Road Cycling - Bought a Brooks B17

After researching saddle postings in this forum I decided to purchase a Brooks B17 to replace the cheap plastic saddle that came with my Lemond BA. I had been riding a Serfas Gel seat for a couple months, but still suffered from sore/numb butt syndrome on long (75mi +) rides.

After seeing all the postings regarding saddles, I wanted to report back that after a good fifty mile break in ride, the new saddle is quite a bit more comfortable than my previous, very padded, gel seat though at first I was pretty dubious. The leather saddle feels shockingly hard and sounds like wood when you knock on it. Being a pretty big guy, 6' 230lbs, I didn't think there was any hope of surviving the break in period. Frankly, looking at the Brooks, it didn't look like it could be broken in. I guess a good dose of heat and pressure will move anything.

Thankfully, the Brooks saddle was surprisingly comfortable at the start and after a couple slight adjustments to seat height and for and aft alignment I rode a pretty hard 50 miles and managed three hours in the saddle with no pain or really any discomfort. I'm especially happy that the Brooks is only likely to get more comfortable over time as I break it in more. One day, Seattle to Portland here I come!

Disclaimer: I don't work for Brooks, just thought I'd pass along my experience as the subject of saddles for big guys seems to come up fairly often.

Have you applied any Proofhide. You should do this to the top and bottom of the leather and leave it for a day or so. Dont use any other stuff on the leather.
I prefer several short rides for the break-in period.

I just bought the b-17 yesterday, it should be here Wed. I a bit worried that it might be too wide.. but I have a 6 month return policy on it if I need to switch. I hope that they are as good as everyone states.

I have been breaking in a Brooks pro for about a month and a half. I put it on my fixed gear, and I only ride that about once or twice a week, maybe 20 miles a ride.

I hate it so far, but I am going to stick with it a while longer. It is either getting broken in slowly or my crotch is getting used to it.

I just did a ride with a guy who said he just lost his Brooks after 25 years. He told me they break in after about a year and not to give up.

I have a Brooks Team Pro with pre-softened leather on my fixie and it's been comfortable since day one. I also have the Swift and the B-17......all feel different under my butt, but very comfortable since early on.

hey Captsven,

Tell you what, I'll trade ya the Brooks pro for a San Marco
Regal (slightly used!) if you don't want to wait the year
for the break in :D

Marty

captsven wrtote
" I have been breaking in a Brooks pro for about a month and a half. I put it on my fixed gear, and I only ride that about once or twice a week, maybe 20 miles a ride.

I hate it so far, but I am going to stick with it a while longer. It is either getting broken in slowly or my crotch is getting used to it."

My friend had a Pro and although he rides hard he had trouble breaking it in. I beleieve the lPro leather my be thicker than a B17 since the Pro is designed more for pros who probably ride harder than the majority of us.

I have no problems with 2 B17's. However, a mid 70's Fji SRS-10 I bought had a Fujita tensioned leather saddle (like Brooks) only thicker. I used it for a few rides, but it was not as comfortable as the B-17. The Fujita was at least 1 mm thicker leather than the B17. I attribute the hard ride to the thicker leather.

Good luck with the Pro and I hope it breaks in for you.

John Hawrylak
Woodstown NJ

is there any stretched leather saddles that don't look as wak as the brooks?

Sorry guys I am just whining a little. I am not giving up just yet. I figure a little pain now but much comfort for years to come!

It is nice having more than one bike, because I can take a few days off of the bike that has the brooks on it to let my butt recover.

Phatman,

Stretched leather saddles don't look "whacked", they
look classic.
For a more classic look check out the Regal by San Marco,
or a swallow by brooks (hard to find and EXPENSIVE!).

Marty

Here's a pic of the Regal.

first of all, the word is "wak". Anyway, I just really don't like the look of rivets. It just makes the saddle look really old, unsuitable for a high-tech racing bike like mine.

Originally posted by Phatman
first of all, the word is "wak". Anyway, I just really don't like the look of rivets. It just makes the saddle look really old, unsuitable for a high-tech racing bike like mine.

If looks are important, than choose a saddle for looks. Most people, however, do not have eyes in their butts. :p

There aren't any stretched leather saddles that are made
without rivets that I am aware of.

I'll spell whacked anyway I want
from Oxford Dictionary:


whack v. & n. colloq. --v.tr. 1 strike or beat forcefully with a
sharp blow. 2 (as whacked adj.) esp. Brit. tired out;
exhausted. --n. 1 a sharp or resounding blow. 2 sl. a
share.
¨{have a whack at sl. attempt. out of whack esp.
US sl. out of order; malfunctioning.
¨{¨{whacker n. whacking n. [imit., or alt. of THWACK]
:D

I don't know, the Brooks, and the Regal were plenty suitable
for Masi, Colnago, Bianchi etc. besides, no one is gonna look
at the saddle when you are sitting on it. Its a comfort thing.

Marty

Originally posted by Phatman
first of all, the word is "wak".

What word is "wak?" What does it mean? What's its derivation? Is it related to "whacky?"

RichC

You can get your definition to wack at the urbandictionary.com (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wack)

I would say it means lame, not cool.



My Brooks B-17 champion arrived on Monday. I have ridden about 18 miles so far and not discomfort. It feels really good, looking forward to it becoming broken in. The only difficultly I have had is getting it positioned just right, minor tweaks, forward, down and tilt. I think I am very close and happy with it right now.

When treating it with Proofide do you always put it on the underside too?

My Swallow is still breaking in after about six months. Lucky my a$$ is as hard as my head.

It graces my Cannondale fine.

Originally posted by Patch29
When treating it with Proofide do you always put it on the underside too?

No, just the first time, and you don't need to polish it or anything. After that, reapply to the underside only if it gets really wet.

RichC

Ahh, yes.........the Swallow has that timeless look, it practically goes with any bike, modern or retro. I don't think Brooks themselves makes Swallows anymore. I believe the ones available today are made by soneone else using Brooks leather. Still, a beautiful saddle....

George,

I don't think Brooks supplies leather to anyone.
My guess is that any Swallows being sold are NOS.

Greg, I thought you bought the Swift.

Proofide will help with the slipperiness. I proofide the
underside about once a year unless as mentioned it
gets really wet.

Marty

Originally posted by lotek
Greg, I thought you bought the Swift.


Did I say Swallow? I guess I did. I meant Swift, damn it.

The part about my hard head still stands.

The Swift can be had at a record low of $140.00+- from Nashbar. At only 100gms more than an average racing saddle, one might consider this gem.

I have also heard that NOS swallows can still be found.

Originally posted by lotek
George,
I don't think Brooks supplies leather to anyone.
My guess is that any Swallows being sold are NOS.
Marty
I was talking about the Swallows sold by Wallingford, for example. I believe they are aftermarket saddles using Brooks leather. I bought one from them last year. I didn't know NOS were still available..... I thought Brooks stopped manufacturing Swallows a dozen years ago...

Patch29 wrote

"When treating it with Proofide do you always put it on the underside too?"[QUOTE]

The Brooks booklet I received with a B17 states to put Proofhide on the bottom of the saddle if you do not had mudguards. The wax protects the bottom from dirt, etc. They say to do it once & forget about it.

Sounds good.

I have fenders so I did not treat the bottom.

John Hawrylak
Woodstown NJ

I put a B-17 on my (gasp!) Calfee. Too damn comfortable not to. So in addition to the Calfee, I've got B-17s on my Kirk and Woodrup.

BTW, I've got a brand new honey-colored Champion Flyer (a sprung B-17) for sale, comes with a tin of Proofide.

Wallingford is out of Swallows. There is a 1950's model B57 (?)
on e-bay. I have toyed with the idea of this one but I think it
will go much higher than its current $45.

e-bay Brooks B57 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2188487239&category=420)

Marty