Lopsided Brooks Saddles ?
 

Trying out Brooks B17 Select on my 2008 Novara Randonee, have about 500 kilometers ridden. It's pretty (!), I like the smooth surface, sitbones comfy from the start, also no problem with fore-aft sliding or nose pressing into center of perineum. I have tilt set at ~level. OTOH on the right side there's a noticeable rub on the upper thigh--not too bad on short rides but definitely unpleasant on longer rides. Rub is apparently on the crease between top & sides & feels to be actually on the narrower front part vs the wider rear section. At first thought it was the skirt flare but no, don't think so. Tried rotating seat post a bit, no luck.

My legs/feet aren't completely symmetrical so perhaps hips aren't either but the rubbing issue is still puzzling since I haven't noticed any asymmetry problems with any other saddles. Of course Brooks are handmade but I'm wondering how many folks have encountered lopsided saddles?

Going to try out Selle San Marco Regal; was considering Brooks B17 narrow but advertised saddle widths are AFAIK at the widest part--doesn't seem to be more data than that. Would like to ride Brooks but from my limited experience w/them no success vs having little-no problems with synthetics.

It's a leather saddle, so it will tend to conform to your unique body geometry. A B17 can sag in just 200 miles. I always lace my Brooks to maintain a uniform structure. Search for a thread with Brooks lacing.

Posting a few pictures may help with the analysis.

These are turning up on occasion. Bicycle Quarterly reviewed one a few years ago which became comically lopsided after (IIRC) 2000 miles.

Some folks are claiming that Brooks quality control is not what it used to be. I am among those folks, but others argue that we are incorrect. I don't remember this sort of thing "back in the day" but of course we didn't have the internet back then either, so maybe it always happened and we just didn't hear about it.

At any rate, Brooks still seem to stand behind their product. If you are sure that it is the saddle itself then you can put in for a replacement and be fairly confident of satisfaction.

Sub $100 Brooks, saddles really dont get the premium select Leather..

Try this link to a thread on this same forum on http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...-a-Brooks-B-17 subject. It helped me with the same problem.

My Brooks saddles become a bit lopsided after I ride with them a while ... and for some reason the most comfortable position for the saddle is not perfectly straight on the bicycle.

re the "crease", I had posted a similar issue I had a few years ago, just tried doing a search and cant find it. Basically I had a rubbing issue on one side that I thought was the crease, to the point that I was wondering about either using sandpaper or a scalpel to trim down the "crease". In the end Im glad I was patient and thought things through, as the problem was simply seat position.
It started when I had made an angle adjustment, but when the bolt was loose, the seat moved forward or backwards a bit, and because there are no painted lines on the rails, I didnt put it back properly in the same position as before. Im pretty certain the seat was then further back than before, and so on my drop bar bike that it was on at the time, my position was a bit too forward on the seat. When I moved it forward slightly it took care of the issue right away as it moved me a bit more back onto the main part of the seat, removing the rubbing.

My case also was on the right side, but as Machka says, a little difference isnt necessarily the problem, and I suspect that it could easily be because we arent exactly symmetric so the seat "goes with the wind" so to speak.

I since put that B17 onto another bike when I bought a used B17, and on either bike I havent had that specific issue come up again--**I did learn to stick some white tape on the rails where the seatpost clamp thingee is, as a reference for "fore-aft" position. I lent the first B17 to my wife for a few weeks last year and thanks to the tape, was able to put it back on my bike and get it positioned properly.

From my experience with these two B17s, I would concur with what people say about the importance of being attune to small changes in seat position of angle and fore/aft. I think you have be more observant with leather saddles given that they do change shape, especially early on like yours, and slight changes can make a real difference in long riding comfort.
Make some small changes, but especially be observant of keeping track of the seats position as you change things, just so you have a proper reference (using tape on rails, using a bubble level)

you say you have seat set at level, a slight tilt back can help too (but I would suggest making one adjustment at a time, ie fore aft first, then angle, just so you can feel the difference of ONE adjustment and know what it does)

again, small adjustments are the key

Yes, it looks like going medieval with butchering & lacing is the next step to get a wider version of the Swallow. Would actually buy a Swallow if they weren't so pricey. I've looked at the saddle & can't eyeball any asymmetry so I'm not photos would show much in that way.

Hate to send it back: had it for 2 years already (plus there's postal cost) & not sure it actually is lopsided, seems more likely the model is just too wide or wrong shape for me but the problem only shows up on one side (leg). Should bought from Wallbike! If the butcher/lace and/or San Marco Regal don't work I guess Brook B17N is a reasonable choice.

Thanks for the link--I note you mention being 170 pounds which is close to avg so I assume you're problem with the skirt is not due to excess weight or fat thighs--I'm only 145 lbs & skinny legs (despite a coating of flab, heh) so the skirt flare is even more of a puzzle: ie lots of beefier riders don't seem to have this problem with their B17's. Well one can only get so much for a used B17 on EBay anyway so I might as well try modding it.

Thanks for the detailed info--though I usually clamp saddles toward the back anyway & also am hesitant to raise the nose since I often like to ride w/semi-low handlebar position.

when you say you usually position seats back anyway, could it be that like in my case, it was just a bit too far back?

the one that had the weird "crease" rubbing was then on my dropbar bike, a Specialized Tricross with maybe 2 1/2 inches of seat to bar drop. After I resolved the rubbing issue on the right side, I ended up taking it off and putting it onto my mtn bike/commuter because I found the used one. I put the used B17 onto the Tricross and because of the lower handlebar position, I have it more level than the B17 on the mtn bike that has maybe 1 inch of seat/bar drop. Im the same weight as you.

Hope you can get it sorted, if not, its just a bike seat, you can sell it (and I'd be interested!)

Thats pretty much was my feeling as well. Once at the mentioned link, there was a post from ( furbali ), I just followed his post and it worked out just fine for me. I did use a punch which provide a clean cut. Good luck

You can also rotate the saddle a little to the right or left. Mine is angled about 3 degree to the left.

You and Machka suggested that. I tried it a today and I do believe it helps. I moved mine a little to the left. It must allow one to get the nose a bit higher than otherwise.

One leg is usually stronger than the other. Rotating the saddle optimizes the sweet spots at the rear of the saddle and reduces the chance of one thigh rubbing against the front/mid-section of the saddle.

My B17 Champion Special sagged lopsided pretty quickly and noticeably. I sent Brooks an email with pictures and never heard back besides getting put on their mailing list. Still riding it and it was great well after the lopsided was noticed but lately I've been having trouble with perineum irritation.

Going to try turning it a bit

My Swift has been fine.
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/tdister/047.jpghttp://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b239/tdister/045.jpg

These saddles becoming lop-sided is not unusual but it's possible to return them to the original condition by soaking them with water and then, when the leather is soft, strapping a tennis ball underneath with duct tape. Allow the saddle to dry naturally for at least 24 hours and it will be hard and in shape.

I've never given much thought as to why a slightly off centre saddle works for me, but that's probably it. :)

And I've been told by numerous doctors, chiros, physios, etc. that my hips/pelvis are crooked too so the slightly off centre saddle probably works for that too.

Even with current saddle position I sometimes slide back a bit for harder efforts. If I put saddle forward it seems that thighs would rub even more against the wider portion of the skirt which seems to be the bigger problem than the nose. Seems like Brooks just have weird shapes that work great for some & bad for others.

Only problem is that rotating saddle, say, to the right would theoretically decrease rubbing against mid-portion of the skirt but increase rubbing from the front-nose part. With plastic saddles I always kept them dead straight with no asymmetry problem. Used to do bike messengering on cheapo stock/discount bin sport-touring type saddles with little problem.

Seems like Brooks ought to at least answer email. I suppose they could say lopsided break-in was not a defect; OTOH they seem content to let their retailers deal with the hassles of customers returning saddles. Brooks has the huge reputation among tourists but I think, look at the math: they have a semi-monopoly on leather saddles & large # of satisfied customers singing their praise. OTOH there are many plastic saddle companies so even if there are many tourists happy riding their saddles, no single company really stands out as much.

Many Brooks fans post pics of their 20-yr old saddles with sit-bone indentations & sway...personally I don't like sway 'cause it presses while riding on drops. Once bought a used Brooks Professional which had some use-induced sway for a racing bike & it was just too uncomfortable. Brooks have a bit of shock-absorbency though IMHO using the saddle to dampen harsh ride from typically overly-stiff rando-type touring frames is not an ideal solution. Longer wheelbase helps; & I'm thinking that light/stiff (but well-fitting) saddle combined with minor seat-post suspension would work better. Some folks like the ThudBuster; I'd like to see something more minimal.

I thought so as well. I forgot to mention that the saddle was within warranty. I did not have the receipt but the saddle's mfgr date was within the 2 years warranty they carry.

They probably won't be getting my money in the future after not hearing back. I won't hold myself to that too hard, though.

If you lace the saddle tightly per my guide, then the skirts will stay closed regardless of your position on the saddle. You'll need to rotate the saddle by at least 15 degree before the nose will scrape against your leg. The rotate is meant to compensate for leg strength and minor non-symmetrical body parts.

I think the lopsided B17 CS pictured above is officially retired. I think maybe I hadn't realized how it had gradually become more and more uncomfy. I may try the soaking and tennis ball trick since it's pretty well finished anyway.

I bartered for another near-new Swift a while back and decided to try it out on the LHT. I think I lucked out and got the position 98% perfect on the first try. The longest ride has been 20 miles but it's been working out well for the last few weeks.