General Cycling Discussion - Trimmed My Brooks

I took my old B17 off my bike and put on a old Brooks Professional that I had. I cut it first, not a great job of finishing, but I think it looks much better than it did and it rides great. This was the first time I ever cut a bike saddle so please excuse the amature work. I wasn't sure how to finish the edges any better so I just figured I would ride instead. The first pic is the original B17 (very broken in but VERY comfortable). Next is the Pro from the top and then the side and the last is the cut Brooks.

Looks great! Do you feel any difference? Is it sagging more? I have been thinking about this, but it's a big step, and those side bits are rubbing me a bit. I'm concerned that it would sag more.

Looks nice. Given my density, I'm looking forward to the Brooks B17 with side lacing.

I didn't cut the B17 because it already sags quite a bit. The Pro was quite stiff before the cut and no different afterwards. I don't feel any difference at all.

accccckkkkkk!!!! Cutting a Brooks!!!!!

You barbarian!!!!!!!!!! :beer:

Looks nice. Given my density, I'm looking forward to the Brooks B17 with side lacing.
I'm at 200 lbs. and it is doing just fine.



accccckkkkkk!!!! Cutting a Brooks!!!!!
You barbarian!!!!!!!!!!
You would be surprised at how common it is. People have been doing it for as long as Brooks have been made.

I'm at 200 lbs. and it is doing just fine.



You would be surprised at how common it is. People have been doing it for as long as Brooks have been made.


You might be interested in this (http://www.geocities.com/sldbowners/1973/73wompgc1.html).

You might be interested in this (http://www.geocities.com/sldbowners/1973/73wompgc1.html).
????????????? I see nothing?

You might be interested in this (http://www.geocities.com/sldbowners/1973/73wompgc1.html).
Yeah, Bob has a great site there. I refer to it all the time. My desktop doesn't pick up the pictures for some reason. I have to access it through my laptop. Probably firewall related.

Here's my trimmed Pro. I had to shave off about 1/2" inch from either end of the frame with a bench grinder to get it not to rub me the wrong way. Worked out great, and made it a bit less stiff but not too saggy (soggy?) :)

Just got in a new Swift yesterday. Still contemplating whether it'll go under the knife, and how.

Nice job, it looks great.

Just got in a new Swift yesterday. Still contemplating whether it'll go under the knife, and how.
I rode my Swift for over a year before I decided to trim it. Since I wanted to keep the embossed Swift logo intact, the butchering of this saddle was not as radical as others I've done. Keep on butchering! :D

I rode my Swift for over a year before I decided to trim it. Since I wanted to keep the embossed Swift logo intact, the butchering of this saddle was not as radical as others I've done. Keep on butchering! :D

Yeah George, I've always liked the way that one looks. :) Doing so to my Swift and not having the tools to re-skiv the skirt like the original will prolly take something away from the aesthetics. I dunno, I haven't decided yet.

But then, A Swallow looks great and it isn't skivved, (nice stitching tho'!).

I think what would look positively RAVASHING would be a Colt done well, like these Photoshop versions I did, (stock Colt shown for comparison):

I rode my Swift for over a year before I decided to trim it. Since I wanted to keep the embossed Swift logo intact, the butchering of this saddle was not as radical as others I've done. Keep on butchering! :D

Hey G, apparently you didn't feel that lacing was needed on the Swift after the chop job? I'll wait until this one is fully broken before I'll know.

However, my chopped Pro still feels better to me than the Swift (so far) because on the Swift I'm sitting on the inside of the sit bones, where on the Pro, I'm fully on the sit bones.

However, my chopped Pro still feels better to me than the Swift (so far) because on the Swift I'm sitting on the inside of the sit bones, where on the Pro, I'm fully on the sit bones.Hmmm.....good point and I tend agree with you there. All my chopped Pros always felt a tad bit more comfortable than my Swift.

Do you happen to know the width of a Swallow - it's 160 mm isn't it?