Brooks Saddles

[stella]

Stella - did you ever try a sprung? any disadvantages that you know of (other than total lack of coolness) to riding road bike with sprung saddle?

Thanks

The only disadvantages is the pressure on the soft tissue because of the riding position on a road bike with the handlebars set below the saddle. I believe, based mostly on my experience, that this is because I ride differently on my road versus my commuter versus my (recently sold ) 3 speed comfort bike.

On my road bike (w/the team pro s): there are times I am slightly off my saddle to absorb the road bumps. (In this position, my pedals are in the 9am and 3pm position, my arms are slightly bent and I am barely on the saddle). Also, because the handlebars are lower, my soft tissue tends to make more contact with the saddle, esp those times I am in the drops. I think this is why the b17 did not work for me on this bike.

On my commuter (which has dropped handlebars and the B17): the saddle and handlebars are just about even. I tend to be more upright and on my saddle a lot more. More pressure is on my rear bones due to my riding position, but some still on the soft tissue. I still get off the saddle when hitting bumps or the unavoidable pot hole.

My experience with sprung saddles has been limited to 3 speed bikes. (the type was ridden by the Wicked witch of the West in "Wizard of Oz"). The sprung saddle was very comfy. more of my weight was on the rear bones than the soft tissue. Sort of like sitting at my desk.

Another recent discovery: if the shorts have more padding (my nalani brand shorts), I have more soft tissue pain on my road bike. Niethre my sugoi's shorts nor my adidas bibs give me that problem, regardless which bike/saddle. I concluded that is because of the padding.

However, with Bill's return policy, I say try the sprung model.

how goes the assessment between the b17 and the team pro s?