How long did it take you to break in your Brooks?

[RoadRaven]

Hey Lisa, thanks for that great and detailed response.

The seat I use on both my bikes is a Dolce, it is marketed as "women's specific" and has a good cutout (though the packaging called it a "love channel" hahahaha).

I know alot of the seats sold to women are tooooo soft and "juicy" and "smooshy". I hate those, they feel uncomfy the second I sit on them.

I am thinking of the Brooks saddle in jeannierides new bike thread on her bicycle. It looks so different to mine, and I don't think I could be comfy on it.

My current seat is only marginally wider than my partner's and sons' saddles (wider sit bones of course) and only a tad softer. Not much in it. They have those skinny hard saddles like we just saw so often on le Tour (though my partner is refusing to cut the nose of his Italia (?) like Cancellara has on his!)

But then I read about people wanting to have indents in the leather on their Brooks from their sitbones and it really has me wondering about Brooks and about how others find comfort on a bike.

I mean, its obvious it is the right saddle for many women here, there are lots of Brooks fans. So I am not trying to say i am right or my saddle is better. Far from it. I am just intrigued, thats all...

Thanks for both answering - and Chort, I think the "sitbone" pain happens regardless as you get used to riding the distances. i don't think its so much the sitbones per se hurting, its the muscles in your butt getting used to taking all your weight on two points...

[bikerchick68]

mine never worked for me after 1000 miles and then finally riding it for STP where I ended up with blisters on my butt, I gave up. I desperately wanted one to work for me, but just no go. It's now been replaced with a different saddle and the Brooks is in the back of car waiting to be sold.

I got one because I personally know several people who swear by them too. I envy those of you who they work for...

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks for both answering - and Chort, I think the "sitbone" pain happens regardless as you get used to riding the distances. i don't think its so much the sitbones per se hurting, its the muscles in your butt getting used to taking all your weight on two points...

I agree completely with that. I see initial sitbone soreness as a GOOD sign- it means your weight is balanced on a good place rather than your weight on your sensitive front parts. Sitbone soreness usually fades away with frequent riding. Mine came back briefly in the Spring when I began riding a lot after a winter slowdown. Then as I rode more it was gone again in a few days.

[KnottedYet]

There are many different styles of Brooks, so when you hear me raving about my Brooks, Lisa talking about hers, Mimi and her 30 year old Brooks, and BikerHen lovin' her new Brooks... well, each of us has a DIFFERENT Brooks! They come in different shapes, different widths, different lengths, different frames.

(B67, B68, B66, B17 for the four mentioned)

You still need to know your sit bone width, your shape preference ("T" or pear), flared cantle or flat, and what sort of nose you like to get the right Brooks for you and your riding style.

Wallingford Bicycle Parts has a great selection of Brooks. www.wallbike.com

Hey, Brooks cult: I saw a B18 on a gorgeous old Schwinn today! Pretty saddle!