brooks saddle fit

[water_bugg]

Hi all,

I had to end my first bike tour early due to saddle sores (or at least the beginning of them). The sore spot is the same on both sides and is just to the outside of the forward-most part of my sit bones- in that spot where my butt and legs join. I'm trying to determine if they come from the saddle or the circumstances ...
The circumstances: I increased from 10 miles on this particular bike to 90 miles in 2days. Both days were hot, humid, and I did a lot of sweating. The saddle is new and hasn't been broken in yet, but felt comfortable on my shorter rides.

The saddle: it's a B17. My sit bones are roughly 135mm Ctr to Ctr, so I would think they'd fit the 175mm B17 just fine ... I have a sella italia turbomatic (153mm wide) on my other bike and have never had issues. I'm definitely more upright on my touring bike than my other bike, but my bars are still an inch or 2 below the saddle height.

Is this just a case of too much too quickly, or do you think it's a bad fit?

[water_bugg]

I remeasured - at home so it might not be the most accurate- and got 130 c to c and 150ish from outside to outside. When I sit on my B17 it seems like my sit bones are just inside the metal plated area. Since my measurements and my turbomatic seem to be telling a different story, maybe I'll try out a B68 and a Swallow ... (horray for good return policies)

Unfortunately I'm long past the exchange period for this saddle.

[water_bugg]

I would be so sad if that was the case. Are there any other good leather saddles out there?

[Biciclista]

i got sores in that exact place when my saddle was not in the right place.
moved it 1/2" (sorry i don't remember which direction) and the soreness went away..

[water_bugg]

i got sores in that exact place when my saddle was not in the right place.
moved it 1/2" (sorry i don't remember which direction) and the soreness went away..

I agree, great answer. I'll fiddle with this saddle a little more before I give up on it ... Different position, different shorts, different day might all the change I need.

[tulip]

Did you buy new, untested shorts for this tour? Any chance your shorts art too big and caused friction because they were bunching up? Had you put in those kind of miles on your bike? Does your bike fit properly--was your seat too high? I ask because it sounds like your hips might have been rocking back and forth to cause that type of chafing.