Brooks Saddle thread

father_jack · June 2007

father_jack · June 2007

chromedome · July 2007

Ok after reading this thread i might get a new saddle,but which one? heres a link to my bike:
http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/605421/

using it for off road & commuting ....any suggestions?

Cheers

Ian

jibi · July 2007

A Brooks saddle is a personal choice.
So I have to say

http://www.jejcycles.co.uk/cat151/id33766.html

I have had a B17 as well, but this one is on my tourer now.

but look around and listen to others.

george

rrsodl · July 2007

jibi wrote:

A Brooks saddle is a personal choice.
So I have to say

http://www.jejcycles.co.uk/cat151/id33766.html

I have had a B17 as well, but this one is on my tourer now.

but look around and listen to others.

george

I also have the Team Pro and it is indeed a great saddle.

IMy experience with this saddle is that for the first mile of every ride I find it a little hard but then it gets so confortable - I think the leather needs a little time to adjust to my bum

On my MTB I have a gel saddle which is very confortable for the first 15 minutes or so but then it is so unconfortable. I must get another Team Pro saddle for my MTB.

Rick

pipeman · July 2007

hhmmm!!!food for thought here,,,i have just started again and am in the proccess of finding a saddle!!have used B17,,PRO and PRO SELECT in the past with varying degrees of comfort,,maybe i ought to dip into the wallet and try one again???

inaperfectworld · July 2007

i assumed the velcro was to make the cover into a neat bundle for storage, but i store mine under the seat, between the rails and use the velcro to stop it from falling out

Yorkshireman · July 2007

Poncey saddle covers :roll: ... You want to get some of these

Avilable free from the ladies showers in (some) gym/fitness establishments (my wife gets them :oops: ), or floral pattern ones from Boots etc. One size fits all including this

jkr · July 2007

Hello,

I'm considering buying a Brooks saddle. B66 or B67 will probably fit best for my classic Dutch bike. Maybe you can give me some more advice:
Apart from the mounting, is there any difference between both models? Furthermore, is it worth getting the B67 Aged considering I'm on my bike about 7 miles on workdays, plus occasionally on weekends?

Thanks a lot,
John

Yorkshireman · July 2007

jkr wrote:

Hello,

I'm considering buying a Brooks saddle. B66 or B67 will probably fit best for my classic Dutch bike. Maybe you can give me some more advice:
Apart from the mounting, is there any difference between both models? Furthermore, is it worth getting the B67 Aged considering I'm on my bike about 7 miles on workdays, plus occasionally on weekends?

Thanks a lot,
John

B66 is the ladies version of the B67. I didn't have any problems with the normal saddle, and I was using it for a similar mileage at the time so I personally wouldn't bother with the 'pre aged' version. Both models are avilable in both mounting/rail formations (the single rail each side rail is for 'micro' adjust seat clamps) Hope that helps

.

PS
Don't forget to get the Proofide and nose adjusting spanner at the same time as the saddle - it might be cheaper that way

peejay78 · July 2007

i'm all for brooks saddles, especially if you ride an english roadster or the equivalent. and i'm all for idiosyncracies.

but the other day i saw a dolan track champion with a brooks saddle.

and i drew the line. it looked hideously out of place and completely stupid.

jkr · July 2007

B66 is the ladies version of the B67. I didn't have any problems with the normal saddle, and I was using it for a similar mileage at the time so I personally wouldn't bother with the 'pre aged' version. Both models are avilable in both mounting/rail formations (the single rail each side rail is for 'micro' adjust seat clamps) Hope that helps .

I think the ladies' versions of both B66 and B67 are called "S", whereas B66 and B67 appear to be be two- or one-wire, respectively. The B66 would fit directly to to my bike's seat post, it appears.
Thank you for your hint about "pre aged" ones. Anyone else who'd rather recommend me to get a regular instead of an aged one?

Regards,
John

Yorkshireman · July 2007

Sorry about the error John (I was working from a faulty memory there, hardly surprising at me age I suppose), you're correct re the model differences. If I give a little background as to why I'm so pleased with the B67 it might help you. About six years ago I went touring/camping for a couple of weeks without building my mileage up beforehand. I was doing 15 miles per day commuting + a few extra miles just 'nipping' about with regular weekend rides up to 70/80 miles per day after a 'layoff' of 5 or 6 years with no real problems in the rear regions. Instead of taking it steady with the touring bit I went a bit over the top - in the first week I did 3 days @ 150 miles per day, 2 days of 200 miles and 2 days of 80 miles per day (sort of steady days). Had a proper 'rest' day on the eighth day and continued on the ninth and subsequent days as before. On the thirteenth day I started to feel a bit of discomfort in the sit-bone area, but carried on at a reduced daily mileage of fifty to sixty miles per day. Finished the trip and got back home expecting the sit-bone problem to clear up ... It didn't - It got worse, discomfort even if I sat on soft cushions etc, could only do trips of 20 - 30 miles. Went to the doctors, and it turned out that I had caused some deep tissue injuries, and an operation was probably required with no guarantee that I would be able to ride much again afterwards. I thought about returning to Brooks (having been cycling on and off for over sixty years I should have known better than to trust in the 'new improved model' saddles I suppose). Told the doc that I'd hang fire on the op for a while and bought the B67. I could hardly believe the result. No pain/discomfort on the bike at all (though it took a bit of fiddling to get the best position/setting for the saddle) and my mileage started going up again. 5 years on and I have no pain or discomfort on the bike and only a little off it (when sitting for longer periods on hard unpadded seating). Sorry to natter on like this, but as you can see I have good reason to love Brooks saddles

Greenbank · July 2007

And the Proofide replaces the oils that get leached out by water, or generally over time. It's not meant to be a waterproofer, although it does provide a mild waterproof effect for a short while after application.

My Brooks has got soaked on many a ride and hasn't fallen to pieces. Every couple of months or so I give it a Proofiding and it is as good as new.

I don't know where people get the idea that Brooks saddles are made out of Gremlin-hides and that one spot of water will ruin it irrevocably.

I'd only bother covering it if you're going to leave it outside in the rain for prolonged periods, and then I'd just use a bog standard carrier bag. The Brooks branded cover is not that waterproof. There's no need to use a cover whilst riding it, even in pouring rain.

jkr · July 2007

Thanks very much, Colin. That's quite a convincing story why one should choose a good saddle.

So far I never encountered serious problems with ordinary saddles, except that they got a little hot and uncomfy on longer journeys. Some fissures in my gel saddle after 15 months in use are the very reason why I'm after a new one right now. A Brooks came to my mind mainly because of its classic look, which would fit nicely with my bike. I think I have some more very good reasons after reading about your experiences

Regards
John

Yorkshireman · July 2007

jkr wrote:

Thanks very much, Colin. That's quite a convincing story why one should choose a good saddle.

So far I never encountered serious problems with ordinary saddles, except that they got a little hot and uncomfy on longer journeys. Some fissures in my gel saddle after 15 months in use are the very reason why I'm after a new one right now. A Brooks came to my mind mainly because of its classic look, which would fit nicely with my bike. I think I have some more very good reasons after reading about your experiences

Regards
John

You're welcome John, if you do get one I hope that you'll be as satisfied with it as I am with mine - Best invention since sliced bread (except they were invented before sliced bread)

bigjim · July 2007

I always suffer a degree of dull pain whichever saddle I use. But never tried a Brooks but am seriousley considering buying one. However I do not know which model would best suit. I ride sports/tourers, mostly on the hoods and never completly upright as this causes me back pain My wife says I only have a small bum although I weigh 15 stone. so do I go for the narrow or the traditional? Any advice?

JIm

bigjim · July 2007

I always suffer a degree of dull pain whichever saddle I use. But never tried a Brooks but am seriousley considering buying one. However I do not know which model would best suit. I ride sports/tourers, mostly on the hoods and never completly upright as this causes me back pain My wife says I only have a small bum although I weigh 15 stone. so do I go for the narrow or the traditional? Any advice?

JIm

Yorkshireman · August 2007

Hi Jim, sorry for late reply (missed your post somehow). The saddle sizing is not based on the apparent size of your @rse, it's the distance apart of the sit-bones which are determined (mainly) by the pelvis, and that's why ladies saddles are normally wider than men's. You need to find out what your sit-bone measurement is somehow. Style of riding is also fairly important too, as the more upright you are the more weight is going on to the sit bones (theres quite a lot of info on the Brooks site) :-
http://www.brooksengland.com/ bit of a fiddly site to use

eg hover on the central text/saddle to get in there, and good luck

bigjim · August 2007

Thanks Colin.
looked at Brooks site but cannot find any info on sit bone size re correct style of saddle. Any suggestions? Willing to invest in Brooks but do not want to make wrong choice.
Cheers. Jim

Yorkshireman · August 2007

Hi Jim, You wont find anything saying what size/style saddle will fit which sit-bone size on the site. What you will see are the different saddles and the styles of riding/bikes that they are suitable for (I'm fairly sure that the saddle measurements used to be there as well - but I see that they're not there now). Choose a saddle that suits your style of riding (if in doubt choose nearest two). Find out what your sit-bone measurements are (you will have to use a bit of ingenuity here eg a block of medium density poly foam sat on bare @rsed for a short time will show the indentations so that you can measure the centre to centre distance of the indentations) and make a note of them. Go back to the Brooks site and find the catalogue and download it, when the pdf files are there you can then scroll through to find the saddles you have picked out - complete with dimensions. To give you some idea my saddle measures about 20cm across at the widest point with my sit-bones measuring near enough 10cm between the deepest parts of the indents (it can't be an exact measurement as the sit-bones don't come to a point) I'm a small bloke 5`3" but I know 6` blokes who use the same saddle (B67) and their measurements are a bit wider than mine, but still well inside the edge of the saddle. It's important that your bones don't sit right on the edge of the saddle as if this happens the soft tissue areas between the bones (and the soft bit further forward ) will be taking some of your weight, and that can lead to discomfort and numbness due to the blood supply being reduced and also nerve pressure problems. When choosing a saddle bear in mind the nose width as well, compared to you I will have relatively skinny thighs (particularly on the insides), so I can use a saddle with a wider 'nose' without chafing my inner thighs. It might help if you could find a dealer near you so that you could see a few different models 'in the flesh' to give you some idea. Hope that I'm helping here rather than confusing you

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