CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Questions/Support/Help

Which Brooks saddle?

(11 posts)
  • Started 5 years ago by Greenroofer
  • Latest reply from the canuck
  • This topic is not resolved

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  1. Greenroofer
    Member

    I currently have a Brooks B17 standard on my road bike. I love it. I can ride all day and all night with no discomfort.

    I had a bike fit recently, and the bike fitter's view was that the saddle was too wide. Certainly a pressure map of my posterior did seem to show that it wasn't evenly loaded, yet with a narrow saddle it was more even. I'm uncertain what to do for my 'new' bike (for which we are still waiting for the wheels). He wants me to get a plastic saddle, but I do love the comfort of my B17...

    Do you have any experience of other Brooks leather saddles? In particular are the more racy ones any good for long-distance riding? I have a very relaxed and upright position on the bike, so don't want anything too racy, but am minded to observe the fitter's advice and try something a bit narrower.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  2. Frenchy
    Member

    I can ride all day and all night with no discomfort.

    What more could you possibly ask for?

    Saying that, it's possibly worth trying something different and returning it if it doesn't work out. The Bike Co-op has a 30-day return period for saddles (other shops probably similar?).

    Posted 5 years ago #

  3. GDR
    Member

    I have Brooks Cambium C17 saddles on 3 bikes and find them to be the most comfortable saddles I have ever used. I believe they do a narrower sportier version of the Cambium but I have not tried it.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  4. amir
    Member

    Did your bike fitter account for your upright position?

    I'm currently having saddle fun. I've used a 143 mm race saddle for years without too many issues but then started to get sores frequently. I've been trying since Feb a 155 version of the same model and Brooks Swallow. The latter is winning but I'm not completely happy with it yet. I'm going to see how it goes with a 300 Audax.

    All of these racy saddles are distinctly more comfortable if I tilt forward. That may be my underlying problem. On getting older and do more long distance riding, I've started to sit up more

    Posted 5 years ago #

  5. Greenroofer
    Member

    @amir - yes, the fit did account for my upright position. We went as far as a conversation along the lines of
    Him:"I think you need shorter cranks, but these will make you a bit slower. Most people pretend they don't mind if they go slower, but actually do. You are the first person I've met who seems genuinely not to mind how fast you go"
    Me: "I agree"

    This followed a discussion where he was amazed that I'd got up at 0330 so I could pootle round a 50-mile ride and still arrive in time for work.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  6. I were right about that saddle
    Member

    You are the first person I've met who seems genuinely not to mind how fast you go

    I like your style young man.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  7. the canuck
    Member

    jumping in with no advice but a question--in edinburgh, is it possible to borrow a seat for a week? my current one seems to cut off circulation to my feet without padded shorts, and it seems a bit daft to wear those for a 2.5 mile ride.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  8. Frenchy
    Member

    in edinburgh, is it possible to borrow a seat for a week?

    With an intention to buy it if you like it, or just to hire for a week?

    The Bike Co-op has a 30 day return policy on all saddles - if you don't agree with whichever one you try, you can swap it for a different one or return it (possibly only for store credit).

    Other shops probably have similar policies.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  9. amir
    Member

    For leather saddles, you really need to let them break in before you pass judgement (unless they're really bad for you).

    After about 5 months trying, I may be letting my Brooks Swallow fly off soon. It looks beautiful but my bum don't like it.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  10. DaveC
    Member

    I have 3 Brooks B17s. One is completely flattened, as I didn't get a cover with it and didn't know you were not supposed to get them wet. The 2 others I have are black, one new, which I kept protected, and is ok, and one I bought second hand, and I'm convinced has been rolled like a car in a crash at some point as one side appears higher on my bum than the other side.

    I'm very tempted to get a C17 with the cut out as I hear good things about them. Plus the C17 are water resistant which would be helpful in this Edinburgh climate.

    Posted 5 years ago #

  11. the canuck
    Member

    thank you!

    Posted 5 years ago #

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