Originally Posted by
BluesDawg
Robert,
My only problem with that is that for some people, a little patience and breaking in does reward them with a very comfortable saddle. I understand that most of us are accustomed to instant gratification and that taking the time to work with something to make it function properly is not desirable, especially since there is no guarantee that it will work. It takes patience and some luck to reap the reward of Brooks bliss. Many will never attain it.
Personally, I would not endure 500 to 1000 miles of real discomfort before trying something else. There are many other choices. Fortunately, that was not necessary for me. I have never ridden on a Brooks saddle that was severely uncomfortable. All three of mine were at least pretty good from the first ride and were very good within a few hundred miles. Still hard as a rock, mind you, but very comfortable. After thousands of miles they just keep getting better and better. Some people have to work with them for a while to get comfortable. Others never get there no matter what they do and for how long. It is up to each individual to decide whether they want to try one and how much effort they are willing to put into trying to make it work.
I accept everything you say except having to work with a product after I buy it to make it acceptable. Not that is isn’t true but it isn’t necessary and is almost contradictory to what we in these forums tell new cyclists about fit and other equipment. If a helmet doesn’t fit we say get one that does before you walk out of the store. Who in here would suggest getting cycling shoes that are uncomfortable in hopes they will get better? The place where we disagree is on having to break in your saddle. There may have been a time when it was necessary because we didn’t have so many choices but today it is the manufacturer’s responsibility to provide a product right out of the box that meets the expectations of the consumer. There are simply too many other saddle manufacturers out there to have to correct the product after purchase. It is here we simply disagree and I respect you right to do so. It also flies in the face of the try before you by mantra so many of us tell people about. That is all I was saying.