General Cycling Discussion - Brooks saddles?

I'm sure this has been discussed many times, but I am very new here and don't really know where to look.

I also fit into many categories. I am a 59 year old Clydesdale who is back to cycling to lose weight, get fit again, and to just enjoy. I plan to do some day trips, but not really sure I'll ever be ready for full touring, but would like to. I intend to do a lot more on my bike and become a lot less dependent on my car, so I need info on utility cycling.

Amyway, with all that said, I think I want a Brooks saddle. I ride a 10 year old GT Virage Hybrid that I dearly love. I am used to it and it just sits me right. I have changed over some components as needed and am very happy with it. I do need a new saddle. I am currently using a pretty old Trico gel saddle with a cutout. I do have a suspension seat post so do I need a "sprung" saddle?

So which Brooks saddle? Are they really pretty comfortable from the first ride or are they pretty bad at first. I've read a lot of opinions, but would love to hear more. I have a great relationship with my LBS, but the return guarantee from the Brooks place( sorry forgot the name) here on the forum is too good to pass up. Do I get a standard B17 or is there something better for an overweight old guy. I ride about 10 a day now, but when I'm in better shape, I will ride 18 to 25 a day.

Sorry for the long rant, but I wanted you fine folks to have as much background as possible to help me make a decision.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

Hoo boy. Here is something wonderful. Hang tight, you may soon be able to order this one:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=408695

I'd go with the standard B-17.

As for break in periods, being a clyde will work to your advantage. I'd say less than 500 miles and that puppy will be shaped in the mirror image of your hindquarters.

:D

I purchased a B17 Standard this spring (2008) and now have about 200km on it.

For your comparison; I'm 38, 6 foot, 185 pounds and loooking for a meaningful relationship (just...kiddin' there hey?)

At first it was a tad uncomfortable on my 'sit bones', but now I can already see my butt bones in the saddle and I find it more comfortable. I've only done 30km trips so far, so final judgement will be on a 100km plus ride to see how comfortable it is. But it seems hopeful.

When I first bought it, I tapped my knuckle on the hard leather and it made a firm "thump" sound....okaaayyy, this is supposed to be more comfortable?!! But it seems to be true, it's breaking in.

Most people like them. You don't know until you try.

Hoo boy. Here is something wonderful. Hang tight, you may soon be able to order this one:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=408695

That looks very interesting. Thanks! By the way, what does the Siu stand for? I went to college at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville,IL.

Siu is her name.

Take a look at the B67 too. It's a little wider than the B17 and is sprung. I find it more comfortable with an upright posture than the B17. Other saddles you may wish to look at are the B33 and the B73.

Don't be concerned about the weight of the saddle, you are riding to get in shape and not racing, comfort is paramount.

i'm a clydesdale older than you and have a b-17.....from the first ride it worked fine for me........any "pain" was from the muscles that hadn't been used in a looooong time....other than that, tailbone was fine. I got mine from wallbike.com and they have a 6 month return policy if you don't like it.

Like homebody says, go with wallbike.com. I needed about 150 miles for mine to break in, but right out of the box, it was better than what I had. With a suspension seatpost, you shouldn't need one of the sprung models, and a Brooks with springs is the very devil to fit a seat bag to.

Siu is her name.

Take a look at the B67 too. It's a little wider than the B17 and is sprung. I find it more comfortable with an upright posture than the B17. Other saddles you may wish to look at are the B33 and the B73.

Don't be concerned about the weight of the saddle, you are riding to get in shape and not racing, comfort is paramount.

The B67 is a very nice saddle. I have it on my Around-Town fixie which affords a more upright riding position.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/2041174530_2b3ffbc873.jpg?v=0

Interestingly enough, I swapped the saddle over to my Cross-Check which is built up for moderate touring and was pleasantly surprised with the ride. Granted the CC's sporting Midge bar elevated quite a bit, but even in the drops it was still comfortable.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2221/2091722464_895a33f328.jpg?v=0

Here's my take on older guys and B17s: http://bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=1437097&postcount=1

I have B72 on my mountain bike that came with a used bike. Some people are squeamish about that, since it probably soaked up sweat and whatever from a previous owner but that doesn't bother me. Even though it had shaped a bit to the last guy's butt I still find it comfortable enough but a bit too short...i wish the nose was an inch longer. It's intended for slightly upright riding. I just bought a B17 for my Bike Friday last weekend but have been out of town and haven't ridden it yet

Please note that some sprung Brooks saddles like the B72 have double rails (two on each side) and can't be mounted on seat posts with integrated clamps without buying a special adapter (a "seat sandwich"). I found an traditional straight seatpost on eBay that was the right guage for my bike and the Brooks clamp fits on that. If you have an integrated clamp you can buy a seat sandwich from Harris Cyclery http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_sa-o.html#seatsandwich and perhaps elsewhere.

Just got my B17 from Wallbike.com and "proofed" it and just took a short ride on our street.

I have to say it is pretty comfortable right out of the box. I do slip some. Does that stop pretty quickly? I think I have it adjusted pretty well and the nose is up some, so I certainly do not slide off forward.

It is supposed to start raining pretty soon and then for the next couple of days. I sure hope not. I would love to get a couple of rides in soon.

Thanks everyone for the help with this choice. I may regret not waiting for the new one with the cutout, but I just couldn't wait!

Wallbike (the Brooks people with the return policy) say the B17 is their most popular and has the lowest return frequency. I'm thinking they have as much experience with Brooks saddles as anybody.

I think that the Brooks break-in stories that you hear are greatly over stated. Mine were perfectly comfortable after about 25 miles and felt great after about 100.

Off topic - I love riding the network of rail-trail conversions around Edwardsville. My only complaint is I have to drive a piece to get to them.

Off topic - I love riding the network of rail-trail conversions around Edwardsville. My only complaint is I have to drive a piece to get to them.

They are great, aren't they. Edwardsville and Madison County have done a fantastic job making the area very bike friendly. Where are you located?

The slipperyness bothers some people at first but most people seem to either adapt to it or it must settle after a while.

Off topic - I love riding the network of rail-trail conversions around Edwardsville. My only complaint is I have to drive a piece to get to them.
How far is the drive?

Just got my B17 from Wallbike.com and "proofed" it and just took a short ride on our street.

I have to say it is pretty comfortable right out of the box. I do slip some. Does that stop pretty quickly? I think I have it adjusted pretty well and the nose is up some, so I certainly do not slide off forward.

It is supposed to start raining pretty soon and then for the next couple of days. I sure hope not. I would love to get a couple of rides in soon.

Thanks everyone for the help with this choice. I may regret not waiting for the new one with the cutout, but I just couldn't wait!

Ride in the rain...a little water ain't gonna hurt you or the bike and it will help break in the saddle faster.
If the saddle gets wet, let it dry completely then reapply some Proofide.

It is amazing how all you have to do is start a thread with "Brooks Saddle" in the header and it takes off tirelessly.

Hey MJH, if you are 59 years old and a Clydsdale, you either have lower back pain or you will get it (not from biking, but from the rewards of living past 40).

I suggest whatever model you get includes springs. Springer saddles really take a lot of the road shock out of the ride that usually would go right to your back.

I do have lower back pain, but it is getting better as I lose weight and my belly goes down. I have a suspension seat post so I chose to just get an unsprung saddle.

I took a 11 mile ride today and things went very well. It is amazing how good these seemingly rock hard saddles work!

I'm young and thin as a stick, but I never had any problems with my B17. It was pretty much comfortable right out of the box, although with every ride it got more and more comfortable. I absolutely hated my stock saddle though.

I am 49, 5'10 1/2" and 185 1bs, just put a B-17 on an old steel bike. I might have 25 miles on it but I am loving it already. Nothing hurts. I rode a bit last night, made a little adjustment, and like some people say, it felt like it pretty much disappeared under my behind. Mine is on an road bike with handlebars a little higher than the saddle (my back isn't too good and I was never flexible anyway).

How far is the drive?

Living in St Peters it's 30 miles or so for me. If I lived in Toronto it'd be a lot farther.

it's 30 miles or so

Yeah, I guess that would be a bit much to tack on to a ride.

I don't really have pain problems, but do have numbness issues, if you know what I mean. How are Brooks for this? Should I holdout for the new cutout model? Thanks

I don't really have pain problems, but do have numbness issues, if you know what I mean. How are Brooks for this? Should I holdout for the new cutout model? Thanks

I am 58yo 6'2" and about 200# give or take a few, I have always used a Brooks saddle with great sucesss. I just got the new Brooks B17 with cutout, it's great, no numbness issues. :D Not everyone can ride a Brooks but if you can, I highly recommend the new Brooks B17 when it comes out.

Ride in the rain...a little water ain't gonna hurt you or the bike and it will help break in the saddle faster.
If the saddle gets wet, let it dry completely then reapply some Proofide.

But.....a lot of water can really mess them up. Get a cover for you saddle.

But.....a lot of water can really mess them up. Get a cover for you saddle.

and fenders...which is why mine made it through that century in better shape than yours, old man. :p :D

with any luck it'll be dry this year and I can ride the roadie!

and fenders...which is why mine made it through that century in better shape than yours, old man. :p :D

with any luck it'll be dry this year and I can ride the roadie!

Yea, I have the cover now. I ended up finding another Maroon Team Pro so all is good.

Just got my B17 from Wallbike.com and "proofed" it and just took a short ride on our street.

I have to say it is pretty comfortable right out of the box. I do slip some. Does that stop pretty quickly? I think I have it adjusted pretty well and the nose is up some, so I certainly do not slide off forward.

It is supposed to start raining pretty soon and then for the next couple of days. I sure hope not. I would love to get a couple of rides in soon.

Thanks everyone for the help with this choice. I may regret not waiting for the new one with the cutout, but I just couldn't wait!


The smooth slide of the leather saddle is a benefit. Enjoy it. It helps reduce friction and makes your ride a lot nicer. You are just not used to it yet after riding the synthetic saddles. You will be well advised to keep your saddle nose adjusted flat (not pointing up). Some pros actually point the nose down a little to help keep their weight on the pedals.

Rain - a little rain on top of the saddle isn't too bad. HOWEVER, when you ride in the rain, the water slings off of the tire and up onto the under-side of the saddle in great quantity. This is not good and this WILL ruin your saddle. If your saddle gets soaking wet and you ride it very far, it can get swayback just like an old horse.

the best solution is a fender. You don't need a full rear fender - just a 14" fender near the post tube is enough to keep your saddle from getting sprayed.

and fenders...which is why mine made it through that century in better shape than yours, old man. :p :D

with any luck it'll be dry this year and I can ride the roadie!

Don't know if you remember Chip. I had fenders on my bike.

http://buzznet-22.vo.llnwd.net/assets/users16/marinerfan/default/DSCN0831--large-msg-118807441709.jpg

Even with the fenders, rack, and bag the saddle was completely soaked. The leather was so flimsy that I was able to mold it back into shape with my fingers. I needed to have a cover for the saddle like you did.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c263/cubtime100/scan0001.jpg


Since I was a fair weather rider I wasn't prepared for heavy rain. I learned alot from you about how to ride in the nasty stuff including getting some Sealskinz socks!

Take some advice from someone who learned the hard way. If your going to ride with a Brooks saddle in the rain, have some fenders on your bike and a cover. I'll never make that mistake again.

Don't know if you remember Chip. I had fenders on my bike.


I'd forgotten. We'll blame it on Cheri and the lack of fenders on her road bike, throwing road spray all over the place!

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Two more questions:

I almost always have a trunk bag on my bike. Should I still get a fender on the back?
I saw a saddle cover on the wall.bike site, but it said that it would slip off of a B17 if you tried to ride with it. What other saddle covers are available?

Plastic grocery bag. Free and easy to replace - just tie it around the seatpost.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Two more questions:

I almost always have a trunk bag on my bike. Should I still get a fender on the back?
I saw a saddle cover on the wall.bike site, but it said that it would slip off of a B17 if you tried to ride with it. What other saddle covers are available?

Was it the Velox cover? Mine work fine for me. Plastic grocery bags, shower caps, etc. all work too.

If you're gonna be riding in the rain, fenders are useful for much more than protecting your saddle, or your back from a skunk stripe...they also keep the spray from coming up into your face, and most importantly, minimize the road slop getting into your bike's components.

Don't know if you remember Chip. I had fenders on my bike.


Even with the fenders, rack, and bag the saddle was completely soaked. The leather was so flimsy that I was able to mold it back into shape with my fingers. I needed to have a cover for the saddle like you did.

Since I was a fair weather rider I wasn't prepared for heavy rain. I learned alot from you about how to ride in the nasty stuff including getting some Sealskinz socks!

Take some advice from someone who learned the hard way. If your going to ride with a Brooks saddle in the rain, have some fenders on your bike and a cover. I'll never make that mistake again.

Bob, I never did find out if your saddle was salvageable? How did that turn out?

My nasty old Fujita "Belt" was just as ugly post ride as it was pre... so no problem there.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Two more questions:

I almost always have a trunk bag on my bike. Should I still get a fender on the back?
I saw a saddle cover on the wall.bike site, but it said that it would slip off of a B17 if you tried to ride with it. What other saddle covers are available?


A trunk bag probably blocks only part of the spray, so fenders are still a good idea.
You could put the seat cover on the saddle if you are going to park it for any length of time in the rain, but when you are riding, your body is the seat cover.

but when you are riding, your body is the seat cover.

Only for a short while, as Mariner Fan and others, including me, have learned the hard way. Once that water starts running down your back and your shorts start getting wet, so does the saddle. If you are going to ride in a steady rain for any length of time, cover that Brooks with something more than your okole.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Two more questions:

I almost always have a trunk bag on my bike. Should I still get a fender on the back?
I saw a saddle cover on the wall.bike site, but it said that it would slip off of a B17 if you tried to ride with it. What other saddle covers are available?

I think that putting a cover on a nice Brooks saddle defeats the purpose of having a Brooks saddle - unless you have the discipline to put it when it rains and take if off when it is good weather.

To answer your other question "yes" a trunk bag will keep the rain from splashing onto the underside of your seat. One of my tricks is to put an old newspaper or magazine on my rear carrier when it rains (if I am riding a bike without fenders). It works.

Bob, I never did find out if your saddle was salvageable? How did that turn out?

My nasty old Fujita "Belt" was just as ugly post ride as it was pre... so no problem there.

I think it was. I molded it back into shape though it looked kinda weird afterwards. I found a fellow Bike Forums member who had a burgundy Team Pro in like new condition so I bought it and donated the other one to a buddy who needed one.

Mike,

Putting a cover over a Brooks in the rain is only way to go. Of course you take it off when the weather is dry.

Listen to Chip. He rides in all kind of weather and has the gear to do it well.

Mike,

Putting a cover over a Brooks in the rain is only way to go. Of course you take it off when the weather is dry.

Listen to Chip. He rides in all kind of weather and has the gear to do it well.

Yup. I am all for keeping a nice leather saddle out of the rain. Thumbs up for that.

Listen to Chip. He rides in all kind of weather and has the gear to do it well.

I do have a nice butt, don't I?

I do have a nice butt, don't I?

Goes without saying....http://www.venturerider.org/forum/images/smilies/whistling.gif