Brooks Saddles

[Blueberry]

I'm about to give up on my B68. Ordered it because I started experiencing tailbone pain (after many happy years on Terry Butterfly saddles) after an extended period of trainer riding (did a hefty challenge last winter). I can ride a B17, but end up with some soft tissue pain randomly and my sit bone indents are close to the metal frame (which, for me, is a no go because sitting on the metal frame is not comfortable). However, the B68 is "slung" differently. When it's level (front to back - with a level confirming the position), I get major soft tissue pain AND I'm still sliding forward and killing my hands. I don't have this issue on the B17 - level is a sweet spot. I can't tip the nose up more (to stop the sliding) because it's already jamming in where it ought not.

In the mean time, tailbone pain has gone away. This is probably due to the fact that I've been a major slacker and have not been riding due to hot weather. I also did a few minutes on the exercise bike at the gym, and noticed that that saddle might have been the culprit in the first place (didn't think of it because I didn't do it often).

I'm back to "normal" saddles and proper trainer form (no sitting up and rotating the pelvis!). We'll hope I stay OK, as the B68 is not the solution for me.

**If anyone has any other suggestions, please let me know. Otherwise, I'm sending it back in the next few days.**

[BodhiTree]

Level the nose of the B-68. Not level front-to-back.

The cantle plate (rear) of the B-68 will sit slightly higher than the nose when set up. When your weight loads the "sit" area of the B-68, it will sag more than the B-17. Therefore it must start off relatively higher than the cantle of the B-17 to end up level when you are on it.

[Blueberry]

Level the nose of the B-68. Not level front-to-back.

The cantle plate (rear) of the B-68 will sit slightly higher than the nose when set up. When your weight loads the "sit" area of the B-68, it will sag more than the B-17. Therefore it must start off relatively higher than the cantle of the B-17 to end up level when you are on it.

That's how I had it set up when I started. I couldn't move my legs in more than 1 circle without sliding off the saddle if I took my hands off the bars. It was causing major numb hand issues in just a few minutes. I wonder if my position on my bikes is too low for the B68? Saddle and bars are pretty close to level.

[Sky King]

If you are sliding off the front of the B68 just tilt the nose up. The right angle is the one that is comfortable for you - no hard and fast rule. tilt it slightly, take your tools with you and go for a ride. Fiddling is the key and it sounds like you haven't found the sweet spot just yet for you and this saddle. Good Luck

[Blueberry]

If you are sliding off the front of the B68 just tilt the nose up. The right angle is the one that is comfortable for you - no hard and fast rule. tilt it slightly, take your tools with you and go for a ride. Fiddling is the key and it sounds like you haven't found the sweet spot just yet for you and this saddle. Good Luck

Thanks - the problem is that I'm getting soft tissue pain in the front well before I stop sliding off the front. I can't imagine raising the nose more, as it's already digging in and causing pain

Does anyone ride a B68 on a bike with drop bars that are level with/below the saddle?

[Thorn]

Thanks - the problem is that I'm getting soft tissue pain in the front well before I stop sliding off the front. I can't imagine raising the nose more, as it's already digging in and causing pain

Does anyone ride a B68 on a bike with drop bars that are level with/below the saddle?

Yep. I do. But....I ride a B68-Anatomica. I sent a B-68 to Selle Anatomica and had a slot cut into it. The problem with the B68 is it has a rather rigid and raised center line. Once Selle Anatomica was done with the saddle, that ridge was gone and the saddle was very comfortable for riding in the drops. Prior to that? I concur. It was painful.

I have a B68 Imperial on my mountain bike and it works fine, but I haven't tried it on any of my road bikes.

Right now I'm waiting for Rivet Saddles. I've sent email to the owner (a woman) and she's got a wider road saddle in development. The Rivet line is very nice looking and because the wrap the leather they are holding out better than the Anatomicas.

[Sky King]

Yeah, Rivet! I love my rivet pearl, super comfy. Looking forward to Deb bringing in a wider version. I was worried the pearl would be to wide for me but it is just fine. Gilles Berthoud just came out with a wider saddle but it doesn't have a cut out

[BodhiTree]

Does anyone ride a B68 on a bike with drop bars that are level with/below the saddle?

Yes. I have no problems in the drops. I have the nose level and the saddle slid back as far as it will go on the rails. I did have to soften the nose "ridge" with my hands for a couple days before it was really comfortable. I've done that with all my Brooks B67 and B68 saddles, whether they were on bikes with drop bars or not.

[trickycoolj]

Just got my B17 Imperial in the mail today! It's very nice. Finally got enough energy to put it on the Lexa on the trainer. I'm definitely going to like a leather saddle. The slippery thing is an understatement! I nearly got saddle nose where the sun don't shine not expecting that much slipperiness! LOL!

The jury is definitely still out on whether it's wide enough. Feels good in the drops but in the hoods I find I'm slipping forward with the saddle level so my sit bones are just off the saddle where it starts to curve into the nose. This was fairly typical of my Specialized saddle too (on both road and MTB). I have the saddle pushed all the way forward so I'm not sure if this might be an issue outside of the saddle. A friend remarked my stem seemed short. Maybe I need to correct some posture? Hopefully I'll have time to really test this saddle out this weekend and see where I'm at and whether I need the B68 Imperial.