tiiger

This might be a lame question/observation...

First season on my new Brooks B17. It's getting comfortable (no complaints on "firmness"), but I'm always having to skootch my arse back onto the meat of the saddle. I already have the thing canted upwards; certainly more than I ever have on previous saddles (where "level" has always seemed normal and comfortable).

Canted too far up looks goofy, but if it's right and proper and good, I guess that's fine. (It only looks weird if you're not on it, right?)

So, maybe because Brooks are more "slippery" than other saddles, but, um, is that normal for these? (Yeah, I'm sure it's different for everyone, but share your experiences!)

A couple of comments on these, I've found in my research:

"The saddle must not be too high. This one made a lot of difference for me and not only with the Brooks. I had a tendency to set it up too high... as all the B17 based Brooks commands for the handlebars to be at least at saddle height."

https://www.bikeforums.net/touring/64...ks-saddle.html

I would NEVER have the handlebars at saddle height! That's just wrong. (For me anyway.)

Here's mine. I think the nose might be one more detent upwards since that photo.

Mumonkan

your angle looks fine, pretty much the same angle as mine, and i have no problems:



brooks are a slippery saddle (which i like) but id suggest sliding the whole thing forward a smidge and see if that helps, ive had that need to keep moving my ass back on much flatter racier saddles and it was because it was too far back

SquidPuppet

The B17 does work better for a more upright riding position. To prevent that slipping feeling, adjust the saddle to where the rear (where your bones rest) is flat. To acheive that, the nose will be quite a bit up, and it does look odd (to me) on a bike with a horizontal top tube. That can also makes the low bar/high saddle combination a bit crowded for your private parts.

I have B17s on two of my bikes. A Klunker and a Beach Cruiser. Both have angled top tubes so the saddle tilt is less noticable, plus the riding position is extemely upright (obviously) so there is no scrunching of my stuff.

tiiger

Hmm... I wonder, with that (and the pic of the Fuji in post #2 ), if the B17 might be a bad choice for my Steamroller, given the height difference of saddle and bars.

I'll try sliding the saddle forward a bit to see if that helps. When I slide my butt back, however, it feels like it's in the right place for my riding position; I'd rather not compromise my riding position to accommodate a slippery saddle.

SquidPuppet

Sliding it forward was not the answer for me, at all. When you hit the right amount of tilt, the saddle is sublime. You'll know it immediately because you'll no longer be holding yourself back with your arms. Unfortunately for me, on a road bike frame, I couldn't tollerate/accept the look of the tilt or the crowding of my parts. But I LOVE them on my other bikes.

TejanoTrackie 

Even Brooks Pros need to be tilted up significantly to be comfortable:

tiiger

Everyone's photo seems to show bars that are nearly even with the seat.

Anyway, I nosed it up another click, and I'm not feeling the need to skooch back as often. A little odd, though. But it's only been one commute so far. Time will tell.

Or my parts will fall off.

orangeology

tilting might not be the answer, i am afraid.
might sound counterintuitive, but often times 'sliding off nose' is caused from saddle being too far back.
when saddle is too far, body geometry gives more weight distribution to your hands making your body 'following forward'.
try to move the saddle 'forward' a bit and ride and see.

i've had same problem and researched a bit.
tilting it up could be a short term answer, causing different kind of problems.

tiiger

The horns of a dilemma, right there.

TejanoTrackie 

Well, not everyone. Check out the setup on Scrod's BK.

tiiger

Ah, excellent. (Ya, I meant everyone's photo in this thread.)

But this is good to see, thanks!

SquidPuppet

What orangeology says makes perfect sense, IF the fore/aft IS too far back.

Brooks, especially the B17, are notorious for limited (short rails) fore/aft adjustability. Especially the ability to move them rearward enough. For me, I needed lots of tilt and I still had to buy a new post with lots more setback.

Did you happen to take a seat-to-stem measurement before swapping saddles?

hairnet

The B17 is intended for that riding position. If the bar is much lower than the saddle then you get all kinds of rubbing that makes it hard to stay back on the saddle. That plus getting the height, tilt, and set back all right. I would imagine needing a seatpost with more setback for a Steamroller.

iTripped

I also have a significant drop from saddle to bars, but I ride with the swift, not the B17. I have inched the nose upward a little since any photos I have online, but nothing drastic or visually noticeable.

tiiger

I was originally looking at the Swift, but my LBS seemed to think the B17 would be more comfortable.

I'll give him what for!

TejanoTrackie 

The Swift is designed for the most racey riding position and the B17 for the most upright touring riding position. The Brooks Pro lies somewhere in between the Swift and B17. Perhaps you'd be better off with a Brook Pro.

iTripped

I'd say go for the swift, as you could basically do a saddle swap and things should be about right. You have even more drop than on scrodzilla's bk so I would not mess with half measures.

SquidPuppet

Where does the Swallow fit on the scale?

TejanoTrackie 

I'd forgotten about the Swallow. It's more of a pure racing saddle than the Swift.

tiiger

Yeah, the Swallow is wicked slim. It's practically a suppository.

thewilson 

I've got my swift up a fair amount.

JohnDThompson 

Please tell me that picture wasn't taken today!

thewilson 

Thankfully not!

Scrodzilla

It really shouldn't require posting on a forum to figure out how far up to tilt your saddle to keep you from sliding forward.

Try this:

Tilt it up until you stop sliding forward.

europa

Don't be bloody silly Scrod, that's obvious and it works, the real answer HAS to be more esoteric than that.