Hybrid Bicycles - How NOT to position a sprung Brooks?

Somewhere I thought I read that on a sprung brooks, the saddle should not be set too far forward (i.e.-having the clamp at the far back of the rails) because it can cause damage to the saddle. I can't find where I read that or even if I remember it right. Anyone know anything about this?

Somewhere I thought I read that on a sprung brooks, the saddle should not be set too far forward (i.e.-having the clamp at the far back of the rails). I can't find where I read that or even if I remember it right. Anyone know anything about this?

Brooks saddles are notoriously hard to set back on a standard seatpost. The rails are shaped differently. I've got a sprung Brooks on my Thomson Elite seatpost. It really isn't putting the saddle where I want it.

I guess what I'm asking is, what is too far forward and what is too far back, or is there such a thing? Seems like the clamp should be more or less centered on the rails, but I have nothing to back that up with, just the feeling I get looking at it..

I guess what I'm asking is, what is too far forward and what is too far back, or is there such a thing? Seems like the clamp should be more or less centered on the rails, but I have nothing to back that up with, just the feeling I get looking at it..

Once you have the saddle and seatpost in your hands it will be quite clear. The rails are spaced so that you can only put the saddle back to a certain point.

Once you have the saddle and seatpost in your hands it will be quite clear. The rails are spaced so that you can only put the saddle back to a certain point.

This! Or, get a set back post, if you need more room....

OP wants to know how far forward he can put his saddle while all responses address the opposite question.

A set back seatpost installed backwards will get you well forward. :thumb:

I haven't used a sprung saddle since 1972, so I can't comment on the range of adjustment. No saddle on the market seemed like it would put me as far as forward as I wanted to be with my stock seatpost, so I bought a zero offset seatpost which did the trick. :)

OP wants to know how far forward he can put his saddle while all responses address the opposite question.

A set back seatpost installed backwards will get you well forward. :thumb:

I haven't used a sprung saddle since 1972, so I can't comment on the range of adjustment. No saddle on the market seemed like it would put me as far as forward as I wanted to be with my stock seatpost, so I bought a zero offset seatpost which did the trick. :)
No, read the OP again. The further back on the rails the saddle is the further forward it sits. This is limited by the design of the rails.

...The rails are spaced so that you can only put the saddle back to a certain point.

I guess you mean you can only put the seatpost back to a certain point. Either way, I agree and my point is the range of fore/aft adjustment is limited on all saddles.

I was agreeing with Wanderer, that a different seatpost might be the answer, if the stock seatpost doesn't allow the desired position.

@ Ziemas, qmsdc15 has it right. If the bike is clamped at the back of the rails then the seat is pushed forward, not back.

What I'm trying to find out is: Should I aim for having the saddle clamped around the middle? Or does it not matter if the clamp is at the extreme ends of the rails (the horizontal part)?

I don't know for sure, but I put my saddles almost all the way forward, ie. clamped as far back on the rails as possible but not quite because clamping on the bend might not be OK? You should be asking this in the bike mechanics forum really, but I've put lots of miles on saddles pushed almost all the way forward without problems.

I've broken saddle rails and seatpost bolts when I was younger, then I clamped the rails in the middle. I don't ride as hard now and my saddle is forward because it's better for my old knees. :o