding these saddles ... the more info the better!

[mimitabby]

that would be me. There are also men that like them.

They were designed in the times where MANY people rode bikes all day as their main transportation. Human anatomy hasn't changed in the last 100 years, so we're in luck.
Now the major points in saddle design are focussed on making them lightweight, with comfort being secondary.

Even 100 year old British companies change some, so they have modernized and lightened their saddles without jeapardizing their comfort.

[KnottedYet]

I am no help in the saddle dept, as I have the extra-wide sit bones and ride a B67.

The dimples on my B67 are beatifully within the limits of the steel frame: right out on the leather with a nice margin so I don't sit over the metal frame even when I scootch around.

My 2 cents (bear in mind I'm a wide, so I'm biased): I would get the B17 rather than the B17N, so you do have at *least* 1 cm margin on each side so your sitbones can be cradled by the leather, rather than perching dangerously close to the metal frame.

Ride for a month or so and if you hate it and feel it's just too wide, send it back. If not, ride for another couple months. You have six months with Wallingford, and that's a beautiful thing. You can't lose.

Kitsune06 started off with one of the narrower saddles, but now I think she's on a B17 and likes it better. She also has fairly narrow sitbones. Maybe contact her?

Nose length/width: even my wide-load Brooks has a long and very narrow nose. Very comfortable. (I'm one of the folks who chafes on the wider noses) The "S" saddles ("short" for women) have short noses. Not such a nice thing as far as I'm concerned. If you know you like a longer nose, don't even bother with the "S" or "women's" versions of the various saddles.

[mimitabby]

I concur completely with Knot on all points made forthwith.

[suzieqtwa]

Hi,
I just got a Brooks Saddle a few weeks ago. I must say I was surprised how hard it was. I got the B17 because I'm 5/9 ,and weigh 125 (very skinny butt). Anyway, I'm impressed how smooth the saddle is ,and I don't have the rubbing on my soft tissue as I had with the other stock saddles,but the nose is hard ,and I do feel pressure. I'm still getting used to it ,and my crotch gets sore ,but not raw like it was. I do believe it will work out OK. I've put about 110 miles on it. I have 6 months to get it right....I have it totally level on the bike ,and I get pressure on my soft tissue. I may have to tilt it up just slightly. Good luck

[KnottedYet]

I have it totally level on the bike ,and I get pressure on my soft tissue. I may have to tilt it up just slightly. Good luck

Two things to check:
1. Tilting it up might not do what you want for the soft tissue. Try tilting the nose down, too. Check your back posture. Are you arching your back or rolling your pelvis forward? Are your sitbones landing on the widest part of the saddle or would you get a better platform with the saddle slid forward more? Are your bars too low, forcing you off your sitbones and onto your soft tissues?

2. Is the part of the B17 where your sitbones like to be wide enough? what is your sitbone measurement? (height and weight really have nothing much to do with the width of a woman's pelvic outlet) Is the B17 the right saddle for you?

Try #1 first, and if near the end of your 6 months you're still weightbearing on soft tissue try taking a second look at #2.

Wallingford was great with phone calls and emails as I was adjusting my Brooks. Bill and Diane are so cool!

[suzieqtwa]

My sits bones are about 5 1/2 inches apart. My butt fits quite comfortable on the saddle. Am I supposed to arch my back ,and roll my pelvis forward.
My question? does the soft tissue also have that breaking in period? Will I get used to it in time. Its only on the right side. No breaking of skin or chafing ,just the hard nose putting pressure. I slide a bit forward ,but my wrist dont hurt. Im on a pilot WSD ,so Im a bit more upright . I really want this one to work for me.

[mimitabby]

no, soft tissue does NOT break in, nor do you want it to. When the seat is properly adjusted, the only time you're going to feel your soft tissue unpleasantly is if you go over a big bad bump.

[KnottedYet]

You should NOT arch your back, and you should NOT roll your pelvis forward.

You want a flat back and a neutral pelvis. Play with your postion (just by controlling your posture) on the bike. Flatten your lower belly muscles (transversus abdominus) and see what happens.

Can't find my tape measure, but looks like 5 1/2 inches is about 140mm. Give a minimum 1 cm margin to each sit bone gives us 160 mm. The B17 is 177mm.

Yeah, I'd bet there's something to play with for your posture, or the nose of the saddle is tilted up too high. Or the saddle is too far back on the seatpost. (slide the saddle forward a cm or two, not yourself, and see how that feels)

Mimi, what do you think? 5 1/2 inch sitbones on a B17? Should be fine, right?

[Bikingmomof3]

I have the B17 S and love it. I probably could have gone with the regular B17, but glad I stuck with the B17 S, I like the shorter nose. It did not take long at all to "break" in. I would have gone with the Finese if I could have afforded it, but I it was not in the budget and I do not regret my B17 S at all.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Suzie, didn't you say that you have previously tended to ride with your weight on the nose of your saddle? Is it possible that you are still trying to break this habit?
I would think if you are feeling a need to scoot back in the saddle then it's one of two things: a)the saddle nose is a bit too low, or b)you need to push your saddle BACK 1/4 to 1/2 inch (back as in towards the back of your bike).

I think this saddle is going to be just right for you once you get the fine tuning down. It took me a couple months to get to know the exact optimal position for my saddle. You're a fast, lightweight and long-boned rider who is going to be doing long distances...a good Brooks candidate if I ever saw one!

By the way, my "Spring season sitbone soreness" is totally gone now.

[suzieqtwa]

I just rode 30 miles ,and I actually didn't feel to bad. I love the feel of the saddle. My sits bones don't hurt at all. I pretty much stay in the same spot until I start to hurt ,then I scoot around a bit. Lisa ,I would think if I am scooting back I would move the seat forward...right. I am not riding the nose of the saddle although I want too sometimes, Right now its just about level with a very slight tilt downward. The nose just seems to hit me in a bad spot. At about mile 25 I started to get sore. If I tilt it down I slide forward ,and there is too much pressure on my wrist.

[mimitabby]

Yes, Knot, I think the size is fine. I think it's a postural issue, Suzie.

It's got to be really frustrating for you!