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New B-17
I took the plunge, and parted with some money, to buy a black Brooks B-17.
When it came, I opened the box, and took it out. It really is a gorgeous saddle. But, damn, did that thing look and feel hard. I swabbed it in Proofide, and let it sit in the sun to bake it in. Buffed it off, and admired it's looks. But, damn, is that thing ever hard! I then installed it on my Specialized Crosstrail, and took it for a short four mile spin! And, as hard as that thing is, it really is quite comfortable, right out of the box. But, damn, that thing is really hard! I took it for a longer ride today, about 30 miles; and, even though that damn thing is as hard as a rock, and still seems as hard as it was the first time it came out of the box, it is really very comfortable, hard or not! I think I'll leave the damned hard thing on there, and put forty miles on it tomorrow! How can anything as damned hard as that thing, be so damned comfortable? Damn! (more reviews to follow) |
Whatever you do, don't do anything to try to soften it up. Just ride it. It is comfortable because it is shaped right. As you ride it more, it will become more comfortable as is adapts its shape to yours. It may soften a little, but that is not the goal. It is supposed to be hard.
Welcome to the Brooks club.:welcome |
Took a couple hundred miles for mine to noticeably feel different. Like others have said break it in with use and proofide only. Dollars well spent!! Welcome to the Brooks club.
Now if we could get Tom Bombadil to spring for one. Word is he rides on a pin head. Lp |
I like mine too! I commuted to work all week. It is a 22 mi. round trip. Even though the saddle is only two weeks old it is the most comfortable thing I have ever ridden.
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Wierd isn't it. The other odd thing I notice is that even if its a bit uncomfortable at first, on long rides it never gets any worse, often gets better as the ride gets longer
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it took about 400 miles for mine to get completely broke in, but damn, it is sure damned comfortable and still damned hard. and i damn sure wouldn't trade the damned thing!
welcome to the brooks club. be well jim |
I think its better said welcome to the Damned Brooks Club. :thumb: :roflmao2: Lp
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My first Brooks B17 took maybe 800 miles to really break in. It was not uncomfortable right out of the box, but it kept getting better. Just wait until you have about 2000 miles on it.
My second and third Brooks saddles (yes, I have them on 3 bikes now) were much easier to break in. Maybe it's that my butt is already broken in, but the last two felt fabulous right out of the box. Enjoy. Welcome to the club. |
I've already decided that a B17 will go on my next bike. I don't think it could be too much harder than the saddle that came on my Roubaix, which is actually quite comfortable.
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When I saw your post title I thought you bought an airplane. Ha!
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I have about 250 miles on my B17. It's comfortable in the sit bones area but it makes me numb. My 2 other saddles that have a cut out or groove do not make me numb. I want the Brooks to work but so far it doesn't. More time on the B17 may help.
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Well, I only got to do 30 miles this morning, and it's wonderful! But, damn, is it hard.
My son has some medical issues going on, which is, understandably, taking up a lot of our time for the last several days. Hopefully, surgery today, will resolve his gallstone problem. We've had the grandchildren, and his condition is kinda keeping us from "normal" activities. We are trying to keep it as normal for the kids, as we can. I just don't understand how it can be so hard, and so comfortable at the same time. My sit bones never complained, not once. Hopefully, a 42 mile test tomorrow. Damn, that thing is hard! But, it is AMAZINGLY, comfortable. Should have done this years ago!!!!!!!! |
Originally Posted by oldride
(Post 7371981)
I have about 250 miles on my B17. It's comfortable in the sit bones area but it makes me numb. My 2 other saddles that have a cut out or groove do not make me numb. I want the Brooks to work but so far it doesn't. More time on the B17 may help.
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I started out with my saddle pretty much level, and have experienced no discomfort at all.
I thought I would be playing with the adjustment of my B-17, but, so far, have done nothing. It's VERY comfortable, but the damned thing sure is still hard..... I think I will plan on a 50 mile spin some day next week, just to experiment.... I sure do like it , so far. Most comfortable seat I have ever ridden! And, I'm looking forward to it getting even better. But, the damned thing sure is hard! |
Originally Posted by Wanderer
(Post 7372617)
But, the damned thing sure is hard!
http://www.pronto.com/Bell-Sports-In..._1054440871-PP I've seen them for $12 in stores. :D |
Originally Posted by Tom Bombadil
(Post 7372675)
Easily remedied ... just top it with a Bell Memory Foam Seat Pad
http://www.pronto.com/Bell-Sports-In..._1054440871-PP I've seen them for $12 in stores. :D |
Every day, I dook forward to riding on my Brooks. It may be the best thing I got for my bike.
Paul |
I'm not complaining about the hardness, as the saddle is extremely comfortable, even if the thing is damned hard!
Just stating a fact, with amazement! And, it really is a beautiful saddle. Minimalist, with style! I am very pleased with the black one on my black bike; but, might consider a honey colored one, just because it is easier to see. And, the contrast might be nice. But, the black looks good, as well. No buyers remorse. My immediate reaction to this new saddle, is; that, if you are on the fence, about putting one on your bike, don't wait toooooooo long - this thing is great. Since it is my first experience with Brooks, and since I ride 42+ miles, almost every day, I plan on giving my almost daily impressions to help others understand what this thng is like. I am 62 years old, 6', 183#(and still going down-Ihope.) I ride a Specialized Crosstrail Hybrid, and ride semi upright. I do my 42 mile loop in three hours or less. I couldn't have imagined it, even reading every Brooks thread I came across. I would put this saddle on any bike I considered riding - it is that good. This was a "Good Trade!" |
Originally Posted by BluesDawg
(Post 7372943)
That's about $15 more than they are worth. But I'm sure you enjoy yours. :p
I do enjoy mine. It is very nice to throw on my lunch bike, when I'm not wearing padded shorts. |
And, I wish I knew you were buying one, Tom, as I have several - and never bought a single one..... I just pick 'em up on the MUP's around here, when I see them. They are free to pick up, as most must just throw them away..... LOL
Every one is in like new condition, I have given several away, and have lent out the others many times, to those who want to try them. They almost always come backkkkkkkkk |
Oh, they are very popular on the MUPs and rail trails. I see a lot of people using them. I've chatted with many people on the trails and when I see those on their saddles, I ask them about them. Almost always on 50+'er bikes. The typical response I get is that those are the only reason why that person is even able to ride the bike. They sing the praises of them.
Sometimes they have those big, fluffy lambswool ones. Frequently they are using them on top of super padded cruiser saddles. In well over 1000 miles of riding on MUPs and trails, I've never seen one beside a trail. |
Wanderer, I'm glad you like your B17.......but you don't think it's maybe too hard, do you?
Actually I am a devoted Brooks rider myself - I have one on my Long Haul Trucker (1000 miles on that saddle), and I recently put one on my Trek 820 mountain bike. As stated in an earlier post, it took a few hundred mile for my first one to get comfortable, but the new one was comfortable right from the first. The only problem I experience is that after about 3 or 4 hours in the saddle, with short breaks every 20 or 30 minutes, my bottom starts to just hurt - like it's bruised or something! I tend to not ride out of the saddle a lot, so maybe that has something to do with it. There's no chafing or anything, just tenderness. Maybe it's because it's so hard, huh? |
Yep, mine "disappears" under me! But be careful Wanderer, they're awfully hard.
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Realizing that everyone is different, and that a Brooks may not be for them, consider my predicament, with regard to my information.
I can not ride "out of the saddle" because of a knee problem. Cycling is very friendly if it happens to fit in my range of motion. This takes a few miles to get into the rotation, so once there, I don't stop. Weight bearing, such as standing and walking is not a good thing. My bicycle rides are non-stop, until it's over, or I have to start loosening up again. So, consider my comments, as someone who must SIT on the seat for almost the entire distance. I feel, that this unique requirement, really gives my opinion of my sit experiences a lot of weight. |
Originally Posted by Wanderer
(Post 7374288)
really gives my opinion of my sit experiences a lot of weight.
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Just put mine on yesterday, and did a fast twenty miles. Not the most comfortable, but not the worst either. I'll be glad when it gets broken in. (Or is it my butt that gets broken in?)
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I did my nonstop 42 mile loop today, never getting out of the saddle.
At about 35 miles, ZI started to feel some discomfort. No pain, just discomfort. It did not get any worse, and I assume it is still getting broken in. It should have just a little over 100 miles on it, since I installed it the other day. I will continue to try to ride it 42 miles every day, to see what happens, and to note if it gets better or worse. I did ride in bike shorts, and, really found the discomfort at 35 miles, about the same as with the Specialized Body Geometry saddle. Up until the 35 mile mark, it was very comfortable, and I really like the ability to slide around on the seat, without any grabbing. I still have to say - that it's a keeper, even more so, if it continues to improve. |
Given your upright riding position, a Brooks Flyer might be a good option. The springs help make up for the extra weight focused on the butt with the more upright position. It is essentially a B-17 with springs.
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On my daily loop today, I decided to try something different. I left the bike shorts at home, and rode in lightweight nylon shorts, with lycra compression shorts (underwear type) underneath.
I started to experience some discomfort at about 30 miles, and some soreness at about 38. At that point I only had 4 miles to get home, so just rode it out. This seat now has about 150 miles on it. It should be noted, that, previously, I was never able to go beyond 20 miles without serious discomfort (OEM seat, same shorts) and was in agony by 30. By switching to bike shorts, same saddle, I am able to do the 42 miles, with only a little discomfort. . I can actually feel my sit bones on the underside of the seat, by placing my hand/fingers under there, so I know the size is correct, as the "dimples" are almost perfectly centered in each side of the saddle. Surprisingly, since it's so damned hard, I don't feel the hard hits as much as I did before, shorts or not. Tomorrow, will be back to bike shorts, for more testing and reports. I'm really quite pleased with this seat, and hope it continues to improve even more. It is better than the stock BG seat on my Crosstrail, without a doubt; and, I liked that one. I'm really looking forward to hitting the 500 and 1000 mile mark. It is surprisingly comfortable for such a hard seat. But, wow, the damned thing sure is hard! (edit:) p.s. The MUP I ride was really crowded today, and added an extra hour to my normal sub 3 hour ride - taking it to just over 4 hours. The extra time in the saddle may have been a factor. |
Interesting thread, and pretty funny!
OP, you feel your Brooks is HARD but comfortable. This response isn't about Brookses, as I haven't used one since I was 14 (I loved that one, and covered a lot of miles on it) But about hardness/comfort I have a Bontrager Race Lux on the tandem, and a Selle San Marco sport on my touring bike. They're both fine. No complaints But I have a San Marco Blaze on my best bike. Almost no 'give' at all when you apply the thumb test. It's hard. But it's by far the most comfortable when a ride goes into the third hour. I really wasn't expecting that. Something about dimensions, and fit, and butt bone support just where you need it and nowhere else - I certainly wouldn't swap it for more softness. However, it's not as good looking as a B 17. Enjoy |
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