Brooks Saddles

[Quillfred]

Finally took the plunge and ordered a new green Brooks Finesse for my 2005 Trek 1500 WSD today. While black would have been the "sensible" choice, I already have the Team Pro on my Cyclo and just had to try a new color I am looking forward to having more room on a saddle.

I was sorely tempted to go with maroon but that would be too different.

Quill

[KnottedYet]

Rode 39 miles on my B67 today. that critter is definitely breaking in. Didn't even notice my butt the whole ride. Got some nice dimples in the seat now that just fit my sitz bones.

Still having creaking/cracking/snapping/death-throes issues from the frame of the seat. I just keep tightening the adjustment thingy. It doesn't seem to throw the leather off. If it keeps recurring, I'll trade it in for a B72. Could be my riding style, but on the ride today the ride leader said I looked good.

But if I do that I'll have to break it in all over again!

Love Brooks! happy happy joy joy! (even with the sloppy frame)

[xeney]

Also, I put a Bianchi Veloce on layaway a couple of weeks ago and it's that same gorgeous celeste color as yours, Dachshund. Nice to see how the Brooks looks on it--lovely! Wondering how the honey color might look with the celeste, with maybe handlebar tape in a color similar to the saddle.

I am wondering the same thing. I have a celeste Veloce, and right now it has a navy blue Butterfly on it that is perfectly fine. But my neighbor sold me a brand new honey Team Pro for $40, and now I'm thinking I might try it on the Bianchi. (I had planned to put it on an old Allez that I'm having painted.)

Someone asked about the honey color ... I have a honey colored B67 on my commute bike, and it's just kind of darkening in some places. It's a very subtle aging and as long as I don't think, "Ew, that's butt sweat," I like it. It took me about six months to develop the butt dimples, but it was comfortable right out of the box.

[Quillfred]

That's a steal on the Team Pro. I like mine alot except that it is a little less wide than my preference.

The Finesse I ordered is essentially a women's Team Pro with a ti rail. I thought the green would look alot better than the other options except black.

The honey or even maroon would look great with celeste IMHO. Matching leather wraps would be rather sporting--but not here in soggy Seattle.

[khgulledge]

OK - I posted somewhere else (maybe the meaurement post) about some issues I was having with my stock saddle.

I have a Trek Pilot 5.0wsd and have been having problems with pressure and some pain on/in the soft tissue of the crotch area. I bought a Terry Butterfly and this weekend, rode it 53 miles. I really don't know if the seat is set up correctly; I need to check the KOPS to make sure it's correct fore/aft and also check seat height. But, that still may not help.

I found that while riding, I don't feel as if I'm actually sitting on my sit bones. If you are sitting correctly, you should not feel any pressure anywhere else, right? So, if the Butterfly is postioned correctly on the bike, am I not sitting correctly? How do you figure out this? Gosh, I just want a saddle that feels good so I can do longer rides.

I've got either a metric or english century coming up this Saturday and I would really like to ride without pressure/discomfort on girly parts!

I did measure and I think my sit bones are 5-5.25", which is around 130mm. That's kind of narrow isn't it? From the Brooks web site, it seems that the narrowest seats are in the 152mm range (6"). Wouldn't this be too wide?

I'm just so confused on this sitting issue....

Karen.

[KnottedYet]

The saddle you choose needs to be WIDER than your sit bone measurement. In an ideal world, your sit bones would each land in the center of the "cheek" of each side of the saddle.

If you call Wallingford Bicycle Parts 1-888-731-3537 Bill or Diane will answer the phone (unless they are crazy busy)

Tell them what your measurements are, what bike you ride, and how you feel on your current saddle. They will be able to steer you toward a couple Brooks saddles that might work for you.

They are full of knowlege, and don't be afraid to "girl talk" with Bill. He is VERY cool, and understands women's saddle issues. He also won't mind a bit if you ask that Diane call you to discuss girl issues.

They are both great. Call them.

(and no, you shouldn't be weightbearing on anything but your sit bones. Is your seat to high or your handlebars too low, or your posture goofy? Or is it the saddle?)

[Kitsune06]

Just confirming what Knotted said. My sitbones are 155-160ish and I'm going for the B17S, just because it's closer to 170 and should be more accomodating to my wider base. What was hard for me was learning that though I have a skinny butt, my bone measurements could be a little wider than expected- AND that I was sitting on my seat ALL WRONG. I had all my pressure on that little bridge inside one's thighs and very little on my actual sitbones. No wonder I was getting chafing issues, etc...

So... I hear ya. =) I'm sure the more seasoned Brooks pros will be able to confirm/deny my assumptions.

Also... I'm getting my 1st brooks this weekend!!! YEE!

[khgulledge]

Thanks...I'm still not sure whether I'm actually sitting correctly on the saddle. I did the paper towel measurement last night and my bones are narrower! I put the paper towel on the carpet, sat on it and wiggled just a little to make sure I made an impression - then measured and got 4.5"! That's close to 115mm! Can this be wrong??

Anyway, I adjusted the Butterfly so that it's ever so slightly tilted UP and went for a test ride. I also, tried to hold my abs in a little more and concentrated on making sure I sat more on the bones (I think). Riding like that, I didn't have much discomfort in the girly parts area, but I don't think I could ride for a long time like that (abs held in). Could be that my posture on the bike is not correct...

Guess I will try the Butterfly out at Bikefest and go from there.

How do you get your SO/husband to understand the issues you have and that you may need to try SEVERAL saddles before you find the one that's right??

Karen.