Brooks B68 and B68S

**mimitabby** · 02-01-2007, 10:25 AM

I think it was triskelion. Yeah, there's no cut outs on my car seat, my office chair, etc...

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 04-26-2007, 08:20 PM

I ordered a B68 today, to replace my B17S.
Though I have been comfortable on my B17S for 10 months now, I have found it to be a little on the narrow side for my sitbones. My sitbone dents are sort of half within and half on the underframe on the sides of the saddle. I know the slightly wider B68 will give me about another 1" in width at the sitbone area and is bound to be even MORE comfortable, so I am going for it.
The only difference between the B68 and the B68S is that the S has a shorter nose for women riders supposedly. Can't imagine why I would need a shorter nosed saddle, unless I was wearing a dress maybe? Interestingly, they are both equally wide in the back. The main reason I went with the non-S B68 though is because along with the longer nose, the straight section of the rails underneath will be 1/2" or so longer, giving me the added rail length I need for clamping on the Bagman saddlbag support I ordered to hold up my Little Joe and my Nelson saddlebags.
Cant wait to try out the new saddle!

**KnottedYet** · 04-26-2007, 08:25 PM

Let us know how it is!

I've been eyeing the B68, cuz it doesn't have springs. My finances have taken a huge nose-dive so I won't be buying one. (I was gonna get a B68 for Flossie and put the B67 back on the commuter.)

I still love my Brooks! And someday (when I get a new job or a 2nd job or win the lottery) I'll get another one.

**divingbiker** · 05-04-2007, 10:46 AM

I just tried out my new B68 on my commuting bike, and I can't believe it feels as good as it does! When I took it out of the box, I thought "no fricking way this piece of particle board is going to be comfortable." But I took it out for a quick spin around the neighborhood in street clothes (no padding) and it felt great. The pebbled top surface seemed to really keep me from sliding around.

This B68 is replacing a Brooks B17S (too narrow and slick) which replaced a Selle Anatomica (too narrow and long-nosed). I hope when I take it for a longer ride I like it as much.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 05-04-2007, 11:02 AM

OK, so I've ridden two 20 mile rides so far on my new B68. I LOVE IT!!!!!

First- I got the non-S model B68 because I wanted the longer rails underneath so I could attach a Bagman rack for my largish saddle bags:
http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/saddlebag_support.asp
The B68S has shorter rails and shorter nose and not enough room on the rails to attach the Bagman.
The B68 and the B68S both have the same width in back for my sitbones, so that was not an issue. They are about an inch wider there than the B17S I had before.
The width is PERFECT- I can feel how nice my butt fits on the saddle now, instead of being sort of "perched" half on the back and side edge frame of the B17S.
Yes my sitbones are a little bit sore right now because the saddle has not yet formed to them- but I'm proof-hiding like mad and riding a lot. It's not nearly as bad as when i first got my new B17. Guess I have a "Brooks Butt" all broken in already.

The longer nose is not proving to be significant at all. The old B17S nose stuck out about 1" in front while riding, and the new nose sticks out about 1 1/2" and doesn't seem to affect anything differently.

But the very BEST thing I have discovered, even better than the width issue, is that the new long rails allow me to shove the new saddle way further back- about 1 1/2" further back than my B17S with its short nose and short rails did. It's Heaven! Now I have more leg power and I feel like I can get "behind" my pedals as I ride- it is SO much more comfortable! Now I know how men get to feel comfy all the time on their bikes automatically.

It's sort of like the difference between riding a unicyle and pedaling a paddle boat- exaggerated comparison but that's the feeling, getting way more power from my legs and feeling nicely stretched out and "behind" my crank. This back-shoved saddle made me bend in half just a bit more- but being on a Rivendell (where bars and seat are about the same height anyway) this did not feel bad at all- in fact it feels BETTER. I can just hunker down comfortably in the drops, scoot all the way back and spin up those hills now without burning out my legs.

I made better time on my ride today- faster in the high gears on the flats, faster up the hills and less tired, and just way more comfortable in general.

I absolutely LOVE this saddle!!!!! My Bagman saddlebag support fits perfectly on it too, with room to spare.

Mimi- when you wonder how the saddles are without springs: My DH says springs are good for bikes that have you sitting more upright- like hybrids or comfort bikes. Upright posture puts most of your weight concentrated straight down your spine onto your butt, and you bounce along with most of your weight jarring down on your spine and butt. That's one reason hybrids are not so comfortable for long distance riding. Springs certainly help in that case.
On road bikes, your more horizontal posture is such that it distributes your weight more evenly and horizontally along your hands, back, legs, and seat- so you don't need springs as much.

**xeney** · 05-04-2007, 12:20 PM

I really hate the shortness of the Brooks women's saddles. I don't really understand why the saddles need to be shorter, but it seems like you lose so much that it's a bad tradeoff. I have a B17s that I am probably going to replace with a B17 because it is so short that I can't get it adjusted right (plus it looks a little ridiculous).

I have a B67 on my townie, which I think has the same top as the B68, and I love it, although it would be too wide for me on a road bike.

**stella** · 05-04-2007, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

I ordered a B68 today, to replace my B17S.

LisaSH, are you selling the B17s?
I'm interested...need a new one for my beater bike...
pm me

**KnottedYet** · 05-04-2007, 07:32 PM

Oooooh, I want a B68! I love my B67 on my road bike, though, so don't know if I even need to bother to switch to an un-sprung saddle. (if it ain't broke, don't fix it)

But no-springs is kinda sexy...

Just picture lovely golden Flossie with a honey B68 and shellacked Cinelli cork bar tape with hemp twine. Sigh...

**mimitabby** · 05-04-2007, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

Oooooh, I want a B68! I love my B67 on my road bike, though, so don't know if I even need to bother to switch to an un-sprung saddle. (if it ain't broke, don't fix it)

But no-springs is kinda sexy...

Just picture lovely golden Flossie with a honey B68 and shellacked Cinelli cork bar tape with hemp twine. Sigh...

It does sound lovely Knot. I'm going to have matching leather bar tape to go with my Brooks on the bike to be.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 05-04-2007, 08:08 PM

Originally Posted by KnottedYet

....and shellacked Cinelli cork bar tape with hemp twine. Sigh...

I've done the shellacked cork and hemp twine on my Ramb....

(damn!- gotta get me a new digital camera SOON!)

Stella: I probably will sell the B17S, but I want to wait a few weeks to make absolutely SURE the B68 doesn't produce any weird chafing over time, etc. I will likely post it under ForSale stuff here on TE, but I'll let you know right before I post it- I might ask for "best offer"- but haven't quite decided yet or thought about the price.

Tomorrow is the test of fire for my sitbones- a 40 mile ride on a brand new Brooks that is NOT broken in yet!

**stella** · 05-04-2007, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Lisa S.H.

Stella: I probably will sell the B17S, but I want to wait a few weeks to make absolutely SURE the B68 doesn't produce any weird chafing over time, etc. I will likely post it under ForSale stuff here on TE, but I'll let you know right before I post it- I might ask for "best offer"- but haven't quite decided yet or thought about the price.

sure! no problem...pm me if you decide to sell, I am definately interested.

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 05-29-2007, 08:40 PM

If anyone is interested, I put some pix of my new B68 honey Brooks saddle up on this thread:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...956#post206956

**mimitabby** · 05-29-2007, 08:47 PM

Lisa, i'd like to see your whole setup, with the bag, the saddle, the whole bit.
oops, i see you posted already! So the bag sticks out on either side?

**BleeckerSt_Girl** · 05-30-2007, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by mimitabby

Lisa, i'd like to see your whole setup, with the bag, the saddle, the whole bit.
oops, i see you posted already! So the bag sticks out on either side?

I used to have a small bag for daily riding, but I prefer something a bit larger so I can not only have my flatfixing tools and cable/lock but also buy a pound of coffee on the way home, bring my camera and cell phone, or have a windbreaker or be able to take off a layer while ridng, etc. So for my daily riding I use the Rivendell/Baggins "Little Joe" bag you see in the latest pix on my "bike" page in my signature below. It's just the right size for my needs.
The new photos show not only the new B68 saddle, but also show the Bagman support that clamps to my saddle rails and holds the bag up off the rear wheel nicely. Also you can now see my cork tape all nicely twined and shellacked.

**Nokomis** · 06-14-2007, 05:10 PM

My B68 arrived yesterday.. figure nothing else worked so I'd give it a try. Ow.

Owx3. why can't my *** find a seat? all I could feel was the edge of the saddle with the rivets under my sit bones. I mounted the saddle flat, and no amount of scootching around would land me in a better position - not to mention it's so short that a little scootching & you're almost off the saddle!

I really don't know what to do. I guess I'll throw the bike on the trainer so I can play around a little bit more, but I don't see it working. I don't know what other adjustment to do or how to fix the fit issues.

ugh - someone please ask their bike fairy to point a friendly want toward my tush? pleeeease?

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