First ride on my Brooks B17, ouch.

[CyclaSutra]

OK, but does this sound like the eighth circle of hell to anybody else? I am so sorry that your bits are so bothersome with the Brookses... it makes me never want to try one, even though they look so cool.

On my road bike, I've had a Terry Butterfly saddle for the past 2 years, and except for 80+ mile rides, it's great! At more than 80, the foam seems to squish down and be really uncomfortable on the sit bones, but I only do a half-dozen or so centuries a year, so I've dealt with "almost there!" standing up on the pedals, etc.

I had a WSD gelly cutout thing on my old mountain bike, and at six years old, it's getting really mushy but is still comfy.

In the interest of trying to get "the perfect" saddle, I did try a couple of Koobis that I couldn't figure out how to make comfortable at all.

It seems like you've just had really bad luck thus far! I hope your bits get better soon, and try some chamois cream and just ONE pair of shorts, maybe.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sutra,
You should keep in mind that this thread is addressing a couple of women who are having trouble getting their Brooks saddles to be comfy for them. It's not a thread about how great Brooks saddles feel. If you started a thread on "How do you like your Brooks saddle?" you'd likely get a lot of happy campers replying. There are quite a few Brooks saddle fans on TE.

[CyclaSutra]

Lisa, I get it.

It just seems sort of like the all-leather pair of hiking boots I got when I first moved out West. Cool, retro, slick, authentic-looking. Awesome, right? But they never fit right and I was always sitting down to bandage my blisters after the first mile or two of a hike. Three years later, I got some synthetic fabric boots that fit, and rarely a blister since.

Everybody's feet are different, just as everybody's body is different. I was just trying to make the point that maybe if a saddle's not working after weeks of fiddling, it's time to try a totally different approach.

Like I said, they look really cool and I wouldn't totally discount them. I'd love to try a Brooks, but probably only if I found one on super-sale!

Good luck, girls!

[jobob]

I'd love to try a Brooks, but probably only if I found one on super-sale!

Except if you bought one full-price at Wallingford, you would have 6 months to try it out, and if you didn't like it, you could return it.

Where on earth can you find a more lenient, more risk-free return policy than that?

It never ceases to amaze me how more people don't take advantage of that.

[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!

[caribe81]

Hello Ladies,
I just wanted to share my experience with my brooks saddle B17s. I got it a month ago and have ridden 100 miles on it. At first I have to admit it felt like I was sliding a bit but that was only once. I keep proof hiding it and it got less slippery. For me it has fit like a glove. I have not experience chafing, soreness, or rubbing of any kind. My longest ride has been 50 miles and that was only the third time on the saddle and it felt right . After riding 20 miles this weekend I did feel the need to move the saddle back a bit and it feels even better. I am 5’6 and weigh 120 pounds.

[caribe81]

Hope this helps

[FreshNewbie]

Caribe, thanks for posting pictures. Brooks saddles look neat on bikes. I never used to like them before, but recently I changed my mind about them, don't know why.
Do you mind sharing what kind of shorts do you wear on your rides? I am still trying to figure out a perfect short/brooks match, so far sss shebeest seem to work well.

[caribe81]

Hi as far as shorts. I like this Nike one I have, but I don’t know what type it is, it was like $35 and has the best chamois so far. I also have the Pearl Izumi Sugar Short it pretty good and the 'shebeest-Sprint Tri Shortie' that I just got and have only ridden on it once. It seems ok for short rides only.

[suzieqtwa]

I've put almost 450 miles on the B17 ,and I think this time I finally got it to work. I commuted all week to work (13 miles RT) ,and Saturday ,and Sunday I road 40 miles each day ,and NO CROTCH PAIN>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> woooooooooooo whoooooooo. I adjusted it to be totally level. I kept waiting for the pain this weekend ,but it never happened. I cant say I found that "sweet spot ,as there are no indentations on the saddle ,but I don't slide around at all. The shorts I wear are Pearl Izumi "short attack". They seemed to have the biggest padding. I hope it continues to get better.
Newbie ,how is your saddle saga going?

[FreshNewbie]

Awsome to hear it Suzie!!!
Well I sold my old Selle Italia and bought Specialized Arione saddle because brooks still gives me chaffing problem in my soft tissue. I love the brooks on my butt, it doesnt hurt anywhere at all. But about at 20 miles mark I start to get burning feeling in the front and then when I get in the shower OHH it's pretty bad Not sure why I don't even slide around that much anymore, it's not too high so I don't rock. This is how lack of cut out effecting me. Now I am not sending it back just yet, I am planning to keep it and maybe put it later on. Yesterday I went to ride with my Specialized and that I really like that saddle, but then I only got to do 16 miles on it so it's not for sure yet. We will see what will happen, this saga as you called it tires me.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

One other thing to check out- I have found that sometimes when I wear too thick a chamois layer, the extra padding there in front pushes up against my soft parts after a lot of miles and starts making them numb. It's a tricky balance trying to find just the right amount of chamois. Something to watch for.

[FreshNewbie]

Yes I thought that too not sure if that's the problem though. I have sugoi Lucky shorts and Shebeest SSS shorts that I wear with my brooks and the problem still accured I am keeping the saddle, it's just that I need to let my parts heal, don't think thing like that will be something I have to get used to.