Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Brooks saddle

Recently purchased a brooks b17 saddle. Very happy with the difference it made, I`m currently 241lb. My old gel saddle made for some very painful rides, the Brooks immediately made a big difference and according to break in info should contonue to get better.

Good to hear, glad it's working out for you :thumb:

Don't forget to treat it with some proofhide and avoid the temptation to turn that tension adjustment nut in the front.

thanks for sharing. please keep sharing your experiences with it. I got mine a couple weeks ago and haven't even put it on my bike yet :(

Recently purchased a brooks b17 saddle. Very happy with the difference it made, I`m currently 241lb. My old gel saddle made for some very painful rides, the Brooks immediately made a big difference and according to break in info should contonue to get better.

Without question, going back to leather was the best decision I've made!

http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/great-saddle-conspiracy.html

Marc

Well if the saddle on my new bike doesn't work out, I'm definitely going to get myself another B17. That was the best purchase I ever made.

I was amazed the difference it made. When I first got it I was doubtful. After a couple of rides and adjustments - It made a believer out of me.

I've had my Brooks for about thirty years. About a year and a half ago when I purchased my first bike in 40 years, a Trek Madone, the shop refused to install my old Brooks. As soon as I got home, I made the swap myself.

One day last year, when riding down along the beach path with my lady, we stopped momentarily to check a map or something. A couple of kids with bikes sitting on the nearby stairs noticed the Brooks and was pretty impressed with it. Something about the sight of an old, scroungy, beat up seat on a fancy-dancy, slick looking carbon speed machine.

I love that old thing. About twice as heavy as "normal" saddles, but until I become a lean, mean, fighting machine, a few hundred extra grams won't make a whit difference.

I've had my Brooks for about thirty years. About a year and a half ago when I purchased my first bike in 40 years, a Trek Madone, the shop refused to install my old Brooks.

(paraphrased from a comment in another thread) It is possible to deal with a shop doing or saying things like this - as long as you still have a working third finger on either hand. :D

What is that sets these Brooks B17's apart from other saddles? Can your booty tell the difference?

What is that sets these Brooks B17's apart from other saddles? Can your booty tell the difference?

Yes. Yes it can.

What is that sets these Brooks B17's apart from other saddles? Can your booty tell the difference?

Its one of those things that you need to try out. When I bought my newest bike the store had Brooks saddles hanging from the wall. I thought about buying it, but I felt the hard top of it and was like "no way could this be comfortable". Add to that the price and it was definitely out of question.

Fast forward a few months and I decided I'll give it a try because I kept reading the great reviews. The first time I rode it I immediately felt the difference. Well...in actuality I didn't feel the difference :mad:.

What happened was that I forgot about the saddle completely while riding :D. With other saddles I always seem to notice them while riding. Not really pain, but not really comfort either. However with the Brooks, I totally forgot the saddle was their.

I soon realized why the Brooks has been around for over a century, really hasn't changed much over time, and is held in such high regards :thumb:.

Without question, going back to leather was the best decision I've made!

http://simplecycle-marc.blogspot.com/2011/02/great-saddle-conspiracy.html

Marc
x 2

I put a Brooks Flyer on my hybrid in conjunction with a micro adjustable seat post and I cannot imagine ever changing it out.

The bike may go, but the seat never will. :)

For the newby Brooks users . . . the saddles need to be broken in, just like a good baseball mitt/glove. For the first five hundred miles or so, it won't be very soft. However, over time and with proper massaging/conditioning, it will mold to your "shape" and forever reside on the seatpost of every bike you will ever own. (Best to cover it up in the rain too.)

Yes. Yes it can.


For me it was immediate, went from very painful after just a few miles to 20 miles no sweat, still have to stand up every once in a while, but thats just good practice letting some air and blood flow.:thumb:

I have a b17 sitting on my workbench. Just haven't put it on because it is so heavy and looks so out of place...

Still considering it... Just havent been swayed yet. Thinking of trying an smp saddle first.

How necessary is using the proofhide? I just ordered my b17 this weekend but not the proofide...isn't it mainly for waterproofing?

I have a b17 sitting on my workbench. Just haven't put it on because it is so heavy and looks so out of place...

Still considering it... Just havent been swayed yet. Thinking of trying an smp saddle first.

I have my B17 on one bike, the one with the triple that I use in the hills. Just got a SMP for the other bike, high gear ratios for flatland use. The model I purchased was "Lite 209". A couple days of pouring over the specs, reading the reviews, making a paper spreadsheet ... it seems that SMP saddles come in four or so different levels of padding, from none to a lot. Then, the saddles within a padding level are only different in their widths. I measured my self, (yeah, dumb idea), and compared the widths of the saddle I currently own before deciding to get the Lite 209.

So far ... I'm not totally comfortable with the Lite 209. I get "saddle sore" after about an hour and a half. I'm hoping that it is just because I've upped my weekly mileage a LOT recently and my "sit area" is not used to the extra abuse yet. One thing I do know about the SMP saddle is that I don't get numb down there any more. The Selle Italia seats also are split in the middle, but the slot does not go all the way to the front of the saddle. I tried their "Max" seat, and found it had too much padding. One disadvantage of the SMP saddles is that it is difficult to slide fore and aft. You have to set it up for pretty much one seated position.

How necessary is using the proofhide? I just ordered my b17 this weekend but not the proofide...isn't it mainly for waterproofing?
It is very necessary. Not just waterproofing but for eventually making it conform to your anatomy, that's the whole point of a leather saddle. It starts like sitting in a rock, it turns into wearing a butt-glove!

making it conform to your anatomy

I've read just riding it will make it do that just fine...it may take a little longer, but it happens

"A new saddle should be treated with Brooks Proofide leather dressing to help assist the ‘breaking-in’ process. Proofide keeps the leather supple as it is specially formulated from natural ingredients to condition, preserve and shower proof your saddle. Proofide is the only substance that should be used to care for your Brooks Leather Saddle.
Apply a little Proofide to the finished side of the leather. Allow the Proofide to permeate until dry and then polish off. Proofide should be used several times during the ‘breaking-in’ period and every 3-6 months thereafter. On bicycles not fitted with mudguards, an initial application to the underside needs not to be polished off. The leather gets its colour during the tanning process and it is possible, therefore, that some colour residues will remain. It is recommended to polish the saddle with a soft cloth before first use."
http://www.brooksengland.com/en/Shop_ProductPage.aspx?cat=spareparts+-+maintenance+products&prod=Proofide+40g+Tin

as a baseball player I get the sense that brooks saddles and proofhide are like breaking in that new glove. the glove looks so nice in the store and you can tell the leather quality of a nice baseball glove but you still need to get that sucker broken in with shave cream, baby oil, or whatever.

How are brooks saddles in relation to the elements? I'm comtemplating getting one for my commuter bike but I keep the bike exclusively outdoors. I'd be using a pinhead saddle lock so i'm not worried about theft but if it gets rained on once in awhile will it get ruined? If I know in advance its going to rain, I can easily put a seat cover over it.

How necessary is using the proofhide? I just ordered my b17 this weekend but not the proofide...isn't it mainly for waterproofing?

I've always used Kiwi Mink Oil paste. I know some people insist that proofhide is the only thing allowed in the Brooks galaxy, but I've never had a problem with it. I've also never had a"break in" issue, they've been comfortable out of the box and just get more so as time goes on.

Marc

I have just over 1000 miles on my Brooks Imperial and it's starting to be super comfy! I use the Proofride, but once it's gone, I'll probably switch to something else--maybe Sno-Seal or Mink Oil?

Here's an interesting article about leather saddles from Mr. Sheldon Brown: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/leather.html

For what it's worth, I've actually used an old hair dryer to heat up the saddle when I put the ProofRide on (once). It kind of melts the ProofRide into the leather and helps promote the absorption. There are no instructions that suggest this, but I treat most of my boots with Sno-Seal this way (per Sno-Seals instructions,) I decided to try it on my saddle. Works great.

You do have to be careful not to overdo the application of any oil, even the Brooks Proofide. The essential thing about a Brooks saddle is that the leather must remain stiff to the touch if it is to have a long serviceable life.

The saddles cannot be compared with boots by which the softer the leather, the better. Completely the opposite is true with the saddles.

There are many examples of ruined Brooks saddles that are simply too soft.

Brooks has made saddles for 129 years. With very little change in their saddle line. That alone should say something.
How many other bike co. can say that?

Keeping that in mind, I use proofhide the way brooks tells me to. I think in over 100 years they may know more than the posters on BF.
So, NO heating up the saddle, NO wetting the saddle, NO other kind of oils, or tanners. Just proofhide and butt. Seems to work pretty well.

Saddle selection is important, after I received my saddle one of the broshures incuded said that my b-17 was for touring or more upright riding style, well it just so happens that this is exactly what I was looking for. But did not realize that was the case. Highly suggest doing research for what saddle is best for intended riding. The pro model and others are for more leaned over riding styles. Be sure of what your riding needs are. I was fortunate to blindly pick the proper saddle. Go to their website or ask and see which saddle suits your needs.

I will say that given the saddle that I chose, that improvements were immediate and drastic, much more pleasureable, and expect to get better.

hmmm ... here's hoping my standard B17 works for my style of riding - road bike with bars raised a bit higher than a standard road bike

Made a slight adjustment today while on a 20 mile ride, also added another coat of proofide; Recently purchased a new riding short, all improvements are paying off. don`t skimp on the shorts. added a new bike computer with cadence, wired, and it helped me to realize my pace. Found out that gears are very important, big learning curve. all input greatly appreciated.

avoid the temptation to turn that tension adjustment nut in the front.
So mine's got about 400 miles on it now and is starting to feel a little loose. If I push down on the rear of the saddle with my hand there is noticeable deflection. Could it be time to stop avoiding the temptation?