Post a Picture of Your Brooks and Bike

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, do you have to use that little bracket to keep the bag up off your tire? I've seen somewhere a little bracket and it seems like it costs almost as much as the bag.

I use a Bagman support:
http://peterwhitecycles.com/saddlebag_support.asp
Sorry- they are currently out of stock, but you get the idea.

When you have big saddlebags, they tend to sag after a while, especially if made of canvas or soft material. This is more of a problem with women's bikes because there is less space between the saddle and the back wheel- women's sized bikes are less tall in general than men's. A rear rack or support keeps the bag supported and well off the wheel.

I also have a small bag with just enough room for spare tube and tools, a granola bar and a cell phone, etc:
http://www.velo-orange.com/saddlebag.html
I like this one very much (but I usually haul too much stuff around for it to handle)....and the top outside strap can actually be used to secure a rolled up lightweight windbreaker or extra shirt. This bag does NOT need an additional support under it- it has a lower buckle that straps around your seatpost. I think it's rather handsome! Size wise- you could probably cram a grapefruit into it but nothing additional. My DH uses this one sometimes nowadays.

[sandra]

That little bag support sure does seem expensive for what it is. It doesn't look like much more than a bottle cage!

That small bag you have says there is room for a rain jacket. That doesn't look possible! (oh, I see, on the outside!)

[MomOnBike]

Finally! I found the picture of Walter (he's a Raleigh) and his original equipment Brooks.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

That little bag support sure does seem expensive for what it is. It doesn't look like much more than a bottle cage!

You can buy $5 bottle cages and $100 bottle cages. Same with racks and supports....prices vary partly on how well they are made and the materials used. Sometimes the "coolness factor" comes into play in price as well.
I originally had a bag saddlebag support that was cheaper and simpler...and it scratched my frame paint very badly. It turned out to be worse than just wasted money.

That small bag you have says there is room for a rain jacket. That doesn't look possible! (oh, I see, on the outside!)

Yep, you can roll up an extra shirt or a lightweight windbreaker and tuck it under the strap on top of the bag.

[Andrea]

Dex & Triskeliongirl-

Do either of you have soft-tissue squishing problems when you use your drops? It looks like you are both set up to have your handlebars lower than your saddles (like my setup), and I have always wondered if not having a cutout would be uncomfortable in that position.

I ride a selle an-atomica now & I love it, but the unfinished edges of the saddle are rubbing and pilling my shorts in the inner-thigh area. The Brooks just look much nicer and higher quality.

[mimitabby]

I guess I had better show my brooks saddle and brooks handlebar
tape on Cavalletta, my NEW bike.

[uk elephant]

I love those colours on your bike!

[cosc]

Mimi your bike is just calling out you name saying, "where are we going today?"
I've looked for pics of your new bike so am glad to see it in this post.

[sgtiger]

I guess I had better show my brooks saddle and brooks handlebar
tape on Cavalletta, my NEW bike.

Wow, your Davidson is gorgeous! (tries heartily to let out a wolf whistle)

~Sg who's whistling impaired

[Zen]

I know what I want on the Mariposa...I know what I want for Christmas
Now to find a boyfriend long enough for Christmas

[RoseC]

I guess I had better show my brooks saddle and brooks handlebar
tape on Cavalletta, my NEW bike.

That is sure 'nough *gorgeous*, Mimi! Really nice colors - and I love the fenders!

Miss Edwina's getting fenders of the ordinary metal sort next week. I'm a little nervous...it's going to change her appearance more than anything I've done to her until now.

[mimitabby]

RoseC
fenders are great. You will enjoy your ride so much more with them!
Less filth.
less fear of puddles.

[dex]

Dex & Triskeliongirl-

Do either of you have soft-tissue squishing problems when you use your drops? It looks like you are both set up to have your handlebars lower than your saddles (like my setup), and I have always wondered if not having a cutout would be uncomfortable in that position.

I haven't had any soft-tissue problems with either of my Brooks saddles, but I will say that the Finesse is a tiny bit more comfortable in the drops for me than my B17 is. But neither one of them gave me any problems once I got them in the right position for my body and bits...it just took a few rides on each to find that "just right" position.

I've considered the Selle An-Anatomica in the past, but was concerned that the cut-out might mean the saddle wouldn't hold up well under my (considerable) weight.