First ride on my Brooks B17, ouch.

[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.

[Eden]

Some of us just really need a saddle with a cutout. Even if I get a saddle that supports my sitbones perfectly, I still get uncomfortable pressure on the soft tissues, so a saddle with a groove or cutout is the only option for me (I now have a very firm saddle with a cutout and I never have any numbness or pain anymore). If you really love the look of your Brooks, but are finding it to be uncomfortable - didn't Mimi mention a saddle her husband has that has a similar look, but is available with a cutout.

[KnottedYet]

I think it was Selle An-Atomica.

The guy modelled a Brooks and modified it so it had a cut-out, and makes them in 3 different sizes (you'll still want to know your sit-bone width) and a gazillion different leathers.

I think TE sells it.

Yeah, here it is on TE http://www.teamestrogen.com/brands.asp?brandID=121
He's even got the leather handlebar tape to match his saddles like Brooks! Cool!

[FreshNewbie]

I guess I would be one of these people who really need a cut out. The Avator Specialized was very comfortable I got it in 155 width and my sitbones were supported and I didnt get any chaffing of numb spots as with my previous Jett. By the way if you are interested these saddles are on sales on Specialized.com for a bargain price of $40 (couldn't go wrong). Now I am thinking if I really get to like that saddle maybe I should have bought 2 of them since they already changed 2007 model.

[mimitabby]

I think it was Selle An-Atomica.

The guy modelled a Brooks and modified it so it had a cut-out, and makes them in 3 different sizes (you'll still want to know your sit-bone width) and a gazillion different leathers.

I think TE sells it.

Yeah, here it is on TE http://www.teamestrogen.com/brands.asp?brandID=121
He's even got the leather handlebar tape to match his saddles like Brooks! Cool!

Knot, i think there's only 1 size, two strengths.
I asked him in person about sizes. He said "mostly everyone liked this size, so that's what i make" (I thought, great, where does that leave the 10% who don't fit that size?!!)

[divingbiker]

I think it was Selle An-Atomica.

The guy modelled a Brooks and modified it so it had a cut-out, and makes them in 3 different sizes (you'll still want to know your sit-bone width) and a gazillion different leathers.

I tried a Selle An-Atomica on my Glorius, and it didn't work at all. It is very narrow, or maybe it just feels narrow because the edges slope down. It felt narrower than the Brooks B17. It's also very long in the nose. My shorts kept catching on it since I'm on and off my bike a lot at stop signs and lights, and it got very annoying.

I think for anyone who likes a Brooks B67/68 etc, the Selle An-Atomica would be too narrow. It's a completely different feeling having the sit bones supported on the wider saddle. I did like the cutout, though.

[Kitsune06]

I'm wondering if it's my saddle placement or what now... in the more upright mtb position, the Brooks was great. Even on the hoods, the Brooks is great. But once I get down in the drops, it rubs my bits (further back, labiawise, not up-front hoodwise).... well maybe not 'rubbing' so much as just pressure, which I know would turn into rubbing if I went more than a few miles. So... anyone have any experience that way, as far as tipping the saddle up/down? I started with it a ways back, but am slowly scooching it forward. Ahh the adventures inherent in making a new bike fit perfectly...

[FreshNewbie]

Kitsune, how did you position your saddle ?
When I first got my Team pro S saddle I put it completely level, meaning that the nose was pointing up. That wasn't bad but gave me some pressure issues. Then I started leveling the nose part and the last time I had it almost completely level. I wasn't sliding on the saddle anymore since the slipperness became less of a problem. I am really not sure why I was getting chaffing in the front since the nose part wasn't really putting any pressure on me. So far I took my Team Pro S off the bike and I put Specialized Avator which didn't give me any problem on my 17 miles.
Maybe try to level the nose a bit more. Also, are you riding with neuteral pelvis? Did you try chamois butter or body glide?

[RoseC]

I'm wondering if it's my saddle placement or what now... in the more upright mtb position, the Brooks was great.

I'm running into this, too. I bought a beautiful honey B17 a few months ago when Nashbar had a big percentage style sale. I didn't use it much (maybe a total of fifty miles), but I did do a few rides with it on the mountain bike and didn't experience much if any pain.

But on the beautiful new Volpe, I've gone on three rides and it seems like it *pinches* no matter how I set it. Ow ow ow ow! I think a part of that is that I used the eeevil stock saddle long enough to make those parts sore to begin with, but even so, I'm wondering if this means I'm one of those people who has to have a cut out if using a road bike. I can see the part of the saddle that comes in contact with my sit bones softening and forming a bit, but not the part that contacts softer bits.