General Cycling Discussion - Got my Brooks Pro Saddle--First impressions...

Well I ordered my Brooks Pro Saddle last Thursday from Permaco.. 2 days later there was a package on my door step... I ripped it apart like a kid trying to get a secret decoder ring from the bottom of a box of cereal.

My first impression... it isn't as bulky as I had seen in pictures. The craftsmenship is impeccable... oh yeha..a dn the leather... Hard as a freakin' rock... my wife saw it, and then heard it as I knocked on the top of the seat... the only thing she said was, "Your ass is gonna be in SOOOO much pain !! How could you ride on that thing?"

the leather is tough... so I proceded to Proofide it, and then mount it on my bike... it took forever to get the adjsutment down.. I was riding a Selle Italia Flite Ti, nice lightweight saddle, but hurts after about 50 miles. I normally ride with the nose pointed slightly up... not with the Brooks though... I tried it at my normal angle... had some intense pain instantly in my nether regions. So I leveled it out, and rode it around the neighborhood... only about a mile or so...

It is hard... but i can see that after break in, it will feel good... it wasn;t enarly as bad as I thought it was gonna be.. i'll probably do a 20 miler tomorrow and thursday, and possible a 40-50 miler on Saturday... hopefully it will break in by then... i'll keep ya'll updated...

Jeff

Photo, I just ordered my Brooks Pro, black, for my Trek 520. What did you mount your's on? I hear that the Pro takes longer to break-in than the B-17, for example; but after that time, they are equally comfortable.

I'm sure you'll enjoy it - mine took about 150 miles to break in. It was comfortable from the start, but took a little bit of time before it became 'one with my butt'.

Photo, I just ordered my Brooks Pro, black, for my Trek 520. What did you mount your's on? I hear that the Pro takes longer to break-in than the B-17, for example; but after that time, they are equally comfortable.


Heya Monk,

I've got mine mounted on my Lemond Maillot Jaune... I thought about going with the b17... but I think the B17 is for more of a touring bike... I might get one for my fixie though if I dig it...

jeff

I'm sure you'll enjoy it - mine took about 150 miles to break in. It was comfortable from the start, but took a little bit of time before it became 'one with my butt'.

that is how i felt on my limited ride around the 'hood yesterday... not completely uncomfortable... but definitely not one with my butt just yet... I was wearing regular shorts though... might feel a bit better with bike shorts on.. i'm sure the pad will help some

jeff

that is how i felt on my limited ride around the 'hood yesterday... not completely uncomfortable... but definitely not one with my butt just yet... I was wearing regular shorts though... might feel a bit better with bike shorts on.. i'm sure the pad will help some

jeff
The pad will help, mainly as it gets rid of the seams. One thing I really love about the Brooks saddles is how easy it is to micro-adjust your rear-end position on the smooth leather. I find bike shorts to be better for this than regular shorts.

The pad will help, mainly as it gets rid of the seams. One thing I really love about the Brooks saddles is how easy it is to micro-adjust your rear-end position on the smooth leather. I find bike shorts to be better for this than regular shorts.

yeha bike shorts are 100% better than regular shorts... Ididn;t think the leather was as slippery as some have said... but it was pretty smooth

jeff

at least it doesnt smash yer nuts like my selle italia turbo matic.

**UPDATE***

Well I took it out on the first 20 mile ride last night... it wasn;t enarly as bad as Ithought... although I do need to angle it down just a hair... it was ok when Iw as on the hoods.. but kinda pushed into my 'taint' region a hair...

It wsa very weird getting used to the amount of sliding around I had going on for the first half of the ride.. then I realized my seat bolt was coming loose.. tightened it up, and it was good to go the rest of the way... so far, it looks like a keeper :-)

jeff

I got Brooks Swift 3 weeks ago. Before the end of the first week, I rode it on a 300km brevet. It felt better than the Selle Italia Trans AM Flite that I'd been using for years. Two weeks later, this past weekend, I rode it on a 400km ride. It still felt great. So much for needing a break-in period. I have to admit though, that I brought another saddle on the 300 km ride in case the Brooks did not work out.

I got Brooks Swift 3 weeks ago. Before the end of the first week, I rode it on a 300km brevet. It felt better than the Selle Italia Trans AM Flite that I'd been using for years. Two weeks later, this past weekend, I rode it on a 400km ride. It still felt great. So much for needing a break-in period. I have to admit though, that I brought another saddle on the 300 km ride in case the Brooks did not work out.


wow PDx, yer the man..

for one, riding a 300k brevet. and 2, ridin it with a new, unbroken in saddle... that is great.. I thnk it is gonna work out ! :-)

jeff

did they stop making the colt? i can't find it on thier site.

did they stop making the colt? i can't find it on thier site.

http://www.permaco.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/race.html?L+scstore+yzcn7115ff1a201a+1094125673

Permaco has it at $110... The Colt is kinda ugly though ! :D

jeff

**UPDATE***

Well I took it out on the first 20 mile ride last night... it wasn;t enarly as bad as Ithought... although I do need to angle it down just a hair... it was ok when Iw as on the hoods.. but kinda pushed into my 'taint' region a hair...

It wsa very weird getting used to the amount of sliding around I had going on for the first half of the ride.. then I realized my seat bolt was coming loose.. tightened it up, and it was good to go the rest of the way... so far, it looks like a keeper :-)

jeff



I put a B-17 on my Giant OCR2 several weeks ago. I've done two 25 mile plus rides on it so far and it ain't bad. In fact, I expected all kinds of terrible pain according to the postings here.

It's more slippery so far than the OEM saddle, but not uncomfortable. What I have noticed is that last weekend while climbing a grade, my body moved forward a bit causing a squeeking sound from the front side where the bolt is. Other than that, doing fine. It doesn't pinch me like the previous seat and will likely get better as I use it.

Sheldon

[QUOTE=SipperPhoto
The Colt is kinda ugly though ! :D[/QUOTE]


You're right about that. But that's where I come in....

You all do realize that lyou won't need another saddle for 20 to 30 years!! You are going to be doing a new bike / old saddle thing!!!!

did they stop making the colt? i can't find it on thier site.

Is there something about the Colt that its homeliness hides? From what I've read, the Colt was designed to meet a look that American cyclists supposedly preferred, at one point. Are we missing something about the Colt?

[QUOTE=SipperPhoto
The Colt is kinda ugly though ! :D


You're right about that. But that's where I come in....[/QUOTE]

ahh yeah... i'm gonna break my Pro in pretty good.. adn then send it to you to chop it !

Maybe you should change your name from "the Fixer" to "The Chopper" !

jeff

You all do realize that lyou won't need another saddle for 20 to 30 years!! You are going to be doing a new bike / old saddle thing!!!!


Heheh that was thew argument i had with my wife/financial advisor when I told her I wanted a new saddle... I told her that it could very well be the last saddle i ever buy... well for that bike anyways :-)

i'm thinking of getting a B-17 for my fixie now... it's like a cult !

jeff

i like the way the colt looks.

I'm gonna order a black Team Pro tomorrow after work (working 8 to 4 has it's advantages :) ).

I'm gonna order a black Team Pro tomorrow after work (working 8 to 4 has it's advantages :) ).

nice.. Hope ya like it.. I didn;t care for the humongous rivets on the team pro... but there are still nice saddles !

jeff

Jeff,
I had exactly 10 miles on my B17 when I took it to HHH 2 years ago.
If you are getting some pressure on the "taint" (perinium) you may need
to adjust the saddle's nose UP just a bit (1 or 2 degrees) The pro wants to
throw you forward more than alot of other saddles. You basically want the
back of the saddle almost level.
The sliding around thing? I hardly notice it anymore, what I do notice is if I
proofide the top that the slide is gone for a while (Till I buff off the top with my
butt).
Hey George (aka Fixer aka Butcher) will you really butcher a saddle for
other folks? I'd be willing to send you an old pro or b17 to work (which is better
to butcher?).
Does butchering the saddle (cutting sides out) change tightness of leather top?

Marty

Jeff,
I had exactly 10 miles on my B17 when I took it to HHH 2 years ago.
If you are getting some pressure on the "taint" (perinium) you may need
to adjust the saddle's nose UP just a bit (1 or 2 degrees) The pro wants to
throw you forward more than alot of other saddles. You basically want the
back of the saddle almost level.
The sliding around thing? I hardly notice it anymore, what I do notice is if I
proofide the top that the slide is gone for a while (Till I buff off the top with my
butt).
Hey George (aka Fixer aka Butcher) will you really butcher a saddle for
other folks? I'd be willing to send you an old pro or b17 to work (which is better
to butcher?).
Does butchering the saddle (cutting sides out) change tightness of leather top?

Marty

Heya Marty,

Right now I have it, ever so slighty tilted up... it isn;t too bad, unless I get down in the drops and really lean forward more. I'm going on a 60 miler tomorrow, so I hope my butt is up to it ! :-)

by the end of my 21 miler the other night, i hardly noticed the sliding. the top is definitely slicker than my Selle Italia Flite though... but not too bad.. I imagine that once it get's broken in, and gets the dimples from my sitbones goin' on, it will be great ;-)

thanks

jeff

I just picked up a Pro from my LBS. I was expecting to have to order one, but he had it in stock :) I want to butcher and tie it, but is it better to wait til it's softened up a bit?

I want to butcher and tie it, but is it better to wait til it's softened up a bit?
I don't think it makes any difference whether you do it now or after it's been broken in. The leather will still be stiff, regardless.

UPDATE #2

60 Mile ride, and other than I had the seat about 1/8" too high the first half... the saddle is FREAKIN' AMAZING ! At the end of the ride with and 18.8 mph avg. over a ton of hills, and stuff, my legs were a bit tired, but my butt was in heaven... no pain, no discomfort, nothing... felt like saddle should feel... like it wasn't even there...

BIG THUMBS UP to Brooks for me !

Jeff

ya know what's funny?

In this era of bicycle technobabble, the amount of disbelief you get at your club or out on the road, that something 100 years old could possibly be more ergonomic than the latest (rehashed and rebranded) design tweaked, plastic marvel.

When I first started riding as an adult, all the old timers still rode fixed wheel in winter. Some of them toured on Sturmey Archer 3 speed gears (fixed FW's or freewheels) and nobody had more than ten speeds to choose from. And these dudes were serious high mileage riders and racers.
I quickly realised that Brooks saddles were the most comfortable, but needed some care in wet weather. That was the reason, along with fetishistic concerns with lightness, why racers stopped using Brooks stuff in the 60's. I followed the crowds, initially and used plastic-based saddles on race bikes. My butt was pretty toughened, the miles I was doing, but none of the saddles I tried were as comfy as the ones on my other bikes....so one day, I broke ranks and re-installled my Pro-Select on a time trial steed.

You can imagine the derision of the fashion-obsessed faithful....and I've been hearing their expert comments for upwards of 30 years. Some of these guys buy more saddles in a year than I do in a decade, along with fancy light and adjustable seat pins, exotic and overpriced padded shorts, creams and lotions...you know the score. Some of the racer types didn't help themselves by custom specifying very stiff, upright frames, that accentuated every road bump and turned it into a kick in the ass. They wanted ever more fancy wheels to save ounces, padded gloves, padded bar wraps.......gadgets the industry was happy to provide. What they didn't want, was to do their history homework, showing a bit of respect for the real innovators of the past, who refined all the technologies we take for granted to a point we now recognise, by about 1910.
I salute you, my renaissance brethren, for asserting the genius of our forebears, reconnecting with our heritage and using your own rational faculties to return to the real saddle solution, rather than test-riding the hundreds of failed alternatives in the marketplace. If cycling is not functional, it is nothing. When I read of riders discussing the aesthetics of different saddles, I despair. If it ain't comfy, after a day on the road or trail, it don't work. No matter how fast it looks, you ain't going far on a saddle that hurts.

(just as a side note, my current saddles are aged, approximately,
21.....Pro
20.....Pro-Select
15.....B17N
18-ish...Conquest

-and none of them is near to the end of it's life.)

OK...you guys have me really considering a Brooks now. I'm 128lbs, should that move me toward any particular model? I'm riding a Giant TCR aluminum.

Anyone care to give merits or guidelines for one model over another?

Thanks

Seat choice is more about bike type and riding style. General rules are: if your bars are lower than your seat, get a Pro or Team Pro (only difference is the size of the rivets), if your seat is lower, get a B17 or B17 Narrow (get a Narrow if you're particularly skinny). I'm assuming you're a guy, there are a whole range of female-specific Brookses if you're that way inclined :) Good luck, you won't regret it.

OK...you guys have me really considering a Brooks now. I'm 128lbs, should that move me toward any particular model? I'm riding a Giant TCR aluminum.

Anyone care to give merits or guidelines for one model over another?

Thanks

I agree with what was written by Jonny B... my handlebars are a few inches below my seat on my Lemond.. I went with the Pro... I may go with a B17 on my Fixed Gear cruing bike.. but then, the hadlebars are a few inches above the seat...

jeff

OK...you guys have me really considering a Brooks now. I'm 128lbs, should that move me toward any particular model? Thanks

I think the width of the different models should be considered. If you are small would you consider your sit bones to be narrow?

Some Brooks models are narrower than others. I've had a B-17 N (narrow 152mm) for about two years and love it so much I wouldn't attempt using the Pro or Team Pro for fear I wouldn't like it because it's a little wider (160mm). The Brooks women's saddles are wider still (177mm). The current swift, swallow and colt are the same width as the B-17 N.

I'm shopping for a new Brooks for my road bike so I can put my B-17N on my new fixed gear. Brooks is reintroducing the swallow so I may go for that if the price is not too much.

I think the width of the different models should be considered. If you are small would you consider your sit bones to be narrow?

Some Brooks models are narrower than others. I've had a B-17 N (narrow 152mm) for about two years and love it so much I wouldn't attempt using the Pro or Team Pro for fear I wouldn't like it because it's a little wider (160mm). The Brooks women's saddles are wider still (177mm). The current swift, swallow and colt are the same width as the B-17 N.

I'm shopping for a new Brooks for my road bike so I can put my B-17N on my new fixed gear. Brooks is reintroducing the swallow so I may go for that if the price is not too much.



Is there an accepted way to actually measure the width of your sit bones? Even though I'm small I've always belived I was fairly wide back there....:) Seems to me I read once something about sitting on a cement step or some such....? Not sure what the next measuring step would be at that point?

Wonder why Brooks doesn't do away with one of the percieved weaknesses with their saddles and move from steel frame rails to TI or something else a little lighter? Yea, the Swallow looks like a good option if the price is realistic.

Steve

Wonder why Brooks doesn't do away with one of the percieved weaknesses with their saddles and move from steel frame rails to TI or something else a little lighter? Yea, the Swallow looks like a good option if the price is realistic.

Steve

Actually some of their standard models are available with ti rails.