Corben

It screamed on the way way home from work tonite. It reminded my of days long ago before I received my B17 from dad for a bday gift. That was back in '03 and that ol Brooks is well broken-in and formed to it now. And no matter what direction I've taken in my life my butt has always been behind me 100%. So I guess I'll Just go ahead and switch the seats for butts sake!
Yeah its going to be like wearing a brand new suit with a old pair of tennis shoe...

Nermal

Clever wording.

rydabent

But------but-----------you are betraying all the DF riders that claim that there is no pain connected with riding a tiny little DF seat.

Recumbents-------------all gain and no pain.

meanwhile

This is stupid: no one has ever said that every saddle on earth is comfortable. If only because the only person on this forum stupid enough to make such a claim rides a recumbent...

hillyman

It's all in the mind. Road bikes use to come stock with Brooks size saddles. Then people had to copy Tour riders. A narrow seat means padded shorts, and a jersey. Then suddenly you can't ride without clipless pedals and shoes. Then your weighing your bike, then your food. Really gets scary when your seriously considering a bird beak shaped helmet. Stop the madness! Put the Brooks on your new bike.

Corben

I DID! And it was GREAT! New bike! Old saddle! The best of two worlds just under my butt! Life is good...

rydabent

meanwhile

Did I touch a nerve there?? Or did you decide to call me names after a long ride on a hard DF saddle?

Machka 

You don't need a recumbent to be comfortable. That's the beauty of the Brooks. I can be comfortable over 1200K randonnees ... not even think about my butt.

Comfort is all about a good bicycle, good set up, good saddle, and good fitness level.


I have enjoyed riding recumbent too ... and wouldn't mind getting one. But if recumbent riders think that their cycle absolutely does not provide them with butt issues ... they haven't ridden far enough to get "recumbent butt".

Still Pedaling

I agree. Whatever happened to the days when people would ride their bikes for fun. Now, for many, they can't go out unless they make sure they look like a Tour de France contender in their spandex Halloween costumes. For the hundreds of road bike riders, I can count on my hand the number of riders in jeans or just plane street clothes. Those are the ones that are enjoying the ride. Why can't riders just go out and ride for fun without worrying about how they look and what others are going to think of them. I wear street clothes when I ride my folding bike, and I don't give a dead rats behind about what others do or think. For me riding is FUN, and not trying to look like a pro racer. People who observe them know darn well that many of them are just posers. Stop the madness yes - stop the stupidity for crying out loud.

Machka 

Really? You know that for sure?

What nonsense.

I dress in cycling attire ... and I enjoy my rides. Lots of other cyclists I know dress in cycling attire ... and they enjoy their rides.

Not only do I dress in cycling attire and enjoy my ride ... I also enjoy my cycling attire. I especially like my jerseys. I like the patterns and colours. I work in an office environment where we wear dull colours for the most part (black, grey, navy, etc.) ... my cycling jerseys give me the chance to wear colour! And as for my shorts ... I wear them because they are comfortable.

Still Pedaling

Of course I don't know that for sure - it's just an assumption on my part as to what I perceive. If someone is out riding in jeans, for example, they are not caught up in all the gear hype. They ride along casually and slow. Roadies that I see are fixated on their rides and barreling along at a fast clip. You enjoy your rides, but are your enjoying them for riding sake, or are you out their focused on cadence, calories burned etc., etc. That's the comparisons I'm making. A tool for fun or a tool for training. Training for me just isn't fun. Perhaps I'm not getting my point across or not.

What kind of a company are you working for that you have to dress in morbid colors? That would drive me insane. What would happen if you show up wearing bright colors then? Please don't tell me that they would fire you.

Corben

You guys need to check out my other post
" so you want to get a road bike do ya?"
or do you want to buy a road bike. Anyway watch the video. Halarious!

Joe Minton

corben:

When I started to "Get Serious" about road racing, fifty some years ago, I bought an Olmo that came with a B17. I rode that saddle tens of thousands of miles and transferred it to my new candy apple red Schwin Paramount. I later replaced the B17 with a Brooks Swallow to get some relief for my hamstrings.

However, neither saddle helped with the numbness and pain I suffered from compression of my perineum. At the time, since many of my fellow riders had similar complaints, I accepted that perineum pain was normal for what I was doing. I've since learned that there is no need for such numbness and pain and now ride nose-less saddles (Adamo & soon Cobb).

I realize that most of us can get along quite well with Brooks-type saddles. I honestly wish I were one of them. The reason I bring this up is that I am sure there is a significant portion of dedicated cyclists (mostly men) who suffer in silence because it is considered 'normal' to have numbness and even pain in the perineum. It isn't normal. It simply isn't. I realize that I am sorta 'preachy' about this, butt -- those of us with the problem need to research what is available to alleviate the numbness and pain.

Eddy Merckx was known to carry his Brooks (B17?) from bike to bike. I wouldn't be surprised if his hour record was set with that saddle.

I remember how happy I was when my B17 had developed those little indentations where my 'sit' bones, er, sat. It was a really fine saddle and my son still, I think, uses it. Its just that I am not built in such a way that I can find a B17 or any similar saddle comfortable for more than 20 miles or so.

If Eddy Merckx was happy with a Brooks B17, I see no reason why many others should not be, unless -- you are an old male with a swollen prostrate and was never completely comfortable sitting on an ax handle in the first place.

Joe

intransit1217

I'll probably go the selle-italia route but my d/s bike will get a formable leather saddle this Christmas. I might try thinner padded shorts first though.

Dave Horne

My new bike came with a narrow and very hard bike seat. I tried for several months to get used to it and never did, it was just too hard. I wound up buying an SQ Lab. The Brooks look fantastic I should add.

elcruxio

You do realize there is a reason bikes no longer often come with a brooks? I'll give you a hint, it's comfort related.
A modern seat just usually is more comfortable if you want to have a more agressive riding position. There are many different types of saddles nowdays as well. I prefer fizik. Finest dang saddle I've ever used. If I were to use a brooks it would be unbearable. they don't have relief channels.

And surprisingly clipless is also a comfort issue as well as security and efficiency. When you have your leg in the right position you can just forget about it. With flat pedals your foot might be all over the place and that can cause issues.

Weighing you food is sometimes vital (at least for me) due to certain medical conditions or if you want to lose weight. Getting rid of unnecessary fat can't be a bad thing can it?

Lay of off the retro grouchiness man

Joe Minton

If I didn't have a particular problem with perineum pressure, I would surely be using a Brooks Swallow as I have one.

Joe

elcruxio

FIFY

I'll take a comfortable seat and suberb handling instead an itchy rashy back and sucky handling any day of the week, or should I say, no handling at all.
Tell me ryda, why are there absolutely no proper MTB recumbents whatsoever? Could it have something to do with handling maybe...?

rydabent

elcrux

But OTOH a mountain bike is a pig out on the hiway.

cplager

Butt... Isn't that exactly what your supposed to do. Get new bike, of on old saddle and pedals?

Dave Cutter

I am with you! Getting "dressed" in my cycling attire is actually part of the fun of my cycling hobby. I am an old retired guy and putting on the kit has replaced tying my tie in the morning. But I don't wear the spandex for comfort. I like the way my cycling shorts show off my firm hard muscles.

I bought a new bike in July and (although my favorite saddle is more contemporary) I moved my old favorite saddle onto the new bicycle.

Machka 

Most offices here have an office uniform or, at the very least, a dress code. The office uniform usually consists of a dark suit with some possible variations (i.e. a smart cardigan rather than a suit jacket for women).


When people participate in sports (i.e. cycling, going for a run, going to the gym, etc.) they tend to wear brighter colours. Neon coral and brilliant purple are popular just now.


When I see someone riding in jeans, my first guess is that they are on a utility ride rather than a recreational ride ... commuting to work, going to the shops. I also suspect that there may be a rather significant lack of comfort which contributes to the slowness of the pace. Of course I could be wrong ... maybe they are on a recreational ride. Maybe they can comfortably ride long distances in their jeans. Who knows.


The roadies I see (and I'm one of them) enjoy our rides for many reasons. Some of us enjoy numbers and stats. Some of us enjoy the speed. Some of us get an endorphin rush from the energy expenditure. Some of us enjoy the open country roads, nature, scenery, the fact that we can cycle a hundred kilometres to explore new areas ... and we can do it on a Saturday afternoon.

And we make our clothing choices based on comfort, convenience ... and in many cases ... because we simply like the cycling attire.


Take my rides this weekend, for example ... I dressed in my most comfortable cycling shorts and knee warmers. It was just slightly cool out there and knee warmers are great because they don't bind over the knees like thicker, stiffer trousers do. I selected a short-sleeved red jersey and topped it with a long-sleeved red jersey ... a very comfortable combination and happily bright. Then I put a hi-vis yellow vest over the top for wind protection and increased visibility. Saturday we cycled around our new area (we just moved) checking out the beaches, tackling a long climb, and even doing a little bit of trail riding in a nearby nature reserve. I loved every minute of it. I was very comfortable in my clothing choices and thoroughly enjoyed exploring new roads. Sunday we drove to the cycleway and did an out and back. At first we rode casually (and stopped off at a cat show along the way), and then we picked up the pace and rode near my upper limit of speed (fast for me) for the rest of the way ... for the first time in a while, I got a bit of a rush from cycling. I had a blast doing that!!

What I'm saying is that there is a very good chance that the roadie, all dressed in comfortable and bright cycling attire is indeed enjoying his/her ride.


Oh, and to add to my comfort level ... a Brooks saddle, of course. After trying a lot of different saddles, Brooks is the only way to go. I've got them on all my bicycles.

hillyman

Wear, weigh and wheel what you want. And I'll say what I want

hillyman

Was pretty good. Enjoyed one on mountain biking too.

BlazingPedals

Despair all ye who enter as, once started down the path, there is no turning back!