Tandem Cycling - Brooks saddle positioning

We have just switched over to Brooks B-17's on our CoMotion, and I find that my (the captains) saddle will not shift back as far as required on the seatpost, due to the rail configuration on the Brooks. I'm about 3/4" forward of my previous position with a Specialized BG saddle. Does anyone know of a "fix" or adapter I can use on the saddle to regain my proper knee to crank position? I've considered going to a longer stem to help readjust the reach, but that won't help my knees any.... FYI, I'm already using an offset stem as well.

Thanks for any insight...

Dean Rose
2007 CoMotion Supremo Co-Pilot

Don't change your stem.

If you want to stay with the saddle look for a seatpost with more setback.

Perhaps a Thompson Elite or Masterpiece Setback seatpost (7 degree bend)
or Truvativ Team SC with 25mm clamp offset could work out.

Thanks Merlinextralight and zonatamdem for the suggestions. I'll see if I can find a stem with more setback than my current one, or give up on the Brooks....

I'd shorten my femurs before giving up any of my 5 brooks saddles. Have you read "the myth of knee over pedal spindle"?

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/kops.html

Sheldon

Perhaps a Thompson Elite or Masterpiece Setback seatpost (7 degree bend)
or Truvativ Team SC with 25mm clamp offset could work out.

ZT, everyone seems to mention the Thomson as the be all end all answer to all questions seat post related but please note that the setback on a Thomson setback seat post is only 16 mm. That certainly is not much. Nearly all Ritchey/FSA/Truvativ/Easton/etc. seat posts average around 25 mm as you mention. Now if 16 mm works, then by all means he should use the Thomson, expertly made, exceptional strength, a thing of beauty.

... in order to check the offset on my current stem, is the measurement I want from the center of the stem to the center of the bolt? and how does the "7 degree bend" mentioned by Zonatandem come into play?

Thanks..

You are talking about seat post correct, not the stem?

http://www.bikeforest.com/CAD/faq/seatpost_setback_dimension.gif

The 7° bend allows Thomson that only has one type of seat rail clamp to offer an offset seat post. It is an arbitrary number, the key dimension is that Thomson seat posts have 16 mm of rear offset. So put your saddle where it needs to be then measure the distance from the center of the seat post mast to the center of the seat rails, this will give you an indication of how much setback you will need. Please note that Thomson uses one of the largest seat rail clamps of any other manufacturer. This means that you do not have as much fore/aft adjustment as you will with some other seat posts.

oppps! Yes, WheresWaldo, I meant "post" not "stem". I just hate it when I get distracted by work here at the office!

Thanks for the clarification and measurement info... I think I probably have more than 16mm of offset currently. Now I'll know what I'm needing to check for.... thanks again.

I went from a zero setback Thomson Elite (Terry Fly) to an offset Thomson Elite (Brooks B17N)...just enough setback for me, of course, YMMV.