Brooks Cambium C15, no break in?
 

Is it true this saddle has no break in time required? I just bought one and it feels like I'm sitting on a rock or some sheet metal. I'm wondering if it gets better or if I should go back to my Arione.

Uh oh. I have read that they don't change over time.

How much do you weigh? A rock? Really that bad? Have you ever ridden a Brooks leather saddle?

Just be a man and htfu.

Never ridden a brooks leather, not my aesthetic style. And I weigh in at a little over 180. And yeah it feels so hard it makes my Arione feel like jelly.
Maybe I'll give it a few rides, but so far I'm amazed that people think it's comfortable. And I do know everyone's ass is different. I'm just surprised some asses like this.

don't know how the C17 compares to the C15, but my C17 hasn't changed after a little over a year now

Weird. I figured it might be stiff for someone who weighs a buck twenty, but at 180 you'd assume there would be a fair amount of suspension action.

How do you feel about the shape?

You do know that the C series, C15 & C17 have zero leather in them! they are vulcanized rubber saddles.

I'll have to get back to you on that. It arrived today but I had friends over from Belgium and Germany so all I did was throw the saddle on and ride it around the block. So my assumptions are not yet conclusive. The shape seemed a little off but I don't think I had it set up 100% correctly, I need to make adjustments then go for a ride. But my first thoughts were how hard it felt.
Yeah I know. I don't care what its made of as long as its comfortable. I just wanted to try it because I've seen tons of reviews on how comfy it is.


Maybe I'm complaining too soon. I'll try to adjust the saddle this week and test her out on a decent ride.

i have a leather b17 with thousands of miles on it and a c17 carved i just got, i think the cambium might be more comfortable but that could be because of the cutout

there is no break in period, its meant to feel like a broken in leather saddle

and here i was thinking the arione was an ass hatchet from things ive read, anything brooks should be a ****ing cloud comparatively, though your ass it not my ass (i hope)

They call it "turning the other cheek."

I have had different Brooks for over 30 years. The old ones took forever to break in. They say the new ones do not need to be broken in, but I think they are full of it. My newer ones did break in faster, though. Also, I think that the Boorks leather conditioner helps some.

My C17 felt instantly comfortable to my Asian ass. It is firm, but I wouldn't call it hard. It's just a different feeling than foam padding. It offers great support for me and a nice 'suspension' feeling riding over bumps. I weigh 170, Pisces and love long walks on the beach.

My C17 was really comfortable from day one too, and my butt is really picky about saddles.

I'm thinking the C15 is simply too narrow for you and you should've gone with the C17.

Conclusion, my ass is different. Honestly the c15 felt too wide. Maybe I'm crazy. But I got these sharp ass bones that sat on the saddle strangely. I tried moving my position on the saddle but it wasn't getting better.
So I threw back back on my Arione and it felt like clouds. I'm wondering now why I ever tried switching. Too bad because I really liked the look of the c15 on my bike.

I think I just need some cycling shorts. I was looking for a better saddle because 30 to 50 mile rides hurt my butt, but I think cycling shorts would greatly decrease the soreness.

What kind of adjustments did you make? Sometimes lowering a saddle a few millimeters makes a wold of difference.

The Arione has a flat profile right? You might just prefer flatter narrow saddles.

I lowered the saddle and I scooted it forward and backward as well as slanting it forward more. Tried many variations and none of them felt slightly comfortable.
The Arione seems to have a more rounded profile, the brooks seemed flatter to me which I didn't like.

The fizik might have a flat profile though. I'm not really sure what a flat vs rounded is.

I have a C17 Carved and it is quite comfortable (I just did 60+ miles on it). I did need short bit to get the saddle dialed in as far as angle and height but after that super comfy on my buns!

However everyone's heiney is a wee bit different and maybe you might try a C17 which is a bit wider or try a different saddle. Though I might give that one a little time, sometimes your butt is just getting used to something new.

I had a C15 and I did not find it comfortable at all. It was my first Brooks saddle. Sold it after 2 rides.

I recently got B17 and it is very comfortable (before break-in) and still is (about 300km riding).

Maybe you were sitting on that pesky riveted metal bit. I hate that bit. Stupid bit. I had this issue on my b17 until I f*cked with it enough to figure out what the problem was.

i have to tip my brooks up just a mm or 2, and the seat is a brand new wonderful thing. Leveled the B17 is great but the pro is no good, and tilted forward I dislike both. I like the b17 most overall of any saddle ive tried, but want to try the c17, as i hear great things, and they are lighter/ and in theory more waterproof (im in oregon).

So in summary, brooks pro only feels good to me slightly tilted back, and Brooks B17 feels good to me level or slightly tilted back. I also had to lower my post, as the Brooks have a taller profile than my former Terry saddle.

Maybe try tipping it back a touch?

lastly, my wife hates all brooks saddles in any position. for her they feel like a rock. for my skinny bony butt they feel like nothing is there.

I'm surprised that the c17 fits as many people as it does. for this type of saddle (more traditional racing shape) not a "hammock" style like the b17, 162mm is WIDE! I would say a good percentage of
the population needs a saddle in the 140-150mm range, so the c15 seems like it would fit more people better. i wouldn't trade my c15's for anything!

Either the saddle breaks in, the ass breaks in, or something just breaks.

The natural rubber shell will break in and become quit flexible and pliable. Often times you wish it hadn't.

The tailbone!

Maybe I'll throw it on again and leave it for a week or two. Give it a decent chance.
Also, it's super annoying becuse every time I want to change the angle of my saddle or move it forward/backward, I have to take the seatpost out. I only have a long screwdrive that gets in the way unless the seatpost is out.
I need to find some decent cycling tools.