jbarros

Hello,

I'm currently riding on a brooks B17. It was fine, but my lower back etc, was hurting. I fixed my back by altering my posture (rotating my pelvis back a little) but doing that ends up putting a bit more pressure on my perenium than I would like.

Is there a simple fix for this?

I currently ride with the saddle exactly level with the top tube (which is level with the ground I believe) should I just try rotating the nose down a hair and see if that fixes it?

Other suggestions?

Thanks

-- James

Retro Grouch 

Of course you should try dropping the nose a hair. Worst case, you can raise it back up. When I installed the Brooks on my tandem we went for a shake down ride and it took me 5 adjustment tries to find the "sweet spot".

rodrigaj

A good stem, such as the thompson elite, makes experimentation a breeze. You can try one position and go back to the exact position you had before in seconds.

Portis

I have four B17's on various bikes. When you say level, what part of the saddle are you referring to? The Brooks is MUCH higher in the back than in the front (nose). I have ridden my saddles around 25,000 miles in the last few years and have had all sorts of different experiences with moderate discomfort.

All in all the saddle is usually comfortable but through various bikes and with different settings i have noticed mild discomfort in the perennial area. It was the worst on my road bike. Oddly enough the thing that seems to have fixed it, was finally springing for expensive cycling shorts.

I had always ridden inexpensive Nashbar/Performance shorts before and last Winter I switched to Pearl Izumi micro sensors. I was always skeptical that one could tell the difference. I am a believer now. I never have any irritation or "pressure" like i used to occasionally get. I can't explain why this happened but I can attest that it did.

I am now a FIRM believer in a quality pair of shorts/chamois. The microsensors have succeeded where a lot of other adjustments etc. failed.

jbarros

On mine, the back is level with the nose.

I'll try tilting it down in front a little and see if that does it tonight =)

-- James

workingbike

If that doesn't, try tilting the nose up a little, counterintuitive yes, but sometimes it works.

pyze-guy

I don't have a Brooks, but on my saddles they all have the nose raised. I find it causes my hips to roll back a bit, putting presure on my sitbones only.

mud

I have found that small adjustments on a Brooks can make a big difference. I thought I had a reach problem recently, with my arms and shoulder blades becoming locked up. My saddle felt good but it was slightly tilted and my weight had shifted to my arms. Just one little notch up repositioned my butt and took the weight off of my arms.
Now while in the saddle, I feel as though my body is suspended between the front & back of the saddle. It's amazing to me how such a small adjustment can make a big difference.

Mud

bkaapcke

Get a decent saddle. You know, one that has a remote possibility of being comfortable. bk

jbarros

adjusted it forward 2 clicks. looking forward to tomorrows ride to see if there's a difference.

Bkaapcke, I've considered getting another saddle, although I think few would argue that anything by brooks doesn't at least fall into the "decent" category.

What would you recomend?

-- James

Doug5150

You know what's odd is that people say Brooks are so great because the leather "conforms to the rider after it's broken in". But it's also common to hear that gel saddles are bad, and gel conforms to the rider as well--it just doesn't need any breaking in to do so.

I have used both and while I'd agree they defnitely don't feel the same, I'd have to argue that the popular explanation doesn't work here--because a leather saddle cannot be good for exactly the same reason that a gel saddle is bad. It doesn't make sense.
~

stokessd

I ride the Brooks team pro on my Touring bike and our Tandem. MY brooks is so slippery compared to other (def. others; the ones that suck) saddles, that I slide around on my bike shorts more, and thus angle is very critical on my brooks. Also each Brooks saddle will be a little different when broken in, that's the unique thing about natural materials like leather. So be careful taking other people's recommendation on what is right, moreso with these saddles than others.

I can see that brooks saddles aren't for everybody, but for my butt, there is nothing that is anywhere near as comfortable as them. I've bought and tried a LOT of different saddles and I keep going back to the brooks. They weigh a ton, and cost a fortune but are worth every penny.

Sheldon