Loosening the nut on my Brooks saddle.
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 771
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Loosening the nut on my Brooks saddle.
Anyone done this before?
My bottom and sit bones are actually super comfy on the saddle, but I can feel every road vibration getting transmitted to the small of my lower back. Like the saddle is so hard that instead of dispersing the shock, it is beating me up with it.
From day one, I felt like I was sitting on a backboard.
I proofhided it, put miles on it, adjusted the angle. Still hurting my back. My old Brooks was fine. Same bike.
So I figured I would back off the nut a smidge and see if that helps. I will post back with an update. If the thing still hurts my back, I think I will have to get rid of it. It is just making riding miserable.
Facing the saddle nose, I turned the nut 1/8 turn counter-clockwise (or should I say "anti-clockwise"). From looking at the mechanism, this looks like it will loosen the leather up a smidge.
I don't want to start another breaking in thread, just wanted to see if anyone has had this saddle back problem and if loosening the saddle up worked for them.
My bottom and sit bones are actually super comfy on the saddle, but I can feel every road vibration getting transmitted to the small of my lower back. Like the saddle is so hard that instead of dispersing the shock, it is beating me up with it.
From day one, I felt like I was sitting on a backboard.
I proofhided it, put miles on it, adjusted the angle. Still hurting my back. My old Brooks was fine. Same bike.
So I figured I would back off the nut a smidge and see if that helps. I will post back with an update. If the thing still hurts my back, I think I will have to get rid of it. It is just making riding miserable.
Facing the saddle nose, I turned the nut 1/8 turn counter-clockwise (or should I say "anti-clockwise"). From looking at the mechanism, this looks like it will loosen the leather up a smidge.
I don't want to start another breaking in thread, just wanted to see if anyone has had this saddle back problem and if loosening the saddle up worked for them.
#2
Banned
Over time it will hammock , but if the nut is backed all the way to the front end,
there is no more loosening..
maybe your toosh will be more comfortable on a leather covered foam padded saddle,
rather than a thick leather one suspended from rivets.
there are abundant choices in that category.
or maybe you will have to go into recumbent-cy.
there is no more loosening..
maybe your toosh will be more comfortable on a leather covered foam padded saddle,
rather than a thick leather one suspended from rivets.
there are abundant choices in that category.
or maybe you will have to go into recumbent-cy.
Last edited by fietsbob; 12-20-12 at 02:28 PM.
#3
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
Don't do it.
Tilt the nose of the saddle up a tiny bit, and keep riding. The saddle is supposed to be hard, and will never been anything but hard (unless something goes terribly wrong with it).
How much have you ridden it so far?
Tilt the nose of the saddle up a tiny bit, and keep riding. The saddle is supposed to be hard, and will never been anything but hard (unless something goes terribly wrong with it).
How much have you ridden it so far?
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,545
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5222 Post(s)
Liked 3,575 Times
in
2,339 Posts
yeah don't adjust it. sounds like an adjustment to your fit or your posture is required.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Hollister, CA
Posts: 3,957
Bikes: Volagi, daVinci Joint Venture
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
2 Posts
If your bottom and sit bones are "comfy", don't change your saddle. From your description it would appear you might be very upright; otherwise, at the more or less average 45 degree +- back angle flexing in your spine would be doing the absorbing. A very stiff frame, let's say inexpensive Aluminum, might be contributing.
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 771
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
I do sit up high. About 45 or 50 degrees on a steel frame.
I had ridden the bike for a couple months with no problems.
It started when I got the new saddle.
My butt likes it, but my back doesn't.
I actually had another new Brooks saddle on it before, that was fine, except the saddle leaned to the left so I exchanged it for the new one which seems fine, other than killing my back.
I did tip the nose up, thinking that would deflect the shocks differently, and it is a little better, but still a problem.
This has been a wierd summer of biking pains for me. First my shoulders hurt in the spring, then after I raised the bars and put on a 1cm shorter stem, they are fine. Then my knees hurt, then I moved the saddle back and they love it there. After my knees and shoulders gave me the approval of those adjustments, now my back is hurting since I got the new saddle.
I had ridden the bike for a couple months with no problems.
It started when I got the new saddle.
My butt likes it, but my back doesn't.
I actually had another new Brooks saddle on it before, that was fine, except the saddle leaned to the left so I exchanged it for the new one which seems fine, other than killing my back.
I did tip the nose up, thinking that would deflect the shocks differently, and it is a little better, but still a problem.
This has been a wierd summer of biking pains for me. First my shoulders hurt in the spring, then after I raised the bars and put on a 1cm shorter stem, they are fine. Then my knees hurt, then I moved the saddle back and they love it there. After my knees and shoulders gave me the approval of those adjustments, now my back is hurting since I got the new saddle.
#7
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
Can you post a picture of you on the bicycle?
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 94
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I was sure that when I got my Brooks, the documentation said to never turn the nut counter-clockwise. I could never understand why but also never tried it. Did it loosen up the leather?
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 771
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Thanks for the help everybody.
#11
Senior Member
Crimeny its a bike saddle its made of leather and steel
If you want to loosen the bolt some go ahead and see if it helps
Its not a nuclear warhead
It wont blow up and the sun will still come up in the east tomorow
I dont know where some people get the idea you have to treat brooks saddles like its a newborn baby
or a piece of Ming Dynasty china
The bolts on my 2 saddles have over an inch of adjustment
I have both loosened and tightened my saddles alot to see what difference it makes and they are both fine after my experiments
My 2 saddles may not last 40 years like some people on here brag about theres
but thats fine because Im not gonna last that long either
If a person loosens the nut a half or a whole turn and the saddle sags to much big deal
just tighten it 3/4 to 1'1/2 turns and it will be back to where it was
and it will still have at least another 39 1/2 years worth of adjustment left
Nomex suit on as I wait for the flames from the Brooks purists
If you want to loosen the bolt some go ahead and see if it helps
Its not a nuclear warhead
It wont blow up and the sun will still come up in the east tomorow
I dont know where some people get the idea you have to treat brooks saddles like its a newborn baby
or a piece of Ming Dynasty china
The bolts on my 2 saddles have over an inch of adjustment
I have both loosened and tightened my saddles alot to see what difference it makes and they are both fine after my experiments
My 2 saddles may not last 40 years like some people on here brag about theres
but thats fine because Im not gonna last that long either
If a person loosens the nut a half or a whole turn and the saddle sags to much big deal
just tighten it 3/4 to 1'1/2 turns and it will be back to where it was
and it will still have at least another 39 1/2 years worth of adjustment left
Nomex suit on as I wait for the flames from the Brooks purists
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 456
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
Crimeny its a bike saddle its made of leather and steel
If you want to loosen the bolt some go ahead and see if it helps
Its not a nuclear warhead
It wont blow up and the sun will still come up in the east tomorow
I dont know where some people get the idea you have to treat brooks saddles like its a newborn baby
or a piece of Ming Dynasty china
The bolts on my 2 saddles have over an inch of adjustment
I have both loosened and tightened my saddles alot to see what difference it makes and they are both fine after my experiments
My 2 saddles may not last 40 years like some people on here brag about theres
but thats fine because Im not gonna last that long either
If a person loosens the nut a half or a whole turn and the saddle sags to much big deal
just tighten it 3/4 to 1'1/2 turns and it will be back to where it was
and it will still have at least another 39 1/2 years worth of adjustment left
Nomex suit on as I wait for the flames from the Brooks purists
If you want to loosen the bolt some go ahead and see if it helps
Its not a nuclear warhead
It wont blow up and the sun will still come up in the east tomorow
I dont know where some people get the idea you have to treat brooks saddles like its a newborn baby
or a piece of Ming Dynasty china
The bolts on my 2 saddles have over an inch of adjustment
I have both loosened and tightened my saddles alot to see what difference it makes and they are both fine after my experiments
My 2 saddles may not last 40 years like some people on here brag about theres
but thats fine because Im not gonna last that long either
If a person loosens the nut a half or a whole turn and the saddle sags to much big deal
just tighten it 3/4 to 1'1/2 turns and it will be back to where it was
and it will still have at least another 39 1/2 years worth of adjustment left
Nomex suit on as I wait for the flames from the Brooks purists
#14
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
You've got to ride the saddle ... lots. Have you done 500 km on the saddle yet?
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 353
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Seems that you are in a very upright position. How far above the saddle are your bars? You might want to try dropping the stem some and see if that helps.
#19
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
I like an upright position too, but you might want to try dropping your handlebars 0.5 inches ... maybe 1 inch ... and see how you feel. You'll still be quite upright, but it might be enough to put you in a slightly different, possibly more comfortable position.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#20
Banned
The issue is road vibration felt while riding an upright Rivendale?
You may need to add more mattresses over that Pea, princess.
You may need to add more mattresses over that Pea, princess.
#21
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
You might also want to lower your saddle a bit ... looks like you're reaching for the bottom of your pedal stroke. Maybe try lowering your saddle 0.5 inch and handlebar 1 inch and see how you feel.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#22
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 771
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
My crotch, bottom and sit bones are actually super comfy on the saddle, but I can feel every road vibration getting transmitted to the small of my lower back. Like the saddle is so hard that instead of dispersing the shock, it is beating me up with it.
#23
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 771
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
1 Post
Thanks for the help, Machka.
#24
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
You may be all right with it as you have it if you only do short rides on flat ground, but if you start doing long rides, and especially if your rides include a lot of climbing, you're asking for Achilles Tendon injuries with your saddle that high.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 353
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
No, to reiterate:
My crotch, bottom and sit bones are actually super comfy on the saddle, but I can feel every road vibration getting transmitted to the small of my lower back. Like the saddle is so hard that instead of dispersing the shock, it is beating me up with it.
My crotch, bottom and sit bones are actually super comfy on the saddle, but I can feel every road vibration getting transmitted to the small of my lower back. Like the saddle is so hard that instead of dispersing the shock, it is beating me up with it.
I like an upright position as well, but have to find a balance between being so upright that I suffer back pain versus being so bent over that I suffer pain in my shoulders or neck. I've found that just a little adjustment can make a big difference in comfort. I also suffer knee pain if my seat is at the wrong height or hand numbness is my seat fore and aft position is not right. It's a balancing act of trial and error to get your bike fit to your body, or you can have a professional fitting done, but even then, you may still have to make minor tweaks on your own to get it just right.
Also, if your backside is comfy, there is no need to adjust your Brooks tension screw.