First ride on my Brooks B17, ouch.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just played with the saddle again, tipped the nost part few degrees up. So now the nose part is slightly up and the back is flared up too. Moved it a little further back, not completely all the way but would say 2/3 of rails are in the back and 1/3 is in the front (not sure if that explains it well )
I really want this saddle to work for me, not giving up yet.

Sounds like enough change for the moment- now ride it a few times over a few days. Don't judge too quickly, because your body will adapt to each change over a few days. Getting a saddle just right takes a bit of time when you are new to it.
As Knot suggested, try to keep your pelvis tipped so that your weight falls more back on your sitbones. Tuck your stomach in, relax your shoulders down, elbows down and not locked straight. Try to balance in a relaxed way on your bike, and balance your weight between your feet, your seat and your hands. Keep flexible and relaxed- think of how relaxed you are when you are curled up on your side in bed.
I assume you are wearing a decent chamois. Also might try putting some chamois butter or just a generous application of plain hand cream on your sensitive areas before you ride, to keep them from getting pressed into one position only. They will want to "adjust" during a long ride too!

[FreshNewbie]

Lisa,
I am wearing Sugoi Lucky shorts on my short rides, anything above 50 miles I wear my 2005 Sugoi RS short. I always put either body glide on or chamois butter

[FreshNewbie]

So far I only had two rides on my brooks b17 which I sent back to exchange for a shorter B17S. The reason- when standing up on hills the saddle nose whould hit my thighs and snap on my shorts. Initially I thought this saddle is not for me and decided to send it back but then something was telling me that I didn't give it a fair try so I exchanged it for shorter model.
On my first ride I adjusted the saddle level in the nose part and got rubbed raw in the front area. This made showering very painful and unpleasant for couple of days. On my second ride I tilted nose up a bit and that seemed to be a bit better but I managed to get rubbed raw again although not as bad as first time. The thing that bugs me that this saddle doesn't hurt my sit bones and I practically don't even feel them. There is not much pressure on my front rather that chaffing problem. I tried the neutral pelvic position that you Knot suggested but that didn't seem to help me stay in one place. Is this saddle really not for me? and I should stick to cut outs since they never game me that chaffing problem? Or am I doing something wrong ?
My handlebars about 1inch below my saddle and this is the best positiong for me. I ride in the drops in the wind mostly or downhill. I been through a dozen saddles and none of them managed to solve all my problems:
Avocet ( came with my old steel bike)
Serfas women's with cut out saddle
Selle SMP strike (low end women's version)
Selle SMP strike (low end men's version)
Jett women's
Selle Italia Max flite gelflow saddle (the most comfortable so far but a little too narrow in the back for me )
Brooks b17 exchanged for B17S (should arrive early next week)
Selle Italia Lady gel flow 2007 (bought in case brooks doesn't workout) to try out.
Hopefully this list will end soon.

[Offthegrid]

FreshNewbie, I just got a Brooks, too. I have had serious saddle sore issues including one that just wouldn't go away. I'd sometimes be bleeding after a ride despite using chamois cream. I've tried Fizik, Terry and the Jett.

For the first time ever, I had NO saddle sore issues with the Brooks. Didn't hurt my sit bones or the area where my legs meet my pelvis at all. Amazing! But it is scrunching my girly bits. I'm wondering if that just takes a bit of getting used to.

[FreshNewbie]

I am really not sure if I will ever get used to such bad chaffing. I think I would be better off if it was pressure pain but it's just some weird phenomena of my shorts meeting the saddle while I ride

[stella]

FreshNewbie,

I'm not sure what type of bike you ride or how the set up is...I have two brooks saddles and just thought I would share my experiences.

on my colnago road bike--set up more aggressively (the handlebars are lower) I use the brooks team pro S. the b17 just didn't work for me on that bike--too sore in the soft tissue. with the Team Pro S: no soft tissue soreness at all.

My commuter bike (an old road/touring bike) where I am in a more upright position: the b17 is fine--no soreness.

did you purchase the saddle from Bill at Wallingford?

[FreshNewbie]

Yes I did buy it from WallBike. I only have one bike- my road bike that has handlebars 1 inch below my saddle and I guess that's why I am not comfortable on B17

[suzieqtwa]

Hey Marina,
I tried to PM you ,but I couldn't. Anyway ,I did ride 62 miles , My crotch hurt after about 20 miles or so ,but still no chafing ,or cutting.
I adjusted it again last night ,and turned it slightly to the left as the right side is the only side that hurts. I really like the Brooks ,and I'm going to try everything to make it work for me. I do slide a bit ,but that doesn't seem to be the problem. I'm going to give it more time ,but I may be interested in buying one of your saddles in the future.
When Darcy and I were at the rest stops we were looking at the 100s of bike ,and I didn't see one Brooks? : ) Let me know how your doing.
Suzie

[FreshNewbie]

Hey Suzie, would you consider ordering B17 S model just for the experiment? You can always send it back if you order it from wallbike, at least that way you will know if your problems comes from the shape of regular B17. In my opinion it's worth a try.
The only reason I had some chaffing this weekend is my choice of shorts, also I noticed when I came home that I didn't tighten the bolt well and the saddle slid all the way back. Think about it, I know it's PITA to order and send it back but maybe you will solve your problem?

[Eden]

Just wanted to say be careful about adjusting the position of your saddle (fore and aft) to solve chafing problems, as this is very important to the fit of your bike as far as knee to crank placement goes. If you start messing with it to make your crotch feel better you may have adverse effects on other parts of your fit and body!