Road Cycling - Need break in advice on my Brooks saddle

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PDA
late
06-08-04, 10:41 AM
Hi,
it's starting to break in. It's quite nice at the back of the saddle. But the middle is still hard. So it seems that the rear half is flexing, the front half is stiff, and my tender bits in the middle are getting tenderised. I could add Proofide to the middle of the saddle,or try to tough it out, but I wondered if anyone else had run across this problem. Last time I had a Brooks this didn't happen. Thanks!

lotek
06-08-04, 10:53 AM
Late,

I found that when I was getting tenderized by the mid section of the saddle it was
time to adjust it. What worked for me was to raise the nose a bit (and I'm talking 1 degree,
1/4 inch at the most) and take the pressure off. If the saddle wants to throw you forward
you will put pressure on Periinium.

Marty
Stubacca
06-08-04, 10:58 AM
Late,

I found that when I was getting tenderized by the mid section of the saddle it was
time to adjust it. What worked for me was to raise the nose a bit (and I'm talking 1 degree,
1/4 inch at the most) and take the pressure off. If the saddle wants to throw you forward
you will put pressure on Periinium.

Marty
Found the same here... it's a fine balance at times, though. Don't adjust too much in one hit.

MERTON
06-08-04, 11:19 AM
do what rivendell says.
roadfix
06-08-04, 11:21 AM
easy with the proofide.....
Pittrider
06-09-04, 12:45 PM
I used the proofide maybe 5 times in the first two months. After 300 miles it softened up pretty good and haven't applied it since.

If your arms (neck) are tiring in addition to your tender bits aching, its time to adjust the nose up and maybe push the saddle a little forward.

These are just ideas to try.....everyone has their own feel about saddles.
MrEWorm
06-09-04, 06:03 PM
I found out that the proffhide doesn't soften the saddle or cause it to break in faster. It just protects it from the elements. It took 175-225 miles to make the saddle right but it is fine now.
Like others, I also, played around with the height and angle till I found a position that worked.
froze
06-09-04, 07:07 PM
Whatever you do, do not use anything other than Proofide on your Brooks saddle. Proofide is the only treatment that Brooks recommends, using anything else WILL VOID your warranty-including oils.
late
06-09-04, 07:08 PM
Thanks guys! I am only riding the Fuji once a week right now. I'll try tilting the nose a little higher this weekend. If that doesn't work, I'll try Merton's suggestion and drop the nose a bit.