Nadash

The left side of my Brooks saddle (B.67) has basically sunk into the rails. You could see the line of the rail on the surface of the leather and it gets really painful when I ride. The right side seems fine. Furthermore, in addition to the usual creaking springs when I ride, there are loud clacks when I push too hard. There was also a time when the nuts which secured the springs came loose. I'm in mid-tour now (going to Satun, thailand tomorrow), and this is extremely troublesome. A cyclist I met midway suggested I slot a rubber layer (cut from a slipper) in between the rails and the seat. But I'm afraid the leather's shape will be affected. The saddle's just 1600km old. =\ Any suggestions?

On a unrelated note, I think I am developing carpal tunnel. My left hand's fingers seem to lack strength nowadays. Can't grip or twist. Sigh.

Camel

I don't understand your logic about not putting a rubber slat between the rail/leather. From your description the saddle sounds ruined. Have you tried tightning it?

See a doctor about the wrist.

kuan

Wow 1600km only? I would send it back to Brooks.

txvintage

No kidding. It should barely have a patina to it by now.

It would appear you are touring in Asia. Has you saddle been subjected to copious amounts of rain?

rhm

+1. I would like to see a photo of the saddle as well; there are people out there who say Brookses last forever, but I'm pretty sure they just don't. I hope you haven't been riding it wet, have you?

Yes, see a doctor about the fingers. I'm not sure weak fingers means Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS); in my experience CTS presents itself as discomfort, especially tingling and sometimes a jolt of sensation that feels like an electric shock. It acts up if I do hard work that involves tightly gripping things with my hands --working with hand tools on wood, or raking leaves-- and then the pain hits a few hours after I stop doing the work. It sometimes feels like my strength is gone, but in fact I'm sure there is no reduced strength, just a lot of discomfort.

Cave

Re finger weakness - more likely ulnar nerve compression. Could be either.

Are you using flat bars? If so get some bar ends, they may help.

Nadash

I'll probably email brooks and the bike shop I bought it from. I just laced the Brooks, so I hope that doesn't void the warranty. =P After 60km in the laced Brooks, my ass hurts. I hope that means the saddle will rebreak-in. The left side of the saddle is still lower than the right side. The ridge is also still there.

I had burning pains in the tips of my little and ring finger a few weeks ago. It's gone now but there's the troublesome weakness. I'm using drops, and have just added another layer of gel tape. Dunno about doctors in thailand; they probably can't understand me. =\


It got drizzled on about 3 times? Pretty minor. What about ass sweat? heh

edit: yeah, Cave, it does sound like Cubital Tunnel Syndrome. Damnit. I'm too young to be sick.

balto charlie

I had issues with this. The suggestion about bar ends is a good fix. I went with a Nashbar Trekking bars and lost the grip shifters. Flat bars are ok for short distances. Grip shifters make you grasp an area which is too thick. Thinner is better.

Camel

Healthcare in Thailand is pretty good. There are several JCI accredited hospitals, the international arm of the same orginization which rates US hospitals (JCAHO). More in Singapore/Taiwan/HK if your headed that ways.

Out of pocket expense would likely suprise you if you are from the US.

tomn

Dr. Tom, (not a real doctor), says: I compressed my Ulnar nerve on a tour. It resulted in numbness of the little finger & half of the ring finger on both hands, and pain while riding. As well I lost grip in both hands. I could hardly manage silverware. All of this went away on its own two months after I stopped pedaling. Your condition sounds similar. Best of luck.

Tom

soltour

there must be quite a few well used brooks saddles out there. My brooks, which I bought off ebay, which was very well used had one side lower than the other, but I got used to it and have rode countless miles. Just one other thing I have to do is to put another rivet in where the other one has sunk into the saddle at an angle.......by the way I have pains in my thumb joints but I put this down to repetative strain injury....afterall, riding my bike everyday, something has to give...maybe I may add another bar on my drops....I will see............................

Nadash

Tom, how long was your tour? I have around 7 months left, so I am unsure that my hand will hold up. I really don't want to end up with anything permanent. Maybe I'll get splints for my hand and elbow.

Oh, my lacing failed--the string (used for making necklaces) stretched and now my ass is touching the rails again. I'm going to try to retie the lace or just slot the rubber layer under the rails. I stopped today after 78km today because I became tired and pissed about the saddle and my hand.

On a separate note, it seems that Thailand has shortened the amount of time you can stay there to 15 days due to the recent political conflicts. In the past, my country got 90 days visa waiver. Damn. Does anyone know whether it is possible to cross over to myanmar near prachuap khiri khan? I want to come back into thailand to get another 15 days,

tomn

Hi Nashdash,

The first time it happened I was 3 days into a 21 day trip down the Oregon/California coast. I just put up with it for the rest of the time. I also developed tendonitis in both achillies. I saw a doctor when I got home & she wanted to just give it time before we looked at something dramatic. The year that followed I changed my bar tape & worked at constantly changing my hand positions, and bought better gloves. There are gloves that are designed to keep weight off of the Ulnar nerve. That helped, but I still had some troubles. Last year I added aero bars so that I would have a new way to get off of the bars. I came home with no numbness, but I did loose strength in my left hand. The best example was I couldn't run a pair of nail clippers with my thumb & fore finger. All of these ailments did clear up with time, two months being the norm for me.

Nadash

here you go! =(( I added the rubber thingy below the rails. My ass still burns. Probably should have put it under both.

Camel

Looks like that saddle is simply too wide for you. It also looks (IMO), to be ruined. Even if it can be fixed, it would still be uncomfortable for you to ride because of the width.

jcm

That's about the most interesting butt-print I think I've ever seen on a Brooks. Clearly, you have a decided list to port when riding that bike. The impression does not lie. And yes, it's too wide for you. And ruined.

Curious, what did you use to "prepare" the saddle for your journey? Tell the truth, now...

Get a Brooks Flyer. It has the springs of the B-67, but will be more your width. It will work better with drops, too. One of the reasons you are sliding to the left is that the drops are forcing you to use the forward part of the B-67. You appear to be just tilting off the thing.

If you go with another Brooks, do not "condition" it!

The hand thing sounds like ulnar nerve compression. It's a hard truth that tours bring out every nuance of error in our setups...

eAspenwood

Is the area of thailand you're in super humid? I wonder if day-after-day without time to dry out a bit in between eventually cause failure for most leather saddles. Anyone know? Just curious.

Nadash

Does sweat count as conditioner? I never added anything, and usually manage to tie a plastic bag ($0.00!) on when it rains.

I don't know if I should go with another Brooks--I'm bad with fragile things. Furthermore, I'm in Thailand, so I have no idea where to find one anyway. Should get the stock saddle from the LHT mailed to me from home. But oddly enough, today was kinda comfortable. I added a thin piece of rubber right at the back of the left rail. Should I try to selectively tighten parts of the saddle by lacing?

Ulnar nerve compression sucks (Thanks for sharing, Tom). I'll probably be touring till April, and I don't want to end up with anything permanent. Permanent, that's the key I think.

edit: I guess Thailand is rather humid. Haven't rained at all though.

Riotgeer

I experienced Ulnar Nerve Compression doing 20-30 mile rides in Chicago (not touring). When I figured out what it was, I changed my hand position slightly and the pain and weakness cleared up in a couple of days.

I hope yours is as easy to fix as mine.

Riotgeer

jcm

If you didn't dip it in Oil of Olay, then I'm guessing that the humidity is just too much. Humidity will break down leather very quickly, but I think something else might be going on here. Brooks aren't fragile at all.

I see in the pics that the nose iron shows thru the peak, along with all the sagging. Very much like a saddle that has been ridden wet - or, sweat, or both. You can try adding some tension, but sometimes you have to say good-bye...

Fueled by Boh

i have two brooks, a b.17 and a professional. I've reached the conclusion that brooks saddles either
A) aren't what they used to be, or
B)can't stand up to the rigors of the contemporary rider --> better nutrition, better infrastructure, more disposable income, etc = more riding, or
C) Some combination of the above

Saddles are a wearable component. All kinds of saddles- leather, foam... Not expecting a saddle to wear out is like not expecting grips or bar tape to wear out. Its one of your three contact points and is used very heavily. My bottom line is that brooks saddles have a usable lifespan that is likely shorter than most would lead you to believe, and is not measured just in miles or years, but both. I commute everyday on my b.17, and it just keeps stretching. Honestly, I don't see how high density polyurethane foam COULDN'T last longer than relatively unprocessed leather. Barbie Dolls and plastic bags will survive thermonuclear holocaust, our boat-anchor brooks won't.

Camel

There are several descent bike shops in Bangkok, and likely at least one in Chang Mai where you could get a new saddle. Might be cheaper than having one shipped from home, and you could choose one which might fit.

Not headed to Bangkok/Chang Mai soon? If I was touring for 4-5 months and had saddle issues, I'd sort it out. Perhaps store your bike wherever you are and bus/train to BKK(or Chang Mai)? Spend a couple days seeing the sights while your at it, then bus/train back & continue your tour.

EDIT: adding- It also looks like you might be sitting too far back in the saddle? Does that seem possible? Is the bike fit correctly for you? If you think that you need to sit farther back in the saddle, then the top tube may be too short for you (may lead to excess force at your hands/shoulders). If the fit might be off some fixes include a longer stem and/or a seatpost with a bit of setback. Be very carefull if/when changing stuff for better fit (including a new saddle)-keep riding days shorter and "easy" untill you confirm it will work well ergo wise. Your body will NOT like anything "new" on an 80mile day. Good luck!

Nadash

I never got things professionally fitted. I just obeyed the general rules about inseams, and leg extensions, kops, and posture. Read peterwhites's and sheldon brown's sites. My handlebars are about 2cm lower than my saddle right now, so I might need to get a longer stem. Any bike shops to recommend in Bangkok? I'll be there in 1 and 1/2 weeks.



edit: just a quick qn: when you cycle, do you bend or straighten your back? Sheldon Brown say to arch it and roll your shoulders forward in order to absorb road shock while several other sites suggest riding with a straight back.

Fueled by Boh

i think i try to ride with my hips rotated so that i'm sitting on my hip-bones, which slightly arches my back. being in any one position too long (straight back or otherwise) probably isn't too good. perfectly straight back with a low handlebar height doesn't seem like a great idea for protracted rides.

jcm

Nadash:
In my first response, I suspected a posture issue due to a reference to drops while using a B67. Now, I'm sure of it, because you say your bars are lower than the saddle. This goes far in explaining the hand discomfort.

Typically, a B66/67/68/72/73 is designed to be ridden with the grips level with, or above the saddle peak. The saddle should be level with the ground in the web area, with the peak ending up a tad high in front. Your spine will have a slight arch in the lower lumbar area, with the upper spine being fairly straight. If the bars are properly raised, your elbows will be slightly crooked and your wrists will be aligned with your forearms. The wrists should never be crooked like an "L".

My first rule of thumb for people having hand/wrist problems is: Shorten the cockpit, reduce weight on thehands and put it where nature intended - on the ischials. Deal with the increase there by selecting a proper saddle.

I recommend the 17/Flyer series for drops, but you can use a 67, should you choose to get a new one. I also recommend that you measure your ischial bones. Do it by getting some cardboard, layer it up about four thick, then sit on it for 15 or 20 minutes in that humidity. You'll have a decent imprint of your sitbone width.

If you are in the 130 to 145mm width range - get a 17. If over that - get a new 67.