Tandem Cycling - Brooks B-17 saddle setup
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I know saddles are an intensely personal choice, but I've chosen a Brooks B-17 to be mine. I have a few questions about going about the proper set-up for it. My handlebars are approximately even with my seat, and I have received advice to tilt the nose of the Brooks up. Doing that produces numbness in short order. I also realize that the Brooks does take time to break in, but keeping the 'boys' happy is my first priority.
Are any of you using a B-17, and do you have any pearls of wisdom to cast my way regarding how you have arranged the saddle, (tilt, nose off-center, etc.) to make it perfect for you?
Gordon P
05-24-03, 11:32 PM
Not sure if a B-17 is any different than adjusting any other saddle, but what I do is carry the appropriate tools with me when I ride and fine tune it until it feels right. Since it takes a while to break in a leather saddle this may take a little longer. Small changes can make all the difference in comfort for the “boys” and for the stem of the penis. Once while on a multi-week ride my “bits” went numb and lowering the saddle a couple of millimetres remedied this alarming problem. Sorry to have had to share this with you, but it could happen to you too.
I can't ride with my Brooks Team Pro nose tilted up. I have to keep it flat to ever so slightly down.
gattm99
05-25-03, 04:19 PM
B-17 is a great choice of saddle, I've been riding one for a few years. Seems like the angle of the saddle is a little tough to get right though. I had mine level which was the best for riding the top bars, but when I got on the hoods, drops, it hurt. Droping the nose down a bit helped but made the rear of the seat harder to stay on. I think the problem may be that a Brooks seat sags in the middle a little on a riders weight?
MichaelW
05-29-03, 04:07 AM
After a few weeks of regular riding, your sit-bones will form 2 dimples in the saddle. Till then, you may feel like you are sliding around a bit. I keep my B17 level and have no real problems with it.
Im not sure exactly where on the saddle you are supposed to sit. I move back and forward anyway, but seem to prefer sitting towards the rear of the saddle.