Brooks Saddles

[melissam]

In fact, I love it so much that I finally decided that I needed a Brooks saddle for my mountain bike, which I use for riding on a very flat, non-technical trail after work.

I tried the B17S on my mountain bike, and after I got it positioned correctly, except...it's pretty wide. If I ever do any more technical trails, I'm not sure I could get behind the B17S.

I called Wallbike, and talked to Diana. I ordered the B17 (standard, guys model.) Since my seat bones aren't that far apart, we figured I could use the B17. The longer nose could be an advantage as well for mountain biking. I got the B17 yesterday, and applied the proofhide.

Today was the maiden voyage. I think it's a keeper! I can tell it's not as broken in as the B17S, but time will take of that. It's more slippery than I ever remember the B17S being, but time should take care of that too. The longer nose didn't bother me, but I'm still not sure if I could get behind the seat for those tricky descents.

Good luck with the break-in period, Kitsune! According to the Brooks pamphlet, some people back off the tension 1/2 turn during the initial break in period. I wonder if that would help with the pierce?

-- Melissa

[Kitsune06]

I don't have the 'accessory' kit with my saddle (knowing my propensity to fidget with things and my light weight, I decided against actually getting the tensioning tool) but I'm not sure that backing down the tension would help much as it's all in the 'soft' tissue. I'll see how things work out tomorrow...
Thanks for the idea, though... I'll ruminate on it. =D

[mimitabby]

Hey Kitsune,
don't worry about the tensioner yet you need to break in the saddle first.
I've never touched that adjustment and i'm on my 3rd brooks (for 3 bikes!)
have fun

[KnottedYet]

I've tensioned my B67 8 or 9 times already. Diane at Wallbike said that was the only way to get it to stop creaking and groaning and snapping and twanging. My B67 might be the 5% that just won't stop being noisy.

Pretty sure that after the tri I'll be sending it back. Most comfortable saddle i've EVER used, but I can't stand the noise and feeling like it's gonna fall apart under me.

I'll talk to Bill and Diane, but I think I'll skip the springs which allow the frame to torque and replace it with a B72. I don't want another noisy beastie.

I'm sticking with Brooks.

[Quillfred]

Have you ever noticed how many people want to pet your Brooks? Friends, bike mechanics....might make for a good candid camera episode.

Do other saddles get their share of attention as well?

[Kitsune06]

I'm just all giddy waiting for my buttdents to form! After I've taken my 6 months, and have it all broken in, I'm so curious to see if I'll still be interested in doing what the guys have done under the "Butchered and Tied" section... I think it'd look nice with the skirts trimmed, but maybe that's just me. My bike sorta goes for the 'rough and minimalist' look... so I'd be interested in doing that so one could see all the naked, empty air under the thick hide.

[mimitabby]

I'm just all giddy waiting for my buttdents to form! After I've taken my 6 months, and have it all broken in, I'm so curious to see if I'll still be interested in doing what the guys have done under the "Butchered and Tied" section... I think it'd look nice with the skirts trimmed, but maybe that's just me. My bike sorta goes for the 'rough and minimalist' look... so I'd be interested in doing that so one could see all the naked, empty air under the thick hide.

Yes, some of those saddles looked really cool like that!
Shouldn't take long for something to change on your saddle that sounds like wood (I have to go check that today!)

[mimitabby]

Have you ever noticed how many people want to pet your Brooks? Friends, bike mechanics....might make for a good candid camera episode.

Do other saddles get their share of attention as well?

Several years ago people made fun of my saddle when they noticed it. Very few people think it's funny looking now; instead I get a sort of reverence. it's a kick.

[Kitsune06]

1st ride- about 10 miles before an asthma attack and nausea caused me to call it a day... (really gotta look into getting prilosec or something again.. )

Observations: You really DO notice it a lot more on the sitbones than anywhere else. Didn't do a whole lot of adjustment, but one thing I've noticed that's irritating me... The seat part is just wide enough, but the skirts seem to flare out a little and it's rubbing on the back of my left thigh. Not the right. I adjusted the l-r swing of the saddle to the left. No dice. Any ideas what this might be?

To spare myself unnecessary agony, I took the pierce out, but after realizing I'm feeling no chafing/rubbing/grinding on anything, I actually don't think it'll be a problem- and I rode with just regular undies and my cargos... no chamois to smooth things over. I like this saddle. I was getting pretty tired of the chafing on the bits. Also, probably related to the slipperiness of the saddle, I had no problems with sliding around on the saddle, even though what I did was all hilly... I just found that sweet spot where my butt 'fit' and there was no sliding from there. Schweet.

... one question, though. If one's weight *shouldn't* be on the nose of the saddle, why do so many mtb'ers prefer long-nosed saddles?