Brooks 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.