Commuting - How many commuters using Brooks saddle?

How many commuters using Brooks saddle?
Just curious.

Not me. Got other bike items on the top of the shopping list.

Just put one on the commuter a couple weeks ago. Still breaking it in, but its getting much better.
Man..those things are slippery and hard as a rock at first.

Brooks on all my bikes. Comfortable and durable, what's not to like.

- does being a commuter mean you have to have a job?

- just asking, 'cause i do my Wednesday food shopping via bike and (like on all my bikes) use a Brooks...

:-)

+1 on the brooks. I loved it from the minute I put it on my bike and it just keeps getting better. I even have a spare for when this one wears out in 25 years.

I have one on my regular road bike, but am using an old Terry Fly on my commuter.

I'll vote yes cuz I'd prefer to have a Brooks on my commuter.

I just bought one from the suggestions here.

Not here. My bibs seem to be working just fine. I would like to try one but my next bike purchase will most likely prevent that.

I actually use a Belt saddle, which was Fuji's leather saddle. Essentially the same quality, though they don't make them anymore. I like it, and if you can find one N.O.S. on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/vintage-leather-belt-fujita-saddle-seat-fuji-approved_W0QQitemZ260126365782QQihZ016QQcategoryZ106952QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebaypho tohosting), get it. Same quality as a Brooks without the cachet (and therefore price).

I keep thinking a cushy saddle will be more comfortable. For whatever reason it never is.

That rock of a saddle they call a Brooks B-17 is the one that gets the miles. It defies logic, but my ass agrees... Brooks is the way to go.

God no.

Flites all around.

I keep thinking a cushy saddle will be more comfortable. For whatever reason it never is.

That rock of a saddle they call a Brooks B-17 is the one that gets the miles. It defies logic, but my ass agrees... Brooks is the way to go.
One problem with a cushy saddle is that your body sinks into it and can pinch nerves and cut off blood supply to the nethers.

Of the four typical problems with a saddle: nerves, blood, rash, and pain caused by pressing flesh into bone... the only one I get on my brooks is the general pain, which only happens when my butt isn't conditioned from not riding for a while. I've never had numbness or rash from my rock hard Brooks, but have from every other saddle I've tried.

B-67 installed on my Breezer about a month ago.

Five B17's
One Flyer
One B67

Only one of the bikes hasn't been used as a "commuter"

5 bikes, 5 Brooks, all do commuting duty at one time or another.

Not yet... and I say yet with heavy weighting... me wants! :D

B17. Finest saddle ever. (At least, I think so...)

Have a B17 on my old 520 that I commute on and a Ti Swift on my Ti road bike. Both very comfortable.

Have a B17 on my old 520 that I commute on and a Ti Swift on my Ti road bike. Both very comfortable.
A Trek 520?

That's my commuter. How wise/narrow is the B17?

How many commuters using Brooks saddle?
* yes
* no

Sorry, can't answer that one because it's not a yes/no question...

For those commuting in street clothes, do the Brooks saddles get your pants all dirty? :eek:

I've happily used a Terry Men's Liberator for years. Just started on a new Terry Ti Fly and had a dirty seat for the first couple of rides. Seems to have stopped now.

Sorry, can't answer that one because it's not a yes/no question...

Most of us 'got it' you can too:rolleyes:

For those commuting in street clothes, do the Brooks saddles get your pants all dirty? :eek:

I've happily used a Terry Men's Liberator for years. Just started on a new Terry Ti Fly and had a dirty seat for the first couple of rides. Seems to have stopped now.

I think its only the black ones that dirty rears...

i've owned one for a month but haven't put it on yet - been raining almost every day, can't do that to my bran-new saddle :(

I run Brooks B17s on all three of my main commuters. I love them and so does my butt.

I use the B-15 on my folder

BikeForums converted me to Brooks. Easily, the best upgrade I've done to the bike. It's even comfy in street clothes -- and what more could you want as a commuter?

My Swift is supposed to arrive tomorrow.

I use a leather saddle, just not a Brooks. Old and worn and Free.

i've owned one for a month but haven't put it on yet - been raining almost every day, can't do that to my bran-new saddle :(

Get a Velox waterproof saddle cover, or just have your groceries bagged in plastic next time you go shopping.

I just got my B-17 on Monday. I put it on, got the Proofide on it, etc. and then it was really late so I only had a chance to take it to the grocery across the street. (0.6mi r/t) I was impressed with a couple things:

1) The comfort level, even without a "breaking in" period.
2) The slickness! Holy cow, I nearly slid right off it!

Yesterday it got the inaugural commute (15mi r/t) and I realized why most pictures I've seen of Brooks saddles look a little bit "nose-up." The way the leather is stretched, I kept sliding forward when the saddle was dead level. I had to keep pushing/scooting myself backwards (very tough on the arms and shoulders for 15 miles) to keep from sliding too far forward. In turn, this kinda made my butt sore, because I wasn't always properly on my sit-bones. When I got home, I fiddled with it and put the nose up a bit and rode it around the parking lot... Erk! Too far up... back inside to fiddle with it, then out for more lap in the parking lot. After a few rounds of this, I think I've gotten it right where I want it.
Today's commute was pretty comfortable. I might put the nose down just a hair from where it is now, but the overall comfort is phenominal. I think maybe Clydesdales have an easier time breaking in leather saddles because we've got the weight to break them in quicker. I've heard of break-in mileage from as low as 50 miles to some people returning their Brooks after almost 600 miles because they just couldn't get comfortable on it.
So far, I like my B-17. The only thing I'll have to remember is to stand up every once in a while on long rides. I was very used to my old saddle which had a center cut-out, so I didn't have to worry about my junk falling alseep. I had that happen once, long ago, on a non-cut-out saddle... You don't make that mistake twice.

I think its only the black ones that dirty rears...

Only if you oil them w/ something that mobilizes the dye. Otherwise, no color transfer. My black one, I haven't treated the top at all. 3k miles, no staining. My honey one, just for the heck of it, I threw a tiny amount of nikwax on top, also no color transfer, 1k miles so far.

I do, but honestly, I'm looking at trying something else. My friend helped me put together my bike, and he told me to get one, so I did. That being said, in my research it seems that the only REAL constant amongst bicycle saddles is that everyone has their own tastes. I've only got a few hundred miles on the seat, so I'm going to give it 500 or so, but I'm also looking at something with a little more give. We'll see.

-- James

B.17 on my folder, and it works great. It's been said before, but the highest praise for a saddle is that you simply don't notice it, and that's what mine's like.

Edit: To be precise, it's a B.17 Narrow

I use a B17 as well, mostly due to spending too much time on these forums. On my first long ride I noticed I was sliding a bit sometimes but I never really felt any pain, discomfort or numbness. The more I ride the less I notice my B17 and that's definately a good thing.

Brooks is the best!

Brooks B17 Champion Special user here, as of a few weeks ago. I'm liking it. I even tilted it up the other day.

Still need to get ahold of a can of Proofide, though...

I have the B-17 Champion special. I can ride for hours and remain comfortable. A couple of times I have commuted to work in shorts with no padding and it's certainly doable.

Don't know if the B-17 is the best, although I like standards. I can't afford the $300 saddles Brooks sells to know the difference. :rolleyes:

Get a Velox waterproof saddle cover, or just have your groceries bagged in plastic next time you go shopping.

I just got my B-17 on Monday. I put it on, got the Proofide on it, etc. and then it was really late so I only had a chance to take it to the grocery across the street. (0.6mi r/t) I was impressed with a couple things:

1) The comfort level, even without a "breaking in" period.
2) The slickness! Holy cow, I nearly slid right off it!

Yesterday it got the inaugural commute (15mi r/t) and I realized why most pictures I've seen of Brooks saddles look a little bit "nose-up." The way the leather is stretched, I kept sliding forward when the saddle was dead level. I had to keep pushing/scooting myself backwards (very tough on the arms and shoulders for 15 miles) to keep from sliding too far forward. In turn, this kinda made my butt sore, because I wasn't always properly on my sit-bones. When I got home, I fiddled with it and put the nose up a bit and rode it around the parking lot... Erk! Too far up... back inside to fiddle with it, then out for more lap in the parking lot. After a few rounds of this, I think I've gotten it right where I want it.
Today's commute was pretty comfortable. I might put the nose down just a hair from where it is now, but the overall comfort is phenominal.
Basically my experience also. At first it is very slick and you tend to slide of the front. Slowly you just settle into the saddle and you no longer think about it.
Craig

Two B-17s and a Champion Flyer Special. I'm considering getting one for my grocery getter/rain bike, but it will have to be a little wider than the models I currently use as the seating position is very upright on that bike. The thing I've noticed about Brooks seats is that, even if they're not that comfortable at the beginning of the ride, they're usually no worse by the end of the ride. Most seats just keep getting more and more uncomfortable until it's unbearable.

Someday, perhaps...when Hell Freezes Over, or I get so senile that I think heavy leather and copper rivets looks good with carbon fiber. :D

Get a Velox waterproof saddle cover, or just have your groceries bagged in plastic next time you go shopping.

Or, the next time you stay in a nice hotel, grab one of the shower caps from the bathroom. Works better than a plastic bag thanks to the elastic around the bottom.

B17 narrow on my ss/fixie, B17 standard on my Fuji touring/road double/commuter, and B17 Narrow - 34 years old on my Raleigh. I ride all to work. The newly acquired Paramount has something else and the even newer half built Schwinn Prelude has a beat up suede saddle I have to replace.

B17 standard going on my 7.2fx just....gasp...as...pant sooon... as I can get the friggin bolt loose!!! Dagnabit!!!!

Team Pro on my fixie. The touring bike also sees some commuter duty, but it doesn't have a Brooks. My butt also seems to like expensive Selle Italia seats pretty well too.

Az

B-67 installed on my Breezer about a month ago.
+1, but about 5 months ago. :)

yes. all my bikes sport Brooks. Sprung Brooks are UBER-Comfy, there's some B-17s in the stable as well.

I have about 5200 miles on my B17, and just added a Champion Flyer Special. Still have one more to purchase. I seem to have this obsession with a Swift for my Karate Monkey.

I took the Brooks plunge a few weeks ago. Now have a B17 on the bike. It feels so good already, I can´t wait to see when it finally breaks in. Thanks BF :beer:

B17 on my commuter and a B17 Narrow on my road bike.