wahoonc

Short rides < 40 miles, street clothes. Longer rides or on tour I will wear padded shorts. I have a couple sets of baggies with a cycle short underneath that I usually wear.

Aaron

BigBlueToe

I have an assortment of saddles I've tried - probably 10. I finally bought a Brooks Champion Flyer when I bought my LHT. I liked it so much I bought a B17 when I built up my Allez (road bike.) Of the two, the B17 seems slightly more comfortable. When I built up a 29er for a Great Divide ride, I put a B17 on it as well.

I'm not convinced the springs on the Flyer are worthwhile. Not only do they not seem to add comfort - they even seem a bit less comfortable than the unsprung B17. Perhaps it's because of the carbon fiber seatpost I put on the Allez. I clearly don't think the springs add enough benefit to justify the extra weight. The springs are pretty heavy. They also add an annoying squeak.

I still get a sore bum on all my Brooks saddles - just less so than with all the other saddles I've tried. I can ride 40 miles on a Brooks before it starts to hurt, and it's not bad even then. The solution is to get your bum off the saddle when it starts to hurt. Sometimes I just stand up and coast for several seconds, which gives surprising relief. Better is to get off the bike and take a break. When I do that I get a much longer period of relief.

djb

Ya the little breaks once in a while makes a big difference for me, over a day to have stopped to take a photo, or refill water bottles, bathroom break or whatever, gives all parts a little break and change of position.
Having enough time to cover a given time in a day without being overly pressed for time is relaxing and said breaks are nice.

Hangtownmatt

I've been commuting since the early nineties. Never had a problem with saddle sores; including the time I spent using my Brooks Conquest. I recently purchased a new bike and selected for it a new Brooks B-17. Since than I've been fighting saddle sores (approx. 1,500 miles). Can't figure it out. I've used it with padded shorts and quick dry non-padded shorts with quick dry undies. Hard to believe I'd have issues after coming off a Specialized Romin 155. That's aa pretty hard-core saddle. I'm thinking now maybe I should have gone with the B-17 narrow. I guess, the point I want to make to the OP is to buy from somewhere like WallBike with a return policy, and definitely make sure you're happy before setting out on a long tour.

Matt

fietsbob

Skin bacteria moving into the hair follicles, is a hygiene issue..
antibacterial surgical scrub i got in a quart size, was my saddle sore treatment.
I bring a little bottle on bike tours , even use it as the Faux 'Chamois' wash.

Many miles on a Brooks Pro I bought in the mid 70's

freediver

Interesting thought on that. I've been riding Brooks B17's on three different bikes with varying amounts of break-in time for each one. I normally wear quick dry hiking shorts with quick-dry hiking underwear and have never had an issue before this last trip. I wore the padded shorts and ended up having a VERY long, hard day on my bike- over 12 hours up hills so big I needed to get off on walk. I showered and washed all of my riding clothes that night. They were almost dry by morning, but i put them on and started out anyway. I guess the pad was still damp, but seemed to dry out after a few miles. By the end of another grueling day they were so full of sweat it didn't seem to matter- except for the saddle soars. I was going to go back to my nylon short system, but padded shorts certainly seemed to add an extra layer of comfort- at least at first.
Does anyone wear tri-shorts? I'm thinking aboutLycraa shorts with little, or no, padding in them to use with the Brook's saddle.

sstorkel

Padded shorts need to be bone-dry when you put them on, otherwise you can expect chafing and accompanying saddle sores. I always travel with two pairs of cycling shorts for this reason: one to wash, one to wear.

freediver

OK, it sounds like I shot myself in he foot on this one. My shorts where still wet from washing them the night before when i set off on my ride that day. I guess the quick-dry hiking short/underwear combo has worked out Bert for me in the past since they pack smaller and dry faster. It's always b even enough padding for rides up 70 miles, or so, but I thought the extras doing would be nice for multi-day tours where things start to get sore as the days wear on.

Jon

staehpj1

I only take one pair on most tours and often have to put them on quite damp. I have not had any problems doing that. I suspect that this will vary depending on the wearer, the fit, and the model of shorts though.

fietsbob

I take 3, wash 1, dry one , wear one.
they have 'shammy', but no loaded diaper feeling pad.

BigAura

I too swap between two pairs of padded shorts. I disagree that shorts have to be bone-dry. Dry is better, but I think clean and damp is better than dry and dirty. There may be a difference in that I wear my padded shorts under mountain shorts, plus I ride a Brooks.

OldZephyr

Regarding putting on damp bike shorts -- I use lots of cornstarch and if need be, add more during the day. Cheap, easily available, and works very well for me.

djb

thats my take as well. Plus, think of how damp they can get while riding, and they dry out as we go along if working less, or when we take breaks (I also ride on Brooks, and find my padded shorts generally less damp than when I used other seats that didnt breath as well)

old mercury zephyr, cornstarch? I guess if it works for you, but I cant see how it isnt all clumpy and such. I have used that 'butter" stuff for riding, which helped, but can imagine putting a powder like starch.

green horn

champion flyer suppose to be B17 but with springs
but seems like it does not have ventilation/comfort holes and lacing

Did anybody tried to cut flyer champion seat with this extra holes
so it would have this two important features as basic B17 ??

Coop500

I am interested in a B17 for my RockHopper FS. I read through this thread and have to ask one more question about wetness. I have no issue with carrying a cover or bag under the seat in rain, but I sweat very heavily. I took off the Velo seat that was on my bike because it had a lycra cover and after a long ride the seat would be soaked from my sweat.

Would that be an issue with a Brooks seat? Please excuse my ignorance as I have never owned a leather saddle before.

hartphoto 

I'm sure others with more experience will chime in....

But, I'm a 'clyde', and a heavy sweater (even when I wasn't a clyde 20 years ago). I sweat standing still...even when I'm in lightweight workout/cycling/running shorts and a short sleeve jersey when it's 50 degrees out..... You know....one of those heavy sweaters where your clothes weigh an extra pound or two after a workout and you can wring (several times) all the water out.

Hasn't been a problem for me at all yet. Just use proofide as directed from their site.

My Brooks B17 is still one of (if not the) most comfortable saddles I've ever used (in 30+ years of cycling) and it's not even broken in yet. About to get another one for my comfort bike (a B17 Flyer probably).

HTH.

Coop500

Thanks for the fast response!

OldZephyr

The cornstarch doesn't get clumpy, but many days I need to replenish it more than once. Again, it works for me, but maybe not for everybody. I admit it's a bit messy (like flour) and it gets on the panniers and elsewhere if I don't seal it up well.

djb

Zeph, if it works and helps with your riding comfort, then that is all that matters.
Does it make washing your shorts by hand any more difficult or time consuming?

Jim Kukula

I have only seen Brooks factory lacing on pre-aged saddles

The Flyer does have the three small ventilation holes, just like a B17:

GeorgeBaby

Factory lacing is also on the B17 Imperial (with the cutout).

lubers

I ridden both, springs and non springs I have done enough touring and weight and speed are not a factor, comfort on my rear is. I ride the sprung model.

ollin

I just recently got a Flyer for my aluminum touring rig, It's been barely 300km and it's already as comfortable as my previous stock bontrager (and i had a suspension post on that one).

I think it's very important that you dial in the position just perfect, unlike modern seats that have a more or less uniform consistency throughout the length of the seat the brooks is all softness in the middle suspended parts but ends with a hard metal edge in the back, so if the seat is just 1cm too close to the front your ass-bones will hit it and you will suffer.

The springs do come into action in my experience (i'm 6'4, 250lb) and they do take the edge off sharp bumps, especially important on an aluminum frame, but you can actually HEAR them when they do, so that is getting a little annoying for somebody that cant a have a single noise coming from his bike like me. that creaking is the only downside, but an important one for me.

Jim Kukula

The creaking is usually metal on metal, an usually from up at the nose of the saddle. If you oil the metal joints up there, like the threaded bolt, then the creaking will mostly likely go away. Sometimes too it could be where the springs are bolted in.

ollin

@Jim Kukula I'll try that man, thanks!