How long did it take you to break in your Brooks?

[ibcycling]

Boy am I kicking myself.

Last week I swung by Goodwill to pick up a light wind/rain jacket and there was this pretty green Western Flyer bike out front. It called to me but I didn't listen. I did look at it and it had a very cool saddle (that I now realize was a Brooks!) and was in good shape. I didn't buy it but thought about it all day. When I went back it was, of course, gone. Now that I've read this thread I realize the very cool leather saddle was a Brooks and the cool green bike with fenders would have been a steal at Goodwill prices. Darn it! I hope it got a good home!

Lora

[KnottedYet]

The moral of this story, and one we should all take to heart:

Always listen when a bike calls out to you.

[ibcycling]

I know. I'm so sad. It was shiny and green with fenders and a very cool brown saddle. I may swing back by today just in case it got returned. *sigh*

Lora

[Triskeliongirl]

How long to break in a brooks? For me, I found my brooks saddle to be more comfortable out of the box than my previous terry butterfly. They did get better over time, but some of that I think was learning to adjust them. I like the noses level. I also learned that since one doesn't sink into a brooks like a cushy saddle, sometimes the saddle height has to be a tad lower than on a gel saddle. That too was key for me. It wasn't until I got the saddle height right, that sit bone marks started to form. I have two brooks finesse saddle on two bikes. On my racing bike, the bars are lower than the saddle and my position is more aero, while on my touring bike the bars are level with the saddle and my position is a bit longer. What I noticed, is that once I got to used to a brooks I could never go back. Anytime I tried a lighter saddle, I couldn't believe how much it hurt. There is nothing like leather custom molded to your body, but you do need to find the right saddle for your anatomy first, and then get it adjusted correctly. I think in time even the nose softens where your pubic bone makes contact, similar to how your sitbones form indentations in the back. I don't think cut outs are necessary, or even desirable, if your weight is being supported by your sit bones as it should be, rather than by your soft tissues. The cut-out on my terry buttefly rubbed me raw, and caused me to bleed, I think now because the saddle wasn't wide enough to support my sit bones so all my weight was being supported by my soft tissues resting on the cut out.

[wannaduacentury]

Tiptoes in to the edge of the thread where IFJAne was...

I have never ridden a Brooks and this question comes from a completely ignorant (- as in complete lack of knowledge about -) perspective on Brooks saddles...

I hear you all say they are comfortable and that I cannot dispute (and would not consider disputing)
I just wonder why you choose a Brooks when there has been so much research gone into designing saddles for the various pelvic types?

Do Brooks even have a cut-out, or a moulded/indented groove? (My ignorance extends to the fact that I have never seen a "real-life" Brooks, just pics here on TE)

The way I chose my saddle was by looking for the words "women's specific" in a style that I had seen women roadsters (like Sarah Ulmer and Onone Wood) ride...

Tip toes out again, hoping I haven't nudged anyones "offended triggers"....

"Jennifer inserting large toe"- I saw a brooks on some kids college bike appx one month ago. It was a honey color- don't know which model and on an older bike(early 80's) and it was locked to a post. Nice saddle and it was sturdy and hard. I was just surprised that someone would leave it on their bike in the open. Don't they know people like those saddles? I would never take it of course, but I did go over and touch it. "Ok-- retrieving large toe and leaving now" Jenn

[elk]

The proofide is not runny...it's a waxy preservative, so you can just dip your fingers in it and rub it on under the saddle. No need to take it off.

There is another one that the guys at Rivendell recommend and sell...
http://www.rivbike.com/products/list...product=31-344

called obenauf's.

I cheated and rubbed Lexol on top before the proofide...Lexol is a preservative that softens leather. It may have made a tiny difference....but the leather itself isn't hard....I think....but the forming of it stiffens it. if that makes any sense....

it's hard on the bum...but I love that it's NOT hard where it really counts...I'd way rather have a sore booty than a sore pooty....
and actually, I rode my Specialized while waiting for my new Brooks...it has a cut out and some padding (it's a saddle I like) and it hurt my butt even more than the B67...go figure!

[elk]

I know. I'm so sad. It was shiny and green with fenders and a very cool brown saddle. I may swing back by today just in case it got returned. *sigh*

Lora

just to add to Knot's lesson...I say that if it really was your bike; you would already have it... We don't often let the important ones get away......and if it IS your bike...it will be there today.