Problems with the new brooks.
 

I've recently acquired a new black Brooks B17. I've got a couple of problems.

First off, however comfortable it is, it hurts my ass bones. I heard a chop job will fix this? I've got some electrical tape and a sharp razor blade on standby. Thinking about butchering her tomorrow.

Second of all, how can stop my butt from moving around so much? It feels really...slippery. Is there anything I can do? If i lift the front of the seat up to help me from sliding forward, it'll ride up my crotch.

It takes upwards of 1,000 miles to break it in. Until you break it in, leave the nose pointed up slightly so you don't slide forward on it so much. The more you ride it, the better it feels.

The reason for chopping B17s is to tension them. After so long of riding the leather, it'll become overly saggy and chopping/stitching the saddle pulls the worn leather tight again.

If you still can't get comfortable with it, either a) invest in a chamois or b) go with the Bell Gel cruiser saddle.

Search the forums for brooks threads, there's tons. They'll give you advice on how to break it in.

Before you start chopping you might want to break-in the saddle. Out of the box, you should notice at least a little bit of a comfort gain over your old saddle. It may not be like, "Wow!" but you should noticed something. Only after it's broken in will it be extremely comfortable.

Also, I'm not a fan of chopping up a Brooks. If you got a B17, leave it alone. It's a classy saddle. Don't cut the skirts off, it's really easy to **** it up and no one's really going to be fooled into thinking it's a Swift or Swallow.

Do you ride at the Rose Bowl?

Mine is just getting really comfy after 9 months of riding it. It takes time like fine wine.

Yep, I take out the IRO every other Sunday and do about half a dozen laps around the bowl. I live on the other side of Pasadena so taking it out every Sunday (Sundays being my only day off of work) sort of tires me out.

Put a little Proofide on it and ride it some more.

brooks saddles are rip offs. infamous for the moustache handlebar retro look, they, ironically, can't weather the years. there's a fine line between ass blistering and saggier than your grandma's boobs. as far as the limited choices in leather saddles, it's about as bad as you can do.

unless you're sporting the latest in overpriced gaudy steel frames like waterford or brian baylis, best to skip that generation of componetry.

A+ koolaid drinking.

Give it a little time. I've been riding Brooks saddles since the early 1990s (you'd be surprised at just how difficult they were to buy then) and can say that a large part of it is breaking in your butt, not the saddle. After a week or two of daily riding all should be well. The fact that you are slipping around indicates that you haven't ridden the saddle much at all. The slipping will stop with a few more miles.

Don't chop it as it won't change anything except the look of the saddle, don't futz around with the tensioner screw (I've adjusted one of my saddles twice since the early 1990s to give you a clue about how often it needs to be done), and don't soak the thing in any oils or creams - you'll just foul it up. A light coat of Proofhide to help protect it from the elements is all you need.

That being said, some people just don't like Brooks saddles, you might be one of them.

Gee, wish I'd known that before I invested in 7 of em. Maybe I can get a refund.

Total baloney. The B-17 has been in production for over a 100 years...and is still the most popular saddle Brooks sells. Must be real junk to have such longevity, eh?

Brooks saddles are great, and their reputation is well-deserved. Like any piece of gear, they aren't suitable for everyone...but most problems with the initial setup are usually user error. I've only used the B-17, and it took me a long time to get my setup right.

To the OP:
-- Try pitching the saddle up slightly, to prevent slipping. You can also buy a Velox saddle-cover from Wallbike...it's rubberized and pretty grippy.

-- Make sure that you've thoroughly treated the saddle with Proofide, top and bottom.

-- Check your saddle-to-bar height. If you're up too high in the saddle, it's gonnna be hard to get comfortable.

-- Don't chop the saddle until you've tinkered with it some more. I've never heard of butchering a B-17 to increase comfort. Running some laces through the skirts can stiffen up the middle of the saddle, possibly helping the 'sliding' problem...but this can also be handled with better setup. (Also, if you eventually decide to sell the saddle, I doubt that many folks will want it if it's cut.)

-- You need to get comfortable with the idea that the saddle isn't going to 'just work.' You'll have to spend some time finessing it, and critiquing your overall riding position, etc. As a quality piece of gear, they take care and attention, but should eventually reward you with a comfortable ride and years of service. Harriscyclery and Wallbike both have some articles on how to set up your saddle. Here's another that I found recently, which seems pretty good.

Keep after it, and be patient.

+1. Most of your comfort will come from improving positioning, not modding the saddle itself. Cutting especially won't really do anything. Leather or not, no saddle will magically be comfortable in the first position you install it in, or even the second or third.

Yeah...same here...

Break the saddle in first, chop it once it feels nice, then it will feel amazing

yea I have to get a new B-17 cuz of cutting it. I didn't do it myself but I bought my 1st fixie with it already done but he did it way too far. Now my thing get so saggy, I've tensioned it almost half way up. its still very broken in and comfy but its just not very solid in the middle like my Brooks Pro. See how droopy it looks: http://velospace.org/files/DSC00903.JPG

Well I've adjusted and readjusted, feels fine. I'm sure it'll only get better as time passes but bottom line is, no chopping for now, if ever.

Gyeswho you would almost certainly be able to fix up that B by lacing it. Get a leather punch and put 4 or 5 holes on each side, spaced about 15mm apart and beginning 2" or so in front of the rightmost rivet there. Then just put a shoelace in, tighten er up and enjoy your suddenly firmer brooks. Here is my laced Pro.

http://www.sfu.ca/~ahartlin/saddle.jpg

thanks Mander I though of that but i barely have any skirt to be able to do that. Your's looks great though

thanks GW. It looks like the logo was stamped on a monday though eh?

I do think you have enough skirt there for a lace job y'know.

ok i'll try something

I just think it's worth a try if the alternative is dumpstering it. Check out the tie job on this swift---theres not a lot of skirt there. The closer to the nose you lace the more you'll have to work with.

http://www.wallbike.com/content/JPG/swiftbutchered.jpg