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

[Tonya]

I remember long ago (70s) we used mink oil and worked the oil into the saddle by stepping on it (for hours) to soften up the saddle before putting it on. Does anyone know if the Knickerbikers are still around (San Diego)?

[ibcycling]

Boy am I kicking myself.

Last week I swung by Goodwill to pick up a light wind/rain jacket and there was this pretty green Western Flyer bike out front. It called to me but I didn't listen. I did look at it and it had a very cool saddle (that I now realize was a Brooks!) and was in good shape. I didn't buy it but thought about it all day. When I went back it was, of course, gone. Now that I've read this thread I realize the very cool leather saddle was a Brooks and the cool green bike with fenders would have been a steal at Goodwill prices. Darn it! I hope it got a good home!

Lora

[KnottedYet]

The moral of this story, and one we should all take to heart:

Always listen when a bike calls out to you.

[ibcycling]

I know. I'm so sad. It was shiny and green with fenders and a very cool brown saddle. I may swing back by today just in case it got returned. *sigh*

Lora

[Triskeliongirl]

How long to break in a brooks? For me, I found my brooks saddle to be more comfortable out of the box than my previous terry butterfly. They did get better over time, but some of that I think was learning to adjust them. I like the noses level. I also learned that since one doesn't sink into a brooks like a cushy saddle, sometimes the saddle height has to be a tad lower than on a gel saddle. That too was key for me. It wasn't until I got the saddle height right, that sit bone marks started to form. I have two brooks finesse saddle on two bikes. On my racing bike, the bars are lower than the saddle and my position is more aero, while on my touring bike the bars are level with the saddle and my position is a bit longer. What I noticed, is that once I got to used to a brooks I could never go back. Anytime I tried a lighter saddle, I couldn't believe how much it hurt. There is nothing like leather custom molded to your body, but you do need to find the right saddle for your anatomy first, and then get it adjusted correctly. I think in time even the nose softens where your pubic bone makes contact, similar to how your sitbones form indentations in the back. I don't think cut outs are necessary, or even desirable, if your weight is being supported by your sit bones as it should be, rather than by your soft tissues. The cut-out on my terry buttefly rubbed me raw, and caused me to bleed, I think now because the saddle wasn't wide enough to support my sit bones so all my weight was being supported by my soft tissues resting on the cut out.

[elk]

I know. I'm so sad. It was shiny and green with fenders and a very cool brown saddle. I may swing back by today just in case it got returned. *sigh*

Lora

just to add to Knot's lesson...I say that if it really was your bike; you would already have it... We don't often let the important ones get away......and if it IS your bike...it will be there today.