My Brooks Pro is Too Soft?

[Weizilla]

I got a brooks pro classic a couple of months ago and when I got it initially, it was the classic hard-as-rocks surface. I proofhide it after a few test rides and have been riding it since then. It's getting more comfortable as I've been tweaking the seat angle and I'm finally seeing some sitbone indentations.

However, I've noticed recently that the saddle is almost too soft at the end of the bike ride. I just came back from a 20 mile bike ride and felt that towards the end, my sitbones are almost sinking into the seat instead of supporting all of my weight. If i press down really hard on the sitbone indentations with my finger, the leather sinks in almost a full cm and about 5 mm in the area between the indentations. I can't imagine how much it sinks when I put my full 160 lb on it, especially since the pro saddles are suppose to be harder. I heard of people lacing the skirt but that doesn't seem to do anything since the pressure is so far back in the saddle.

Perhaps it's so soft because it's full of butt sweat? (I sweat a lot and was wearing tri shorts + gym shorts) When I proofhided it, I left it on for a day and half, maybe 2 days because I couldn't find anything about how long to leave it on other than "until it's absorbed". I hope I didn't ruin my saddle

[JoeB14]

You may want to try increasing the tension. You should have received a special wrench with the saddle-use it to turn the nut under the nose.

[Tuc]

You may want to try increasing the tension. You should have received a special wrench with the saddle-use it to turn the nut under the nose.

+1 , mine was just a bit loose out of the box a month ago. Don't worry about the proof hide application, you did it right and won't need to do it again for quite a while unless the saddle gets soaked.

[ThermionicScott]

Shh! Don't tell people that they get soft and pliant -- the rest of us Brooks riders have an image to maintain!

[tcarl]

My Pro's are all really hard, but I have a B17 narrow that's too soft - I have to turn the adjustment screw a quarter turn every 100 miles. I don't think that saddle is going to last too long. I contacted Brooks about it and the best they could tell me was that occasionally they have a really soft piece of leather.

[hueyhoolihan]

my next new brooks, i think, will be a b-17 ( have a few pro's now and one b-17) and i plan on experimenting with NOT applying any type of conditioner on it and see how THAT goes...

[fietsbob]

I have a 20 and a 30 year old Brooks Pro and they are still just fine.

they were pretty well saturated with proofide, melting the waxes in a 100 degree oven ..

suit your own needs..