Road Cycling - brooks + gel shorts? & why no springs on road saddles

Quick question.

Based on a numb package on rides over 1 hour, suggestions on threads here, and a money back guarantee I am going to order the brooks B-17 saddle at Wallingford's web site (http://www.wallbike.com) .

I know it is a non padded form fitting saddle, and that is part of the comfort of it I guess. Does that mean it wont be as comfortable with gel padded shorts?

Will gel shorts alter the break in?

Also, you guys seem to not flame for dumb questions, so here goes: why don't people get the version with springs for a road bike? There is a B-17 with springs available called the champion flier for about the same price. I've seen road bikes with springs in the seat post, why not a sprung saddle? I'm sure there is a reason, I just dont know what it is.

Thanks for replies everyone.

Best Regards,
Jeff

Springs waste energy. You use energy to move the springs, not the bike.

I think road bikies are a very conservative lot and very image conscious.

Modern compact frames leave plenty of seat post space to allow an anti-shock seat post or sprung saddle, but that would look "soft" on my hard road bike.

Sprung saddles and antishock seatposts while hugely sensible have a "commuter" image, along with wicker baskets.

At least that's why I don't use a sprung Brooks ! I don't want my mates to take the piss. A poor reason, but the real one for me.

Stew

here's the scenario..

buying a stiff bike, aluminum frame for example, makes pedaling efficiency higher, theoretically, because the frame has very little flex (if it does), but the ride will be bumpy as a consequence. Using a seat with a spring for example, will soften the ride but will also eliminate the benefits of the stiff frame..

The best option, for me at least, if you consider comfort is to use a less stiffer frame, like CrMoly, etc. Since the weight difference of a steel frame vs an aluminum frame is only about 1lb, I see it as a feasible option.. Good Steel frames are a bit expensive, but the ride is very good..

One big issue with Brooks saddles is the weight. At 789 grams listed weight, the Championship Flyer is no lightweight, not that the B17 is much lighter at 689 grams. Those are listed weights and from what I've heard, they're conservative.

As someone who has used and continues to use Brooks saddles on some of my bikes (more for the classic look than for comfort), I don't find them as comfortable on a racing bike as a standard lightweight saddle. They're fine if you're not running much, if any, drop between your bars and saddle. Add three or four inches of drop and a standard Flite becomes much more comfortable. On my race bike, I'll take the 600+ gram savings with my SLR TA over a Champ Flyer every time.

Gel shorts work just fine with a Brooks saddle.

I've actually used a B72 saddle on a roadbike (for a looong tour, before I got my Team Professional), and it has these little "loop" springs. Otherwise, it only weighs 25g more than a B17.

The reason why you don't see sprung road saddles is weight. Nobody wants to add 1 lb to a 18 lb bike.

The lighter weight Brooks sprung saddles are used by some touring cyclists who enjoy rough trails. These days, many "sport/fitness" bikes are fitted with suspension saddles, which are the modern equivelent. I dont know which is better, but the sprung saddles seems to be more reliable and longer lasting. If you factor in the weight of a sus post, then a Brooks is not that heavy.

>>>>>>Also, you guys seem to not flame for dumb questions, so here goes: why don't people get the version with springs for a road bike? There is a B-17 with springs available called the champion flier for about the same price. I've seen road bikes with springs in the seat post, why not a sprung saddle? I'm sure there is a reason, I just dont know what it is.<<<<<<

In my opinion, you should have order both of them and kept the best of the two. If you're got a numb package after an hour of riding (as you state), I can almost assure you the Champion flier was the saddle you should have ordered.

I have one of the most agressive Brooks saddle with three springs on my hybrid and discovered it did NOT need to be broken in like the B-17. It was fine from the start and I can officially say that my numb package days are over. If the B-17 doesn't work out, get the Champion Flier ASAP.