Brooks Saddle too soft?

Hi,
Well I took the leap and bought a Brooks saddle about two years ago, as it was on a pretty steep sale at the time. Well just now I've gotten around to building a bike for it.
Anyway I sat on the saddle and it felt good for a few minutes, then I started getting pretty intense perineal? pain. Never had that on any other saddle, NEVER!
My question: When I push down on the saddle with the palm of my hand I can very easily (no real weight) get the saddle to sag quite far. Is this how new Brooks saddles are? It's been around in the apartment for two years and who knows how long at the store. Could it be that it needs tensioning? It seems to sag far too easily. I'm thinking that's where the pain is coming from. By the way I've tried several positions and angles, all with essentially the same result.
I just can't believe that a saddle should be that soft/easily hang through.

Thanks in advance,
David

Comments

  • gethinceri
    gethinceri Posts: 1,517
    Which model is it?
  • davehor
    davehor Posts: 4
    B17 Standard
  • orraloon
    orraloon Posts: 12,674
    I have a B17 on my tourer. No sag. Tighten it up. You will get some minor discomfort as it moulds to your shape over the initial period of riding.
  • davehor
    davehor Posts: 4
    I guess it stretched over the years in storage, wasn't properly tensioned or the nut cam loose.
    How can you tell what the the correct tension is?
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,243
    I'd be weary of tightening it... it's a slippery slope where you increase the tension by making the leather thinner... as a result it will stretch and sag even more.
    Brooks are great, but they don't like being soaked... did you ever ride in very wet conditions?
    left the forum March 2023
  • davehor
    davehor Posts: 4
    It's brand new
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,243
    davehor said:

    It's brand new

    not for you then, maybe you are a bit too heavy for it. Return it if you can, sell it if you can't.. they sell well
    left the forum March 2023
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    It’s not new it’s two years old and possibly older than that.
  • ugo.santalucia
    ugo.santalucia Posts: 28,243
    edited July 2020
    I've used many Brooks saddles and I don't think they suit heavy riders. The thing is, when saddles were made of leather, people used to weigh 10 stone wet... seeing riders of 15 or even 20 stone on a bicycle (or off a bicycle for what that matters) is a recent thing and one Brooks has not addressed yet, with some kind of fat boy version of their standard saddles. If an unused Brooks is too soft, try something like a Charge Spoon or similar. That said, the B17 has a bit of give, it's not a racing saddle, it's a touring one
    left the forum March 2023
  • Mine was sagging a bit before I punched a couple of holes in each side and laced it.
    They use their cars as shopping baskets; they use their cars as overcoats.
  • Mine was sagging a bit before I punched a couple of holes in each side and laced it.

    I did the same
    left the forum March 2023