Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Good seatpost for a Brooks B17 saddle...

Hello, forgive me if I haven't looked hard enough through the posts about this, I'm sure this question is addressed out there some where. I have a new Brooks B17 which I bought for my first fixie/SS build. I'm piecing this together through CL, & bought a group of parts someone was swapping off of a Langster London for pretty cheap. Included was the seatpost, which turns out doesn't fit the saddle. The rails on the Brooks are just slightly too far apart. Not too sad about that, wasn't in love with the post anyways, but now I question what posts a B17 would fit on. It seems like Thompson makes a pretty good seatpost, & I was leaning in that direction. But it would be a shame to buy it only to find that the sadlle doesn't fit that either. If anyone has some suggestions, they'd be much appreciated. Thanks.

Dude something's wrong with your saddle or you're not doing it right. That saddle should fit on a road bike/mountain bike, hell just about anything will take a brooks short of a kid's BMX from walmart!
Post pictures if possible but I guarantee you that brooks will fit on any road bike seatpost.

The seat rails will flex. It should fit.

The rail fitting on any saddle, including that of the B17, is universal. Either you have a deformed railing on your B17 or the post from the Langster that you bought from CL isn't authentic. Or it's most likely the installation is incorrect.

Well, the rails are very close to the width of the saddle clamp, I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to try & force it in. Of all the issues i was expecting to encounter, this wasn't one of them. So maybe I just need to wedge it in there & give it a go.

Well, the rails are very close to the width of the saddle clamp, I wasn't sure if it would be a good idea to try & force it in. Of all the issues i was expecting to encounter, this wasn't one of them. So maybe I just need to wedge it in there & give it a go.

Mount it towards the front where the rails are closer together and push the post back, it will slightly bend the rails more easily. I had the same problem with a b17 and an old old old Thomson seatpost (before the logo was laser-ed on)

Mount it towards the front where the rails are closer together and push the post back, it will slightly bend the rails more easily. I had the same problem with a b17 and an old old old Thomson seatpost (before the logo was laser-ed on)

Will do. This is my first time posting a question up here, & considering some of the inflammatory responses I've read to some pretty innocuous questions posted here, I wasn't sure what to expect. Thanks for making this relatively painless (so far).

Maybe you have one of those 30mm NJS seat post. :D

....& considering some of the inflammatory responses I've read to some pretty innocuous questions posted here, I wasn't sure what to expect. Thanks for making this relatively painless (so far).

just as I was getting ready to flame you throw in a guilt trip...

Maybe you have one of those 30mm NJS seat post. :D

:) If only. This came off a Langster London, so I hightly doubt that. Standard rail spacing is what, 41mm? The spacing on the post is off maybe a mm or 2. It fit's on there now anyways, just not very snugly. If the rails bend into shape though, that'll be fine. I went ahead and ordered a Thomson though anyways, it's nice to have at least a little bit of style right?

Don't forget to grease the rails (CAREFULLY) and wipe off excess once mounted. You don't want to stain the inside of the leather.

i never greased my rails when i installed mine, would it be a good idea to do that now?
is it to prevent it from siezing in the post? i should invest in some grease...

thanks~

No, greasing rails will prevent creaks from the saddle-seatpost interface. They are particularly annoying (and excruciatingly so with resonant aluminum frames) because you will think your chainring, bottom bracket, or pedals are bunked when it's just your saddle rails being a little noisy.

that was happening before but i don't hear it any longer
i kept thinking it was where the seatpost goes into the frame...no more creaking for now but i am going to put grease on my list of things to buy

Don't forget to grease the rails (CAREFULLY) and wipe off excess once mounted. You don't want to stain the inside of the leather.

How come? I mean, I've been greasing everything else (BB, Cranksbolts, pedals, cog, etc.) I've put together, but since those things are threaded, it made sense. I would think a saddle would slide if you greased the rails. But, I am also relatively new to some of this stuff, so I only have my own half assed logic to go by.

How come? I mean, I've been greasing everything else (BB, Cranksbolts, pedals, cog, etc.) I've put together, but since those things are threaded, it made sense. I would think a saddle would slide if you greased the rails. But, I am also relatively new to some of this stuff, so I only have my own half assed logic to go by.

never mind. answer was posted while writing this.

This is a REALLY weird problem. Just go get another seatpost.

I have five Brooks saddles on various brands of posts and I can tell you that they all fit that way. The clamp will pull the rails together as you tighten it.

I would't suggest using a Thompson post with a Brooks because it may not give you enough setback.

I have the B17 special (copper plated) with no fitment issues. I've used two different seatposts with it- the stock junker on the Dawes and an offbrand and both work well.

Probably just needs squeezed. It's tough. Don't worry.

This is a REALLY weird problem. Just go get another seatpost.

Kinda jumping the gun there, ain't cha? Is the seatpost wonky or the saddle rails. Or just the OP's impression of the situation.

Point being, the spacing is universal, and would be pretty hard to f-up in a mass production situation. With your advice he'd wind up no further ahead.

Just clamp the saddle in and be done with it.

Kinda jumping the gun there, ain't cha? Is the seatpost wonky or the saddle rails. Or just the OP's impression of the situation.

Point being, the spacing is universal, and would be pretty hard to f-up in a mass production situation. With your advice he'd wind up no further ahead.

Just clamp the saddle in and be done with it.

Ahh. The soothing voice of reason.

Kinda jumping the gun there, ain't cha? Is the seatpost wonky or the saddle rails. Or just the OP's impression of the situation.

Point being, the spacing is universal, and would be pretty hard to f-up in a mass production situation. With your advice he'd wind up no further ahead.

Just clamp the saddle in and be done with it.

I'd listen to her because her bike is bad ass. (Wow you kick high gear ratios. With the hills around my neck of the woods I can only handle about 74-75 gear inches.)

I've got my Brooks jumping between a generic Kalloy post that was $11 and a Dura Ace Easton NJS super-duper poser post that retails for $160 and there hasn't been a problem. Who would buy a seatpost for $160?!

I'd listen to her because her bike is bad ass. (Wow you kick high gear ratios. With the hills around my neck of the woods I can only handle about 74-75 gear inches.)

Big dogs lead, others follow.

I've got my Brooks jumping between a generic Kalloy post that was $11 and a Dura Ace Easton NJS super-duper poser post that retails for $160 and there hasn't been a problem. Who would buy a seatpost for $160?!


You?

Hheheh, I was implying that no, I did not pay $160 for the post, I got it for $50 because I liked how it looked and I needed a 27.2mm post. It was only after I got it that I saw that it was NJS and, had the seller put that in his description, it would have probably gone north of $100 easily.

It is a great post though, nicest I have, but I now worry that someone will steal it :(

Think about setback with the Brooks. The rails don't allow much, so some use Nitto posts with more setback in the clamp.

Think about setback with the Brooks. The rails don't allow much, so some use Nitto posts with more setback in the clamp.

This is the ONLY thing I didn't like about my Thompson Elite. That 1cm or so of non-setback made the difference between me sitting on my Brooks' rivets or the sweet spot. I've since changed to a Sugino Mighty seatpost with standard setback and it's made my Team Pro the best thing ever. Adjusting it isn't as effortless though :/

3 words. broomstick.

Think about setback with the Brooks. The rails don't allow much, so some use Nitto posts with more setback in the clamp.

Too late, bought the Thomson last night. Need to learn a little bit of patience, and take my time with this build.

You'll probably end up okay with the Tommy, congrats on spending the money on good components! You'll definitely take your time when you're working with expensive parts.

For a Brooks you want setback; a Thomson or similar straight post won't work on most frames. My Bontrager Titec is the only silver two bolt seatpost with setback I've found that isn't a nitto. I got it for $20 cad.

I actually have a Brooks B17 mounted on a Specialized London Langster... And it mounted up with no effort whatsoever. On the stock seatpost..........

I actually have a Brooks B17 mounted on a Specialized London Langster... And it mounted up with no effort whatsoever. On the stock seatpost..........

Really? Oh well, it sounds like Brooks saddles rails can vary slightly from post to post. Maybe you got one that had perfact rail spacing while I got one that had +/- 1mm spacing. The Thomson came & the Brooks fit perfectly on it. Not to mention, it's also just a nicer looking seatpost. Haven't finished building, but sat on what 've got so far, comapared it to the way I sit on my conversion job & it feels pretty good. Won't know until I'm actually dodging traffic on my to work, but hopefully setback won't be an issue. I don't have real long torso or arms or anything, so I should be alright. Much thanks for the vast amount of input & information. Thank's for the kind words Peabody Pride.

Took a little bit of playing around with, but i got mine to fit on the post perfectly. Frustrating but you will get it.