bore_of_staying

Ok so I guess this may sound stupid but hear goes. I have a Dawes hybrid bike, when I ride it for short distances there are no problems at all.

But if I ride say 40 miles or more my ass hurts Iv padded shorts. I just wanted to know is this normal?? Do you get used to it?? Is it something you just have to put up with? Iv only done one mini tour so far which was just 2 days, I did 125 miles total with my gear.

Im starting a tour fairly soon thats gonna take around 6 weeks. So I was wondering should I invest in a new saddle or stick with the one I have??

I hear good things about the B 17 Saddles, but 60 quid is out of the question for me! Is getting a second hand one a viable idea?

oban_kobi

If I'm looking at the same bike, the saddle seems quite (very) soft. You should consider getting a firmer, more supportive saddle.

I believe you can find used brooks on ebay, I've heard great things about them.

fietsbob

Touring is not about mileage goals, 40 miles in 10 mile segments
with breaks for say, sightseeing, may suit you better.

Carbonfiberboy 

It depends on where it hurts. If you have abrasion sores, you need a different saddle. If you have genital numbness, you probably need a different saddle. If your sit bones hurt, you'll get used to it. Everyone has that to start with. Oddly, there's less sit bone pain in the long run with a firmer saddle, but many people ride fairly soft saddles. The best way to get the sit bone area accustomed to bearing your weight is to ride some every day with one or two longish rides/week. You'll also do better if you stand and pedal for a bit about every 10 minutes and get out of the saddle and coast on the downhills. Lets the blood back into your butt tissues. As the tour goes on, your butt should get better, not worse.

fuzz2050

The only real way to know if you'll get used to it is to try. Cycling shouldn't hurt, but it does take a bit of getting used to.

As far as getting a used Brooks, be careful, if the seller is less than scrupulous, or even less than knowledgeable, an old stretched out saddle is almost indistinguishable from a new one from photographs. I got burnt once, it pays to be careful.

Jim Picardy

Here's another one for Brookes. They're so good, some people say they don't need padded shorts with them! I think it's best to get them new, though - the saddle gets 'broken in' to its rider. But saddle sore is something that tends to pass over time - although a firm saddle is definitely better than a soft one. If you still have saddle sore, there are creams that you can apply.

bradtx

I'd buy a new Brooks saddle and break it in, rather than buy a used one. I prefer cycling shorts that are non padded except for the chamois and saddles that are firm.

Brad

Tourist in MSN

I use a Brooks Conquest which is a discontinued model. I tried a B17 and decided I wanted a narrower saddle.

The late Sheldon Brown has a pretty good discussion here.
https://sheldonbrown.com/saddles.html

A friend of mine tried about a half dozen saddles last year. He set a goal of a lot of miles and in this geographic area there is only about 7 months of non-freezing temperatures, I think he rode about 8,000 miles last year during those 7 months. He tried a few Brooks saddles and ended up with a soft mattress style that I thought would have been a disaster for him but that is what he prefered. So, the bottom line is that no two people will have the same preferences when it comes to a bike saddle. Just because a lot of people use Brooks saddles, it might not be ideal for you.

The people that participated in this survey know long distance bicycling, about half used leather saddles, but about half did not.
https://www.bikequarterly.com/BQPBPEquipsurvey.pdf

Cyclebum

B-17 gets raves from many, but also some thumbs down. Mine was never more comfortable than a firm non-leather saddle with a central cut out, like the Velo Biologic that I now use. OTOH, a properly broken in and cared for Brooks will last a very long time, and you might become one of its loyal fans.

Firm is better than soft for long rides. It's very important that your sit bones land where they are suppose to on the saddle. This can take some horizontal adjusting. You also need to get the tilt angle just right.

You, like me, may be one of those who will never find a really comfortable saddle. I just stand and pedal for a minute to relieve the butt pain. Liberal use of a lubricating salve helps with any chafing issues. Just plain old Vaseline will do, but there are speciality products for that.

Tissue compression interferes with capillary blood flow. The body responds with pain. This is true no matter what you're sitting on. Seems to be more of a problem for some than others.

Jim Picardy

I'd just like to pick up on what cyclebum (great name, in the context!) said above. Saddle position is absolutely crucial. If you're not sure, get advice from not just one cycle shop but several. Men often prefer to tilt their saddles very slightly upwards - this helps avoid pain; for women, it's the opposite - they often prefer a very small downwards tilt.

bore_of_staying

Think il just play around with the saddle position for now. I hope the feeling that the seat is violating me will get better with miles if not, il just buy a new one on the road I reckon. Then il opt for a firmer one. Thanks for the advice guys!! Learned A LOT there.....