Anyone ride an upright & have a Brooks B33?
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Anyone ride an upright & have a Brooks B33?
I'm a female, ride an upright, and unfortunately I fit in the Athena category, 245lbs., and which I'd really love to get out of if only I could find a saddle that would allow me to ride comfortably for longer than 3-5 miles. I've tried 3 saddles now, and am back on the gel saddle the bike came with. When I get off the bike I don't see where my sit bones have been, and the seat appears to me now to have developed somewhat sloping sides. Talk about painful wedgies and numb butt. Pain is alleviated shortly after getting off the bike so I think it's the seat.
My current seat is 8 1/2" wide. The Brooks B33 is 9.25 inches or 235mm. Think I should go for it?
My current seat is 8 1/2" wide. The Brooks B33 is 9.25 inches or 235mm. Think I should go for it?
Last edited by Wren; 09-10-07 at 08:06 PM. Reason: to add additional info
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I'm a female, ride an upright, and unfortunately I fit in the Athena category, 245lbs., and which I'd really love to get out of if only I could find a saddle that would allow me to ride comfortably for longer than 3-5 miles. I've tried 3 saddles now, and am back on the gel saddle the bike came with. When I get off the bike I don't see where my sit bones have been, and the seat appears to me now to have developed somewhat sloping sides. Talk about painful wedgies and numb butt. Pain is alleviated shortly after getting off the bike so I think it's the seat.
My current seat is 8 1/2" wide. The Brooks B33 is 9.25 inches or 235mm. Think I should go for it?
My current seat is 8 1/2" wide. The Brooks B33 is 9.25 inches or 235mm. Think I should go for it?
Let's see, you ride a Cannondale Comfort 400, fairly upright, so I'd take a serious look at the B66, a womens version of the B67. The B33 is designed for pipe post mounts (Old Style).
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. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
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I'm a female, ride an upright, and unfortunately I fit in the Athena category, 245lbs., and which I'd really love to get out of if only I could find a saddle that would allow me to ride comfortably for longer than 3-5 miles. I've tried 3 saddles now, and am back on the gel saddle the bike came with. When I get off the bike I don't see where my sit bones have been, and the seat appears to me now to have developed somewhat sloping sides. Talk about painful wedgies and numb butt. Pain is alleviated shortly after getting off the bike so I think it's the seat.
My current seat is 8 1/2" wide. The Brooks B33 is 9.25 inches or 235mm. Think I should go for it?
My current seat is 8 1/2" wide. The Brooks B33 is 9.25 inches or 235mm. Think I should go for it?
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I don't think the gel synthetic saddles with leave sit bone impressions.
Take if from me, the wider the saddle doesn't mean the comfier it will be. I'm a Clyde, but I'm finding narrower and harder to be MUCH more comfy despite my fear of the opposite. All the padding on those wide soft saddles can put to much pressure in the wrong place and not enough on the right places. I know it's hard to believe this, it's taken me a LONG time to finally realize it myself. Try a saddle that puts most of you weight on you sit bones and less on all the other areas and you'll be surprised.
Take if from me, the wider the saddle doesn't mean the comfier it will be. I'm a Clyde, but I'm finding narrower and harder to be MUCH more comfy despite my fear of the opposite. All the padding on those wide soft saddles can put to much pressure in the wrong place and not enough on the right places. I know it's hard to believe this, it's taken me a LONG time to finally realize it myself. Try a saddle that puts most of you weight on you sit bones and less on all the other areas and you'll be surprised.
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Find a bike shop that has the Specialized "Butt-O_Meter. (No, I'm not puling your leg on the name). It's a piece of memory foam that measures the width of your Ischial Protuberences (Sit Bones at the bottom of the pelvis), so you can determine the correct width of your saddle. That's the first point.
Let's see, you ride a Cannondale Comfort 400, fairly upright, so I'd take a serious look at the B66, a womens version of the B67. The B33 is designed for pipe post mounts (Old Style).
Let's see, you ride a Cannondale Comfort 400, fairly upright, so I'd take a serious look at the B66, a womens version of the B67. The B33 is designed for pipe post mounts (Old Style).
First thing is to get your sitbone measurement. It has nothing to do with how wide one's rear end is. You can gain or lose weight and that will remain the same, although childbirth can widen it a bit in some women. The average woman's span is between 5 and 6-ish inches. My span is 7 inches, so I went with the B-67. I would also recommend you get your Brooks through Wallingford. Bill has helped so many women choose the right saddle for them. If he knows your sitbone span and something about how and what you ride, he'll suggest one or more models for you. The best part is if you buy from him, you have 6 months to try it out and still be able to exchange it. No one else does that. I've heard of women who have gone through 4-5 saddles before they found the perfect one for them.
If your pain is especially centered in your soft tissue "bits", a Brooks may well work for you.
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Thanks for the help. Will do regarding getting my sit bones measured, and yes, donnamb, it's the soft tissues that are suffering most, plus my seat just instantly chafes me. I'll try to get the sit bones measurement in tomorrow. Then go after the more expensive bike fitting.
Wogsterca, I had to raise my handlebar stem to combat carpal tunnel so I'm in a very upright position. All my weight is on my sit bones. I've also had to raise my seat. It is adjusted so that when the right peddle is down, my heel is flat on the peddle, with no bend in my leg which makes for a slight bend when the ball of my foot is on the peddle in riding position. Handlebars are a good 6" higher than the saddle, and have to be that high for me. Otherwise I'd be forced to ride a bent, and I'm not ready to go that route if I can avoid it.
Wogsterca, I had to raise my handlebar stem to combat carpal tunnel so I'm in a very upright position. All my weight is on my sit bones. I've also had to raise my seat. It is adjusted so that when the right peddle is down, my heel is flat on the peddle, with no bend in my leg which makes for a slight bend when the ball of my foot is on the peddle in riding position. Handlebars are a good 6" higher than the saddle, and have to be that high for me. Otherwise I'd be forced to ride a bent, and I'm not ready to go that route if I can avoid it.
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Ok, got my tuberosities measured today and they're 143mm apart. So now what?
It seems nobody makes a decent narrower saddle with springs for an upright rider.
Everything is gel, gel, and more gel. Should I try a Brooks? Which one? Should I go with the kind for riding in third world countries which is supposed to be better for the ahmmm, heavier cyclist? I just don't have a clue.
It seems nobody makes a decent narrower saddle with springs for an upright rider.
Everything is gel, gel, and more gel. Should I try a Brooks? Which one? Should I go with the kind for riding in third world countries which is supposed to be better for the ahmmm, heavier cyclist? I just don't have a clue.
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Ok, got my tuberosities measured today and they're 143mm apart. So now what?
It seems nobody makes a decent narrower saddle with springs for an upright rider.
Everything is gel, gel, and more gel. Should I try a Brooks? Which one? Should I go with the kind for riding in third world countries which is supposed to be better for the ahmmm, heavier cyclist? I just don't have a clue.
It seems nobody makes a decent narrower saddle with springs for an upright rider.
Everything is gel, gel, and more gel. Should I try a Brooks? Which one? Should I go with the kind for riding in third world countries which is supposed to be better for the ahmmm, heavier cyclist? I just don't have a clue.
https://www.wallbike.com/#
Be advised, there is a bit of a racy picture on the Brooks Saddles page, just to let you know.
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. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
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I had a B-33 (well, I still have it but one of the rails broke because I improperly installed it*NOTE: You need a special clamp to install it on a modern seatpost*) and it rode very well for the 1,000 miles or so it lasted. I liked it. After I broke one of the rails I switched to a single rail B67. I like this one as well. I am considering putting it on my new bike.
Here is the B33 in its glory days:
Sorry, no picture of the current B67
Here is the B33 in its glory days:
Sorry, no picture of the current B67
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Go with the 67. With your ischials measuring 5.5", there is also the fleshy pad that surrounds them which adds another 1' to 1.5' of total width. That's about 170mm.
Brooks saddles have a steel frame under the rear of the saddle that looks like a horseshoe. It comes around to the sides and cannot be 'broken-in' by riding - unlike the leather top itself. The sitbones and those fleshy pads need to fit inside that frame or you won't be very comfortable after a few miles.
At 230mm wide, you can subtract about 40mm of actual useable area and conclude that the saddle web is 190mm. With your ischial width, you should fit right in with a little to spare at the sides.
Now, another issue with us Clydes/Athena's is the room between the upper thighs, where the saddle flair is felt. That is called the pinaforis muscle. If you have alot of muscle mass in that area, reducing the distance between your upper thighs, you may encounter some rubbing there. Sometimes it may feel a little like a cramp or charlie-horse. Another reason to go Brooks, because they are slick and thus help to reduce the chafing effect of synthetics. If the mass is flab, you won't have that much of a problem because flab doesn't compress like muscle. A small blessing.
Good luck
Brooks saddles have a steel frame under the rear of the saddle that looks like a horseshoe. It comes around to the sides and cannot be 'broken-in' by riding - unlike the leather top itself. The sitbones and those fleshy pads need to fit inside that frame or you won't be very comfortable after a few miles.
At 230mm wide, you can subtract about 40mm of actual useable area and conclude that the saddle web is 190mm. With your ischial width, you should fit right in with a little to spare at the sides.
Now, another issue with us Clydes/Athena's is the room between the upper thighs, where the saddle flair is felt. That is called the pinaforis muscle. If you have alot of muscle mass in that area, reducing the distance between your upper thighs, you may encounter some rubbing there. Sometimes it may feel a little like a cramp or charlie-horse. Another reason to go Brooks, because they are slick and thus help to reduce the chafing effect of synthetics. If the mass is flab, you won't have that much of a problem because flab doesn't compress like muscle. A small blessing.
Good luck
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That's one anatomical name. It's also just the plain ol' Ischium.
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. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
. “He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.”- Fredrick Nietzsche
"We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals." - Immanuel Kant
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One more thing to think about. Make absolutely certain you're sitting far enough back on your seat. I had real pain with my seat and then one day I decided to see if I could scoot back just a little more. I started scooting and scooting and scooting. I kept going until my sit bones actually slide off the back of the seat. I then moved just a little bit forward. I had been sitting WAY too far forward and since I changed positions I have had no significant pain. I used to be in agony after 5 miles. I've now ridding 35 with no more than 5 minutes off the bike and felt fine at the finish.
Joe
Joe
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One more thing to think about. Make absolutely certain you're sitting far enough back on your seat. I had real pain with my seat and then one day I decided to see if I could scoot back just a little more. I started scooting and scooting and scooting. I kept going until my sit bones actually slide off the back of the seat. I then moved just a little bit forward. I had been sitting WAY too far forward and since I changed positions I have had no significant pain. I used to be in agony after 5 miles. I've now ridding 35 with no more than 5 minutes off the bike and felt fine at the finish.
Joe
Joe
+1 ditto, same here.
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One more thing to think about. Make absolutely certain you're sitting far enough back on your seat. I had real pain with my seat and then one day I decided to see if I could scoot back just a little more. I started scooting and scooting and scooting. I kept going until my sit bones actually slide off the back of the seat. I then moved just a little bit forward. I had been sitting WAY too far forward and since I changed positions I have had no significant pain. I used to be in agony after 5 miles. I've now ridding 35 with no more than 5 minutes off the bike and felt fine at the finish.
Joe
Joe
When I was getting fitted for my bike the tech told me to stick my booty out as I was mounting the bike. Then rock/slide forward until you're comfortable. I have found this advice helpful.
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Brooks Saddle
Find a bike shop that has the Specialized "Butt-O_Meter. (No, I'm not puling your leg on the name). It's a piece of memory foam that measures the width of your Ischial Protuberences (Sit Bones at the bottom of the pelvis), so you can determine the correct width of your saddle. That's the first point.
Let's see, you ride a Cannondale Comfort 400, fairly upright, so I'd take a serious look at the B66, a womens version of the B67. The B33 is designed for pipe post mounts (Old Style).
Let's see, you ride a Cannondale Comfort 400, fairly upright, so I'd take a serious look at the B66, a womens version of the B67. The B33 is designed for pipe post mounts (Old Style).
I have at least six
gel saddles, including two Terry saddles, all uncomfortable. I wanted a saddle with springs, but they aren't available at my LBS, and neither is the Brooks line, so I had to order online.
The woman's version Brooks saddles are indicated
by an 's' designation, which means shorter and wider, according to the website. My B67s is a nice saddle, it's starting to break in, mercifully, so I can ride longer periods
before it becomes a rock again! It looks great on the bike, but a Brooks requires a break-in time and some Proofide applications. It feels better with every ride, though, so I'm encouraged. Good Luck!
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I'm 6'4" and 300 lbs., I just got a B33 from Wallingford for my Townie Balloon 3 and I love it! It's not broken in yet but even after one 10 mile ride it feels great. Being heavier, I have to make sure the tension is kept high enough to prevent the leather top from bottoming out on the rails. The suspension of the saddle combined with the 2.35" Fat Frank tires (inflated to 55-60lbs) is dreamy.
Did you get a B33 or other Brooks for your bike? If so, let's see!
Did you get a B33 or other Brooks for your bike? If so, let's see!