Brooks saddle rub damaging shorts

[eavonius]

Hello,

I recently bought a really nice pair of Giordana cycling shorts for my wife and she also finally found a saddle that works for her, a Brooks B17. Unfortunately, after 2 or 3 approximately 15 mile rides, we've noticed that her inner thigh rubs against the bottom of the "flaps" on the side of the saddle and is causing her shorts to get worn down much faster than seems normal. I got her a B17 special from wallingford bikes, the one with the chamfered edges.

I'm trying to figure out if the chamfering is what's doing it (since the smooth leather doesn't cause any damage further up on the short) and if so, if I got her a model without the chamfering I'm still concerned because the "edge" of the leather further back (without chamfering) is still "rough" like the chamfered spot and her leg seems to rub along the bottom of the leather flap slightly on each pedal stroke as well. I've proofrided it for a second time today (first was a week ago) and am thinking about maybe trying beeswax or something.

If anyone has some advice for a model that might not have this problem, or swapped for a non-chamfered saddle that solved the same problem, any advice would be great!

[jobob]

You might want to check out the Brooks Team Pro.

I used a regular B17 for some time but I started developing similar issues w the width of the flaps. The Team Pro has a narrower width along the flap area but is about the same width as the B17 in the rear of the seat. (Ed to add: I just looked up the specs and it is actually narrower in the seat area so perhaps that might not work for you wife, hard to say w/o trying it though)

Welcome to TE, to you and your wife.

[eavonius]

Thanks for the reply. I'm considering getting her a Team Pro as well, but I watched her legs from the front when she pedals on a trainer and I think her legs are going to rub across the sides of the nose of the saddle no matter what. It's not the width of the saddle flaps that's causing problems per se, it's more that the chamfered side seems to irritate her shorts.

It's a hard thing to explain, but even on the Brooks that don't have chamfered edges I would imagine that she might still have problems because her leg when it rubs across the nose seems to make contact with the edge directly below the flap as well - and on a non-chamfered saddle this edge is still "raw" and unfinished - which worries me that it might create the same potential problem for damage.

I might just get her a non-chamfered Team Pro and see if it helps, she sure loves the feel of the saddle otherwise

Thanks again, any more thoughts or ideas are most welcome!

[HillSlugger]

I've heard about people stitching/lacing the edges together under the saddle.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks for the reply. I'm considering getting her a Team Pro as well, but I watched her legs from the front when she pedals on a trainer and I think her legs are going to rub across the sides of the nose of the saddle no matter what. It's not the width of the saddle flaps that's causing problems per se, it's more that the chamfered side seems to irritate her shorts.

It's a hard thing to explain, but even on the Brooks that don't have chamfered edges I would imagine that she might still have problems because her leg when it rubs across the nose seems to make contact with the edge directly below the flap as well - and on a non-chamfered saddle this edge is still "raw" and unfinished - which worries me that it might create the same potential problem for damage.

I might just get her a non-chamfered Team Pro and see if it helps, she sure loves the feel of the saddle otherwise

Thanks again, any more thoughts or ideas are most welcome!

Hmmm...if her legs are rubbing even against the nose of the saddle when she pedals, perhaps she is angling her knees in too much as she rides? Some people do that without knowing. Have you checked to see if her knees seemed aligned straight over her feet as she pedals?
And are you saying that there is no discomfort involved, just (very annoying) wear to the shorts?

[eavonius]

Right, she's comfortable (finally, we tried tons of other saddles) and has done a couple 15 mile rides with me with no saddle discomfort at all. It's just creating wear on her new giordana (expensive) shorts as her thigh rubs across the chamferred spot and the edge of the leather "flaps" below the chamfering with each pedal stroke. Her stroke is even, her legs aren't bowed in or out, and she's got a fairly lean figure so I don't think that could be the problem.

[KnottedYet]

A few extra doses of warmed-up Proofhide took care of the rough leather edges on my B-67 and B-68 saddles. Maybe try that? (I melted it in my fingers and rubbed it into the rough part of the leather several times)

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Some people use very fine sandpaper to smooth and round the leather edges in that area of the saddle, followed by lots of your favorite leather conditioner/softener. I'd think that would be your best bet.
If that doesn't work then either a different saddle or cheaper shorts.

[eavonius]

Thanks for the advice everyone, I did as you and some other sites I posted at suggested and sanded with 100 sandpaper first, then 220 and then rubbed proofide in two times and it smoothed the chafering out beautifully! I ordered a Swift after the wife liked hers so much bit it was too narrow for me so I have a Team Pro on the way. I tried her B17 and man is it comfortable! If I can get my Team Pro broken in to feel near to that, I'll be in heaven.