Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Brooks saddle for someone with 110mm sitbones

I thought this would be the best forum in which to post this (mods if you disagree please feel free to move it). I have sitbones that are roughly 110mm apart and I use a road bike with the tops of the handlebars pretty much inline with the top of the saddle. I would like to know which saddle, out of the B17 and the B17 narrow, would suit me best.

Many thanks

Daven

B17 Narrow, Swift or Swallow

Thanks :) B17 narrow it will be then.

I have 110 spaced sit bones: B17 fits, Team Pro fits, Swift does not. My sit bones are right over the metal support on the Swift

Ah, thanks for that rogerstg. As the B17 narrow is the same width as the swift I may have problems. What kind of bike do you have a B17 on?

Thanks

Now it is on a 1991 Miyata 1000. Bars are about an inch lower than the saddle. FWIW, I laced that saddle almost right away to stop the sides from splaying. I just drilled holes and laced with some leather shoe laces.

I've also used the saddle on an aluminum road bike, a cross bike and an old steel sport bike (Giant)

Cool thanks, I may go for the B17 first then. Are there any guides out there on how to lace the saddle?

Thanks

This is probably a real dumb question , but how do you measure your sit bones?

:cheers:

This is probably a real dumb question , but how do you measure your sit bones?

:cheers:

My LBS has a Butt "O" Meter ( I just made that up), its like a memory foam that you sit on, your sit bones will make an indentation and then they measure the distance of the bones.


Or you can moon someone and have 'em measure it for you. :D

I'm truely joking of course.

My LBS has a Butt "O" Meter ( I just made that up), its like a memory foam that you sit on, your sit bones will make an indentation and then they measure the distance of the bones.



Were they a Specialized dealer? Specialized makes a device for this and I believe it is actually called the a$$-o-meter.

I used my foam laptop case - I put it on a hard surface then sat on it! I then measured the dents! Another way to do it is to squat a bit and put the end of a ruler on one sitbone then grab the ruler at your other sitbone - remove ruler and read off measurement.

Bontrager also has a similar device, so you should also be able to measure your sit bones at a Trek LBS.

I have 110 spaced sit bones: B17 fits, Team Pro fits, Swift does not. My sit bones are right over the metal support on the Swift

My sit bones are 120mm apart and I am plenty comfy on my Swift - perhaps your saddle is improperly positioned?

over the metal? the only metal that you might be over would be the back rail... so you could be sitting too far back, and may need to push the saddle back or get an offset seatpost. your sit bones should be in the wide(ish) part of leather before the back rail... the divots on my brooks after breaking in are in these locations...

I got a response from Brooks who said that a narrow would work for me if I used a more aero position - if I sit up more then a B17. Think I may give the narrow a shot.

I got a response from Brooks who said that a narrow would work for me if I used a more aero position - if I sit up more then a B17. Think I may give the narrow a shot.

What bike are you putting it on?

Well it is for a new build but it will be a drop bar road bike (but more of a commuter) and also for my current Giant Scr1 road bike.

Well it is for a new build but it will be a drop bar road bike (but more of a commuter) and also for my current Giant Scr1 road bike.

Yep, you'll be fine with the narrow.

Cheers chipcom :)

over the metal? the only metal that you might be over would be the back rail... so you could be sitting too far back, and may need to push the saddle back or get an offset seatpost. your sit bones should be in the wide(ish) part of leather before the back rail... the divots on my brooks after breaking in are in these locations...

You might want to look under your Brooks ;). The support rail is sort of a semi oval, onto which the leather is riveted. The widish part of the Swift that I have is supported with metal along the sides and rear. The widest part of that semi oval of metal is 120mm. Since my sit bones are 110 center to center (measured in bent riding position), the outsides extend over the metal supports along the sides.

I suspect that chipcom may have measured his sit bones differently, either the outermost edges or by sitting up, or has a differently manufactured swift saddle.

Hopefully the OP measured his in a more upright position as well, or the support on the Narrow differs from the Swift that I just remeasured.

You might want to look under your Brooks ;). The support rail is sort of a semi oval, onto which the leather is riveted. The widish part of the Swift that I have is supported with metal along the sides and rear. The widest part of that semi oval of metal is 120mm. Since my sit bones are 110 center to center (measured in bent riding position), the outsides extend over the metal supports along the sides.

I suspect that chipcom may have measured his sit bones differently, either the outermost edges or by sitting up, or has a differently manufactured swift saddle.

yup, it is semi oval shaped, more of a flaired curve.
i could see you being over the metal the way you describe it...
fwiw i never was comfortable on a swift. fine on a b17 and fine on a swallow - but team pro, swift never worked out for me.

i find that if i pull my bars up or back, i want slightly wider. if i drop em down i want the swallow.

The Brooks web site lists the B17 narrow as "Width: 155mm"

The Brooks web site lists the B17 narrow as "Width: 155mm"

So?