Question for the Brooks Experts....

[Blueberry]

I purchased a Surly Cross Check off Ebay, and have been thrilled with the bike! However, I'm a little less thrilled with the B17S that came with the bike. I really want to like Brooks saddles, and think this one might just be a bad fit for me. I ride Terry Butterfly saddles on all of my other bikes, and I do like them, but not well enough to automatically put one on this bike.

The B17S just seems too short to me. The nose seems to not come far enough forward, and thus things don't feel like they're hitting in the right place (or rather, the nose seems to jam up places it shouldn't). The width seems OK, judging from where I see the sit bone spots after riding. I probably could go slightly narrower. Anyone else found this saddle too short? Any ideas as to other Brooks that might work (I'd probably order from Wallingford)? I'd prefer not super expensive, so I was thinking of just trying the regular B17 (it's almost as wide, but about 4cm longer).

Thanks!

CA

[KnottedYet]

The B17S ("S" stands for "short") has a very short nose. You might be a whole lot happier with a B17 if you feel the "short" is too short. I prefer a long nose, so I stay away from any of the "S" saddles. (for some reason, maybe because of skirts catching on the regular nose?, the "S" versions are considered women's saddles)

If you order the B17 from www.wallbike.com you will have 6 months to return it, no questions asked.

Are those YOUR sitbone dents on the saddle, or the previous owners? It took about 400-500 miles for me to put dents into my B67.

If you have any doubt about the width of the sadde, measure your sit bones before you order.

I have a B67 on my Surly Cross Check.


You would likely be able to sell the B17 Short here, cuz I'm pretty sure there are a couple members of the Brooks Cult who ride the B17 Short.

[Blueberry]

Thanks, Knotted

I was wondering why they made the women's so much shorter - especially since it's only slightly wider.

They aren't really dents (yet) - it's more like there are distinct sweaty spots (I know, ick) where the sit bones have been riding on the saddle. It's dry except where there has been more pressure (me thinks my favorite Shebeest shorts hold a bit much moisture....)

Wallbike does have an awesome return policy

CA

[KnottedYet]

They also have lots of saddle help if you call with a problem. My B67 was making creaking noises, and I called them a few times as they talked me thru trying various things to get the noises to stop. (The springs let the frame flex more, and it can take a bit of searching to find the spot that is making the noise.)

Saddle is nice and quiet now, and I like it so much I've ordered another so each of my bikes will have one!

I think LisaSH had a B17S, and switched to a B68 (like mine, but no springs). She sold her old Brooks here, pretty sure you could too!

[mimitabby]

I have never had one of their women's models either. I like the length of my B66 and B67's.

I think it's a carryover from 100 years ago when women were thought to be dainty (and didn't ride their bikes much either) I would love to hear a scientific
explanation of why they make the shorter seat for women.
All i can think of is that it would look nicer under a dress .

[anakiwa]

According to one of the customer service people at Terry a woman's pelvis is shorter in the fore-aft direction (obviously wider side to side). I was asking why the men's liberator was longer and that was the answer I was given.

CA- have you tried changing the position of the saddle? In general I've found the Brooks to be very difficult to get the position right on. My initial rides were torture (too much mashing in the front). Then I figured out the nose needs to be level (not the saddle overall) and things got better. Then I got a new bike (one that was custom fit for me) and because I could reach the hoods/drops so much better I started riding differently- and again way too much mashing in the front. I had to give up on the Brooks- I think it might work for me for touring (if I could stay in an upright position), but for now I'm liking the hoods/drops too much and the Brooks just doesn't work for that (at least for me).

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have come to the conclusion that it is harder to get the Brooks adjusted to a comfortable position on bikes that have an extreme racing position- with their handlebars substancially lower than the seat height. In fact, it may be harder to find ANY saddle that is really comfortable when you are in that position. The racing position tends to put more pressure up front on the nose of the saddle because it tilts your pelvis forward more.
Brooks saddles in particular are designed for having your weight entirely on your two sit bones, not on the front nose. Most older steel bikes, all touring bikes, and many hybrid bikes have more relaxed geometry and tend to have the handlebars at a similar height as the seat, which makes it easier to put your weight on your sitbones.

[Blueberry]

I have tried changing the angle of the saddle - it's slightly tipped up, as it has to be for me to not slide off the front of it. I had a similar problem with it perfectly level (it really is level front to back now, it just looks slightly tipped up), and was having major hand pain from the weight distribution problems.

The bars on this bike are even with to slightly above the saddle, so I'm not in an extreme racing position by any means

It really sounds like it just might be too short....

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I have tried changing the angle of the saddle - it's slightly tipped up, as it has to be for me to not slide off the front of it. I had a similar problem with it perfectly level (it really is level front to back now, it just looks slightly tipped up), and was having major hand pain from the weight distribution problems.

The bars on this bike are even with to slightly above the saddle, so I'm not in an extreme racing position by any means

It really sounds like it just might be too short....

The non-"S" Brooks saddles have much longer rails underneath. This enables you to move the saddle forward/backward much more than with the S models. I foun dI was way more comfortable when I got a non-S Broks and shoved my saddle back an additional 1 1/2" from what it was with the S model. With tthe saddle shoved back my center of gravity shifted back more and I felt more comfy and got better leg pedaling leverage too. The change also stopped that feeling that I was sliding forward too often. Just a few thoughts from one person's experience.

[Blueberry]

Lisa-

Which saddle are you riding now??

CA

[Veronica]

If you want to be in a slightly more aggressive position, I'd recommend trying the Brooks Finesse. Notice I said slightly... I do most of my riding out on the hoods or in the drops. But I don't have a real racy set up with my handlebars lower than my saddle.

I've been really happy with the Finesse. I was on the bike for three hours on Sunday in regular shorts. The saddle was comfy. The shorts had an irritating seam.

V.

[Blueberry]

v-

Interesting about the Finesse. I had stayed away from it because it looks (from Wallingford's site) like it's the same length as the B17S (actually all of the women's saddles show the same dimensions).

Hmmm...more food for thought....

CA

[Veronica]

Thom has a B17 on his bike, which I ride when it's in the trainer. I don't like how it hits my legs when I stand because it's so long.

V.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa-

Which saddle are you riding now??

CA

The B68 (non-S). I changed fro the B17S mainly because I have super wide sitbones and wanted the extra width. Getting the extra rail length was an unexpected bonus.

[anakiwa]

If you want to be in a slightly more aggressive position, I'd recommend trying the Brooks Finesse. Notice I said slightly... I do most of my riding out on the hoods or in the drops. But I don't have a real racy set up with my handlebars lower than my saddle.

I've been really happy with the Finesse. I was on the bike for three hours on Sunday in regular shorts. The saddle was comfy. The shorts had an irritating seam.

V.

The Finesse is the one I had to give up on- but then again my handlebars are lower than my saddle (on my road bike). I'm generally okay when sitting up- but after 30 miles or so it starts to get unpleasant to even think about leaning forward into the hoods or drops (and it's so much fun to be there on a saddle with a cutout or softer nose).