Breaking in a Brooks Saddle

Rudd
Rudd Posts: 264
edited May 2012 in Workshop
Hello all,

I have just fitted a Brooks Swift to my road bike and wondered if anyone had any experience of breaking them in. I understand that it can take some time to get them comfy but having spent some time last night getting it positioned correctly for my riding position noticed that the rear of the saddle of higher than the front - I like to have a completely level saddle so does anyone know if this in built height difference is on purpose? ie is the idea that as soften the rear in time so it all levels out but only in the right bits of the saddle? Hope that makes sense!

Also any tips on speeding up the breaking in process would be much appreciated!

Comments

  • godders1
    godders1 Posts: 750
    The rear may drop slightly when broken in but the saddle design is such that it raises slightly at the back, "Flat" is when the rails are level with the ground (on a flat surface, obviously). If you set it so the nose is level with the back then I imagine it would be really uncomfortable (if anything I prefer mine tipped ever so slightly forward otherwise I get numbness).

    Plenty of proofide and plenty of miles is the quickest route to breaking in.
  • term1te
    term1te Posts: 1,462
    The first month after I got my new Brooks, I kept sliding forward, but tipping it back made it uncomfortable. Once the leather lost it's initial shine, the slipping stopped and we moulded into each other, it is a two way process. After that it was, and still is, great.

    Why is it that whenever you write about saddles, Brooks in particular, it ends up looking as though you're writting to a 1970s agony aunt? Or is that just me?
    The Master
    The Moser
    The VN
  • Rudd
    Rudd Posts: 264
    Thanks guys, I think you're right - it is very slippy so hopefully some time in the saddle will help. In the mean time I'll keep playing with the position. I can see it becoming quite an involving task but hopefully rewarding.

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