Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Brooks Users - A question

I've put about 750 miles or so on my Team Professional Titanium brooks and am running in to a problem.

The left side of the saddle, or where my left sit bone primarily sits has sagged down to the point where I have the rivet hitting my butt. Today I have a sore spot. The right side is not sagging nearly as much so I fear tensioning will not do anything - and i've read it's something that usually shouldn't be done till far later in the life, anyways.

Well, after posting this I read some more on the web and decided to tension it some. The sag is gone so hopefully that is all that was needed!

UPDATE: Went for a short 40mi ride this afternoon and the tensioning worked perfectly. I only turned the screw a bit more than a 1/4 turn. It definitely felt stiffer, but I think it's actually a little more comfortable.

The saddles must vary because I have another team pro with steel rails and it is as firm as the Ti version after the tensioning.

Why does Sheldon say we should never adjust the tension and it will ruin the saddles?

The saddles must vary because I have another team pro with steel rails and it is as firm as the Ti version after the tensioning.

There's quite a bit of hand-work that goes into making a Brooks saddle, so yes there is a degree of variability. I don't know if Ti vs Steel rails makes a difference.

Why does shelden say we should never adjust the tension and it will ruin the saddles?

Some people, Sheldon included, go with the theory that the leather conforms perfectly to your backside as it stretches and breaks in. Tensioning would only destroy that concavity. (Look up pix of ILTB's 30 year old untreated Brooks B-17 for a perfect example.)

Other people, like me, believe that the initial break-in of the saddle is nice for softening the leather around the sit-bones, but when it starts to sag it's time to either tighten the laces or the nose bolt and tighten that leather back up; while it's meant to conform a little bit, it should also stay relatively firm underneath you.

>Went for a short 40mi ride<

Have you ever gone on a long 40 mile ride? ;-)

>Went for a short 40mi ride<

Have you ever gone on a long 40 mile ride? ;-)

It's all relative:) Maybe 'quick' would've been more appropriate! I usually think it's a short ride unless it's 7 or 8 hours or longer!

This is interesting as I also have a low-mile Brooks Professional that is already sagging some on the left side. Also, Jan Heine reported the same thing in one issue of "Bicycling Quarterly", also with a Professional and on the same side. I may try tensioning mine a little.

This is interesting as I also have a low-mile Brooks Professional that is already sagging some on the left side. Also, Jan Heine reported the same thing in one issue of "Bicycling Quarterly", also with a Professional and on the same side. I may try tensioning mine a little.

This evening commuting home I felt like it was sagging again. Sure enough, it is a little.