Quick review of my new Brooks B17 narrow
05-18-05, 07:42 AM
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Quick review of my new Brooks B17 narrow
Well, after finding my 84/85 trek 460 series at goodwill and discovering how well it fit - I knew I wanted a Brooks saddle to go with it. I got my Brooks b17 narrow in antique brown on Monday and applied the proofide and ready to go (after the application dried). The feel is not so bad, I compare it to my old leather ortho shoe inserts/arch supports I had when I was a child - conformed really well. The only thing that I struggle with at the moment is the slippery feel of it. With the peddling stroke, I feel myself sliding forward a pinch. The top tube could be touch long - but not by much. With my prior saddle, I really felt locked in with the reach. I leveled the brooks so its not an issue of the nose being down. Has anyone else struggled with the slippery feel of the brooks. Other than that, Im excited to work this sucker in!
05-18-05, 08:00 AM
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Nikos,
The slippery feel will either go away or you will get used to it (I'm not
sure which actually happened with mine). I actually like the fact that
I can move around as easily as I can on the brooks.
Great saddles, just wait till you get it broken in and it completely
dissapears.
Marty
The slippery feel will either go away or you will get used to it (I'm not
sure which actually happened with mine). I actually like the fact that
I can move around as easily as I can on the brooks.
Great saddles, just wait till you get it broken in and it completely
dissapears.
Marty
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05-18-05, 08:08 AM
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I believe the thing that is the downside of some GEL saddles is that they squish and your butt sinks into the saddle, irritating the soft tissues, AND
They tend to grab instead of slide or float under your butt
I tend to think of the saddle as a guide or rail that my legs move by... and my butt settles on from time to time
I have an old B5N (very similar to the B17N according to Wallbikes) on me Felt. I have two 70's road bikes and I'd like to get Brookies on them as well.... just have to justify the expenditure for bikes I ride less. Think I might get a new B17, install it on the Felt, break it in (cause I ride that one a lot) and then move it to one of the others.
Acht! I'm rambling
oh yeah, here is an interesting link to breaking in the Brooks... interesting stuff and may be worth trying as the author is a knowledgeable cyclist.
https://www.billbostoncycles.com/brooks_pro.htm
They tend to grab instead of slide or float under your butt
I tend to think of the saddle as a guide or rail that my legs move by... and my butt settles on from time to time
I have an old B5N (very similar to the B17N according to Wallbikes) on me Felt. I have two 70's road bikes and I'd like to get Brookies on them as well.... just have to justify the expenditure for bikes I ride less. Think I might get a new B17, install it on the Felt, break it in (cause I ride that one a lot) and then move it to one of the others.
Acht! I'm rambling
oh yeah, here is an interesting link to breaking in the Brooks... interesting stuff and may be worth trying as the author is a knowledgeable cyclist.
https://www.billbostoncycles.com/brooks_pro.htm
Last edited by Sigurdd50; 05-18-05 at 08:14 AM.
05-18-05, 09:16 AM
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Originally Posted by lotek
Nikos,
The slippery feel will either go away or you will get used to it (I'm not
sure which actually happened with mine). I actually like the fact that
I can move around as easily as I can on the brooks.
Great saddles, just wait till you get it broken in and it completely
dissapears.
Marty
The slippery feel will either go away or you will get used to it (I'm not
sure which actually happened with mine). I actually like the fact that
I can move around as easily as I can on the brooks.
Great saddles, just wait till you get it broken in and it completely
dissapears.
Marty
After broken in, the "sit bones" have their dimpled locating areas, and you don't slide as much.
I've been averaging 35 miles per day on mine, and it's getting better all the time.
I love my Brooks...!
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nice lugs baby!
nice lugs baby!
05-19-05, 11:35 AM
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Boston Bill is blasphemy. It simply isn't required. Leather should need to be exposed to water. It damages it. This will result in shorter life. Just get used to the idea that if it doesn't fit to begin with, it doesn't work for you. No one saddle model, type, or brand is the best choice for everyone.
For crying out loud. Soak it in water five times. Sheesh. Sounds like the guy that used to ride in RAAM (Lon Halderman maybe?), he'd soak Leather saddles in water too. Then he also replaced them after like 5,000 miles.
For crying out loud. Soak it in water five times. Sheesh. Sounds like the guy that used to ride in RAAM (Lon Halderman maybe?), he'd soak Leather saddles in water too. Then he also replaced them after like 5,000 miles.
05-19-05, 12:15 PM
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All I've ever put on my Brooks saddles is Proofide.
I can see where Bill Boston is coming from, a bit
of water to facilitate shaping the saddle, but I
prefer the old tried and true ride it alot to break
it in.
Marty
I can see where Bill Boston is coming from, a bit
of water to facilitate shaping the saddle, but I
prefer the old tried and true ride it alot to break
it in.
Marty
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05-19-05, 01:36 PM
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Where I stand (sit?) regarding the big saddle debate:
Capo: 1972 Brooks Pro, bought new and ridden more than 40K miles / 65K km so far
PKN-10E: ca. 1970 Brooks Competition
KOM-10: ca. 1980 Brooks Team Pro
UO-8: narrow padded vinyl Marin (ouch!) -- urgently needs a Brooks!
Bianchi: Serfas ARC anatomical, almost as good as Brooks
I use Proofhide, not water!
Capo: 1972 Brooks Pro, bought new and ridden more than 40K miles / 65K km so far
PKN-10E: ca. 1970 Brooks Competition
KOM-10: ca. 1980 Brooks Team Pro
UO-8: narrow padded vinyl Marin (ouch!) -- urgently needs a Brooks!
Bianchi: Serfas ARC anatomical, almost as good as Brooks
I use Proofhide, not water!
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Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
05-19-05, 04:12 PM
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I love my Brooks saddles too. I have 3 Team Pros (1 each in black, antique brown and BRG). All are broken in by me. For some perverse reason, I actually enjoy the breakin process. I use only Proofide, and only sparingly. In addition, I have a B17 in honey and a B5N in black (I've never seen one in any other color).
The green Team Pro lives on my celeste Bianchi while the other two Team Pros alternate duty on my Colnago Master. Amazingly, the Brooks saddles get far more comments that either of my bikes!
The green Team Pro lives on my celeste Bianchi while the other two Team Pros alternate duty on my Colnago Master. Amazingly, the Brooks saddles get far more comments that either of my bikes!
07-18-05, 02:13 PM
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im about to purchase a brooks from nashbar, sounds like a good deal at $59.99. anyway, im unsure about which to buy, the regular b17 or the b17narrow. any suggestions on which i should get? i did a search on the b17narrow... said fits good for people with narrow pelvises, whatever that means...
any better deals than nashbars??
any better deals than nashbars??
07-18-05, 06:11 PM
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being new to the biking world I never noticed the Brooks saddle before recently.
What's the story? Are they better then the Italian road/racing seats. and how do they compare to Terry saddles?
How can I justify the expence?
What's the story? Are they better then the Italian road/racing seats. and how do they compare to Terry saddles?
How can I justify the expence?
07-18-05, 06:16 PM
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terry's wear out way too fast (they come unglued. my wife will only ride a terry and I replace it about as often as her tires). Brooks are truly much better. The only downside to them is that they weigh just about as much as my entire freaking OCLV frame and fork. I have a titanium swift on one of my bikes...much lighter and more comfortable (and dreadfully expensive). An excellent alternative that only weighs about 2/3rds of an OCLV...
