Brooks Saddle thread

Kirbycp · May 2007

Make sure that you don't get a Brooks with chrome plated rails - I've had two break in the last six months. The newer saddles have a matt black rails which aren't prone to this problem.

Chris James · May 2007

Yes, I have a B17N in black. They are supposed to be hard as nails and extremely difficult to break in. It was pretty board like when I first got it, but it is the only Brooks I have had so couldn't compare it to other models.

Anyway, the upshot is that it quickly became very comfy and not saggy. Which is good! Funnily enough from the internet it appears to be exactly the same weight as the B17 whereas I would have thought it would be lighter.

dannygcp · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ste_S

Anyone had any experience of the B17 Narrow ? I use a Selle Italia Flite on my Giant, and was looking for something to complement my steel Carlton
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
I have had several B17 narrow saddles and would definitely recommend them over the standard version if you want to ride for any distance or at speed.

For the first couple of days it does feel like you are riding on a plank of wood, but soon breaks in, and after that fits like a glove.

dannygcp · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kirby

Make sure that you don't get a Brooks with chrome plated rails - I've had two break in the last six months. The newer saddles have a matt black rails which aren't prone to this problem.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
What have you been doing to them?!? I have ridden one saddle until the leather completely perished, but have never had a chrome rail break.

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Chris James

Yes, I have a B17N in black. They are supposed to be hard as nails and extremely difficult to break in. It was pretty board like when I first got it, but it is the only Brooks I have had so couldn't compare it to other models.

Anyway, the upshot is that it quickly became very comfy and not saggy. Which is good! Funnily enough from the internet it appears to be exactly the same weight as the B17 whereas I would have thought it would be lighter.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I have just puchased the B17N from my LBS in the last hour and was told that 500 miles was the sort of breaking in period. Here's hoping for a comfy ride.

My e bay bargain œ 31.05
http://tinyurl.com/366awv

d_c_h_w · May 2007

My B17N took around 500 miles, but its worth it now. Just wish I could have got someone with the same size *rse as mine to do those miles for me.

Fab Foodie · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by dannyg

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kirby

Make sure that you don't get a Brooks with chrome plated rails - I've had two break in the last six months. The newer saddles have a matt black rails which aren't prone to this problem.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
What have you been doing to them?!? I have ridden one saddle until the leather completely perished, but have never had a chrome rail break.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Yep, over 22 years for mine....still going strong.
Ti rails have been known to break.

The pessimists of this world are rarely disappointed....
Fab's TCR1

Greenbank · May 2007

Another anecdotal bit of evidence.

Both my Brooks (B17 Ti and a Swallow) were comfy from day one. No breaking in required at all, both saddles' second rides were 200km Audaxes.

--
If I had a baby elephant signature, I'd use that.

andrewc3142 · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ste_S

Anyone had any experience of the B17 Narrow ? I use a Selle Italia Flite on my Giant, and was looking for something to complement my steel Carlton
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

B17 narrow (on MTB) is, well, like the B17 (on Brompton) but narrower. The Team Pro (on tourer) is better than both IMHO, but all are very good. Worth the little extra weight.

father_jack · May 2007

fatfreddy · May 2007

just ordered a B17 for my commuter. I read somewhere the saddle is supposed to be given a drop of proofhide first and then "wear old shorts for the first couple of rides". Is this neccessary? - i tend to cycle in my work clothes so don't want to mess them up. What do others do?

ff

father_jack · May 2007

woodford2barbican · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Father Jack

Any updates from those who picked up Brooks saddle this week?


Giant OCR-1 2005 | 2 x Cateye HL EL-500 | Cateye HL-EL400 | 2x Cateye TL-1000 | Lizard Skin chainstay protector | Cateye micro wireless computer | Laseredge Bikelights | Electron 5W+10W 
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Sort of - it arrived and it looks good, however I now need to get some proofide and only when that arrives will I be able to ride it....

father_jack · May 2007

FriedSpam · May 2007

I'm new to all this cycling tomfoolery but am determined to become a seasoned bicycle commuter.

I have bought a Brompton to convey me through the streets of London Town of a rush-hour morning and was wondering if anyone can recommend a Brooks Saddle to go with it.

It obviously has to be as light as possible as the bike needs to be able to be carried around. The problem is; the Brompton has very small, high-pressure wheels so this would suggest adding as much suspension as I can carry!

Brooks's advice was:

Either,

1/ A Flyer or a B67 - Both are designed for road bikes and both have rear springs for suspension

2/ B17 Titanium - A light weight option, retaining good width for upright sitting position, but no springs. The titanium rail does give a small amount of suspension by way its flexing action. Price is significantly higher than the options in 1/ above

And they also told me that option 2 is not nearly as suspended as option 1. That suggests option 1 then?

Should I go for the Flyer or the B67 or would anyone recommend anything different from experience? Maybe shed loads of suspension with a B33?

-sorry for the long post btw...

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Father Jack

Any updates from those who picked up Brooks saddle this week?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

OK have now done 60 miles on my B17N and it is getting better. The first 15 miles felt like I was sitting on a plank of wood however today's ride in felt much better. I find that after the initial 15 minutes of pain it really does seem more comfortable than my old saddle. I got some of the proofhide from my LBS at the time and given the small amount you need it looks like the tin will last a decade.

The other thing I like about the saddle is that it looks great as well.

My e bay bargain œ 31.05
http://tinyurl.com/366awv

woodford2barbican · May 2007

I have got my one on now. Not sure what model it is, but the one that Father Jack pointed out on Wiggle. Luckily it seems that I have a Brooks shaped backside as it is already the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden straight from the box.

So thanks for the pointer Father J!

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by woodford2barbican

I have got my one on now. Not sure what model it is, but the one that Father Jack pointed out on Wiggle. Luckily it seems that I have a Brooks shaped backside as it is already the most comfortable saddle I have ever ridden straight from the box.
So thanks for the pointer Father J!
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

That's the standard B17. I went to my LBS and pondered for a good 20 minutes or so looking at the standard B17 and the B17N (narrow) and plummped for the B17N as it looked like the size was identical to my old saddle.

My e bay bargain œ 31.05
http://tinyurl.com/366awv

nun · May 2007

I have 3 bikes all with Brooks B17s, 2 are well broken in and one is new. On the new one I sometimes find that after a long ride my left bottock is a bit painfill and has a developed a hard patch towards the bottom, between my legs. I'm thinking that its some deep bruising. Has anyone experienced this? What is it?

father_jack · May 2007

Just gone for a ride (raining) a few spots went onto the saddle and a few blisters have appeared :-( Will these disspear/flatten out? I have treated it with beeswax, when brushing the water off you could tell there was a waterproof lining...it didn't soak in like suede.

phew blisters have disappeared.

Giant OCR-1 2005 | 2 x Cateye HL EL-500 | Cateye HL-EL400 | 2x Cateye TL-1000 | Lizard Skin chainstay protector | Cateye micro wireless computer | Laseredge Bikelights | Electron 5W+10W

DLB · May 2007

Just got my B17 yesterday and the proofide today. I did go for a short ride yesterday and it did feel comfortable from the start but also felt slippery. I kept slipping backwards and forwards as i rode. hope this doesn't continue.

*** Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're probably right ***

Ste_S · May 2007

Where are most people getting their proofide from ? I thought there might be a tin with my B17 that turned up today, but there wasn't.

Bloke on a bikecp · May 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Ste_S

Where are most people getting their proofide from ? <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Here

Well not most people. But you can.

--
Basil W Brush

Ste_S · June 2007

Fred Williams do proofide ? Didn't think to ask there, as I haven't seen any Brooks saddles in the shop.

Chris James · June 2007

By the way, the slippiness will stop shortly, as your arse begins to indent the saddle.

DLB · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Chris James

By the way, the slippiness will stop shortly, as your arse begins to indent the saddle.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

excellent.

Did 25 miles yesterday and very comfy it was too.

Proofide can be bought from www.chainreactioncycles.com

*** Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're probably right ***

FriedSpam · June 2007

Well as no-one seems to want to reply to me, I have plumped for the B67. Springy enough to smooth out the ride a bit and nice and wide to go with the upright position of the Brompton.

Shame it's patterned topped as the smooth, shiney ones look better but never mind...

FatBlokeFromFelixstowe · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by FriedSpam

Well as no-one seems to want to reply to me, I have plumped for the B67. Springy enough to smooth out the ride a bit and nice and wide to go with the upright position of the Brompton.

Shame it's patterned topped as the smooth, shiney ones look better but never mind...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Hi FriedSpam Sorry mate no idea on the B67 but you surely won't go wrong with a Brooks. 250 miles now on my B17N and it is starting to feel comfortable.

My e bay bargain œ 31.05
http://tinyurl.com/366awv

Bloke on a bikecp · June 2007

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by FatBlokeFromFelixstowe
250 miles now on my B17N and it is starting to feel comfortable.

<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Is that your bum breaking in the B17, or is it the B17 breaking in your bum? [:D]

--
Basil W Brush

jimbarrow · June 2007

neats foot oil is from pigs! also used for the jelly in Pork Pies... if that doesn't put you off go for the Brooks, mine lasted over ten years!

Brooks Saddle thread

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