Brooks rails, S vs Standard

[Desert Tortoise]

I got a Team Pro S, width wise works great. Problem is I have it as far back is it will go and it still feels too far forward. I feel crunched when I sit where I am supposed to and when I scoot back to where the rest of me feels comfortable, I end up sitting on the metal. Talked to Bill at Wallingford Bikes, where I got the saddle, to see if the B17 would work better.

Don't know if I can explain it as well as he did but here goes. He said the 2 frames are the same length where the mounting plate goes onto the saddle frame. So getting a B17 would not do anything for me with respect to moving the saddle back. My only other options would be the Swift or Swallow (I think that was what he said) but looking at them as I spoke to him I had to rule them out because of their narrowness.

The other option is an offset seatpost. Has anyone had experience with this? I really don't want to change my seatpost but I love this saddle. Although if I did go the offset route, I would exchange the S for a standard. I did not realize nor appreciate how much of a difference the longer nose makes.

Any thoughts and ideas appreciated, thanks.

[Blueberry]

It really depends on how much setback you need/your seat tube angle/etc. I have to have a seatpost that has as much setback as you can buy, and slam the saddle all the say back. Then I'm close to KOPS (which is my comfy position on the bike - though it's not without debate). A brooks isn't close for me

[blackhillsbiker]

I ended up with a Velo Orange Grand Cru seatpost to get the setback I wanted. My B-67S really does have short rails. It's perfect on the setback seatpost. YMMV.

Deb

The guy at the LBS said that most of the Brooks saddles weren't designed to take into account the more compact geometries popular on recent bicycles.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I had a B17S. the rails on it are very short. I felt like I couldn't get far enough back to feel balanced.
My husband said the rials on the regular B17 were much longer. We sold the B17S and got the B17. The rails were much longer, both fore and aft, and we were able to position the saddle about 1 1/2' further back on the seat post than with the B17s. It helped a LOT my feeling of being off balance.

I responded recently to another thread on this same subject, in which I included photos comparing my two saddles on the same bike:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=37357

[Desert Tortoise]

Thanks ladies! BleeckerSt, I remember that post which is why I thought going from the Team Pro S to the standard B17 would work. According to Bill that would not work, yet it worked for you. What am I missing?

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Thanks ladies! BleeckerSt, I remember that post which is why I thought going from the Team Pro S to the standard B17 would work. According to Bill that would not work, yet it worked for you. What am I missing?

Well I have no idea. Bill probably has lots of saddle selling experience. But then again he's not a woman bike rider, and he's not me. He should maybe ride a few thousand miles having my *ss, and then tell me I should back to the B17S. lol!

[Desert Tortoise]

That's funny! One of the interesting things I've come across in bicycling is that the smallest change can have the biggest impact and that experts are great, but so are the regular riders' knowledge. I respect expert opinions, they are often very helpful, but everyday people also have great insight and sometimes can even provide a perspective an expert may not think of. Not because they lack anything, just another pair of eyes.

I'm thinking of exchanging the S model for the standard. I still have a few months left on my warranty period.

Thanks!!

[blackhillsbiker]

I couldn't get comfortable until I got the setback seatpost. If I had it to do over again, I'd get the B-67 Standard. By the time I figured it out, though, the S was already broken in. I love that saddle!

Deb