Brooks Saddles

[Veronica]

I didn't know some of them came in GREEN.

I have two Finesse saddles in British racing Green.

V.

[pooks]

GORGEOUS. Of course, the honey will look better on my bike. But still, if the b67 doesn't work and I have to try something different, I might ask if there's a green saddle that would work better. (I hope the b67 is perfect.)

[pooks]

It came!

I opened the box and saw the Brooks box inside and ran to get my camera to document this moment.

Couldn't find the camera, so never mind, I can't wait any longer.

Open the box.

See the saddle.

The beautiful honey b67 saddle.

Pick it up.

Heavy!

Feel it.

HARD.

Smell it.

Leather!!!

Only thing left to do is put it on the bike, but I don't have time right now -- already took too much time admiring the saddle and now posting this.

But.

She is here.

:-)

[farrellcollie]

Pooks - don't be alarmed if it takes a few tries to get it adjusted up down fore and aft. I usually carry the right size allen wrench in my pocket or bike bag for the first week or so while I tweak the adjustments.(I have three brooks) after I get the adjustment right - I hope I never have to take the saddle off again.

[pooks]

Thanks! I only rode it about a mile (HOUSE was about to come on!) but it WAS slippery and I WAS sliding forward if I wasn't careful. I assume that means the nose needs to be raised, even though it doesn't look like it?

Also, I'm sitting way on the very back of the saddle, same as the other one. I can't figure out if that's the typical place or if I'm sitting way back behind where people typically sit. But it feels okay when I do that (as long as I don't slide forward).

I put some proofhide on it last night and then polished it. It still feels slick to me. I wonder if I didn't use enough.

Anyway, I'll be riding today! And I need to figure out how to adjust it -- that's a new one for me!

[farrellcollie]

It will feel slick for awhile even after proofhinding -for me I either get used to it or it gets better-don't know which - it takes a couple or so weeks.

[pooks]

I'm FURIOUS. This is the most perfect morning for a ride since I started riding -- it's 64 degrees outside! I'm getting ready to go and --

I have a flat. Damn, I knew that. Or rather, I knew that before I rode last night, it was almost flat. I hadn't ridden in days because of rain so I pumped it up and hoped for the best. This morning? Flat again.

I guess this is the morning I get to learn to patch it or change it. But if it heats up before I get this thing fixed I'll be VERY sad. Dang.

[pooks]

Okay, phone rang and it's a call reminding me I have a doc's appt this morning. So I've rearranged my mental plans. I'm going to take my bike with me, and after the appt. go to the LBS and buy a tube and have them show me how to put it on. (I have tubes already, but it seems the right thing to do, to at least buy a tube from them, right?)

Then I'll ride. Whatever the temp. And surely it won't be in the 90s already!

But it sure does chap me to miss out on riding when it's 64!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks! I only rode it about a mile (HOUSE was about to come on!) but it WAS slippery and I WAS sliding forward if I wasn't careful. I assume that means the nose needs to be raised, even though it doesn't look like it?

Also, I'm sitting way on the very back of the saddle, same as the other one. I can't figure out if that's the typical place or if I'm sitting way back behind where people typically sit. But it feels okay when I do that (as long as I don't slide forward).

I put some proofhide on it last night and then polished it. It still feels slick to me. I wonder if I didn't use enough.

Anyway, I'll be riding today! And I need to figure out how to adjust it -- that's a new one for me!

If you feel you are sliding forward, tilt the nose up a bit more- just a TINY BIT at a time! You'll know if you tilted the nose TOO far up when your girly bits get too much pressure on a several mile ride. When I tried tipping the nose down a bit, I felt I was constantly sliding forward onto my hands- highly annoying! As soon as I tipped the nose up- problem gone.

Expect some sit bone soreness for at least the first week as your butt adjusts to the hard new leather and the new seat shape- my soreness went away after that. Our bodies need to adjust to new things.

Take plenty of Proofhide on your finger and rub it in everywhere you can on the UNDERSIDE of the saddle too. You don't need to do that more than once, I would think.
But proofhiding the top (and edges!) should be done several times. Rub plenty of it into the surface with your fingers, let dry 15 minutes, buff off. A Q-tip will cleanup any stuff that gets in the top holes. I've Proofhided mine twice now in 2 weeks, about to do a third time. (I rode on it for several weeks first without putting anything on it just to check it out) I've ridden for about 5 weeks total on it, and I just noticed for the first time yesterday two subtle indents forming where my sit bones go- wheee!
I rode on it 40 miles on Monday and only got a little soreness (along with the entire rest of my body, considering my previous longest ride ever was 23 miles!)

My DH put neatsfoot oil on his new honey colored Brooks, and the color turned to a rich brown instead of honey. Still looks nice, but it's now a lovely brown saddle. I put only Proofhide on mine, and the honey color has only deepened slightly, but did not turn dark. So if you want to keep the honey toned effectas much as possible, I suggest using ONLY Proofhide.

I would think sitting far back on the seat is a good thing as long as it doesn't cause problems...

[xeney]

My Brooks is a year old and I have yet to put anything on it, because we had a series of used Brooks saddles in this house that were completely ruined by being over "conditioned." I never had the sliding issue -- the B-67 is pebbled, isn't it? But I also never ride mine with bike shorts on, and I think street clothes may be less slippy than Lycra.

[mimitabby]

I agree with Lisa, turn up the nose a tiny bit.
and proofhide.. should be less slick after that.
and yes, it is pebbly, but if you are wearing really
slick clothing, you will feel like it is slippery.

[KnottedYet]

the slipperiness really does wear off after a few rides.

Nice thing about it being slippery at first is that you immediately know if your seat isn't level!

[pooks]

Well, I didn't make it to the bike shop, and am now home. I get to decide now whether to figure out how to change/patch a tire on my own or wait for the hubster.

And I have a tube question. I guess I'll poke around and look for the right place to ask that one....

[Bikingmomof3]

I am a little behind, but better late then never. Congratulations on your new Brooks saddle. Enjoy.

[pooks]

I finally got my flat fixed and got on my bike yesterday for 7 miles. Feels pretty good -- I still find myself with my sitbones almost hanging off the back edge of the seat, as that is most comfortable..

After the ride I ended up raising the seat higher and pushing it back farther. I'm beginning to think I'm trying to turn my hybrid into a road bike. I'll see how it feels today.

One thing of note -- the very helpful guy at the LBS did his best to convince me that the Brooks wasn't going to be as good as one of their serfas or other softer saddles. A definite bias against Brooks, at least at that store!