I've done 400 miles on it, got the dimples in the saddle and thought I'd cracked it when yesterday ended a 43 mile run out with a painful saddle sore in the groin area. I can't see why this should happen with the same (padded) shorts as I wore on a 73 last week. Got saddle slightly nose up as folk have suggested, polaris shorts and a helpful cream on the chamois.
I want to stick with it but with a big summer tour approaching don't want saddle sores! Its pretty tough on the old perineal parts too.
Do experienced hard backsided brooks fans out there do without the padded shorts?
Padded shorts on a brooks B17?
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eileithyia
- Posts: 8445
- Joined: 31 Jan 2007, 6:46pm
- Location: Horwich Which is Lancs :-)
I was going something similar, even the top pros who, presumably, are very experience at looking after their nether regions/shorts and saddles get saddle sores.
I always soak my shorts in Napisan before washing, change shorts daily, on tour i carry a old film case with napisan in in order to wash my shorts.
I tend veer away from creams as these can clog poors and, as one friend was told by his Dr., they have ground up bits n pieces in them which can actually aggravate skin, pores etc.
If it is a boil then it will have been caused by a blocked up follicle, most likely, if the skin is abraided then it might have been a fold in the shorts/padding that rubbed.
I always soak my shorts in Napisan before washing, change shorts daily, on tour i carry a old film case with napisan in in order to wash my shorts.
I tend veer away from creams as these can clog poors and, as one friend was told by his Dr., they have ground up bits n pieces in them which can actually aggravate skin, pores etc.
If it is a boil then it will have been caused by a blocked up follicle, most likely, if the skin is abraided then it might have been a fold in the shorts/padding that rubbed.
I stand and rejoice everytime I see a woman ride by on a wheel the picture of free, untrammeled womanhood. HG Wells
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
At least modern imitation chamois is capable of being washed thoroughly, dried then re-used with a minimum of fuss. This is just one more case when anybody who has experience of the real thing says thank goodness for modern fabrics. (And as for Louison Bobet winning his third TdeF with half the saddle cutaway and a slice of raw steak for padding 
)
)400 miles is not that much for a Brooks. I know some people find them comfortable from the first ride, but that's not been my experience. Perhaps it's something to do with how much padding you have to start with. I've not got that much so always go for decent quality padded shorts.
I know Brooks don't advise it but you can accelerate the breaking in with horse saddle oil - don't over do it though. Better get comfortable on it before your big ride!
Best of luck with it.
Dave
I know Brooks don't advise it but you can accelerate the breaking in with horse saddle oil - don't over do it though. Better get comfortable on it before your big ride!
Best of luck with it.
Dave
I can only speak from my own experience.
My day-rides are up to 150 miles and more in summer (i.e. longest days). I personally find the Brooks Pro better suited to my bum-shape, but others with whom I ride find the B17 better. I think that one finds which is best by trial and error. For short rides up to 60-65 miles I find the B17 fine, even from new, and notwithstanding my previous comment, and I've done 200k Audaxes on a B17 witrh no trouble.
I always have trouble with padded shorts, and recently, whilst riding padded shorts against my better judgment, I suffered with salt rash to the extent that I had to visit the doctor's to get it sorted.
Generally I wear baggy shorts with plenty of ventilation.
If I was having this problem, it would be the shorts rather than the saddle.
My day-rides are up to 150 miles and more in summer (i.e. longest days). I personally find the Brooks Pro better suited to my bum-shape, but others with whom I ride find the B17 better. I think that one finds which is best by trial and error. For short rides up to 60-65 miles I find the B17 fine, even from new, and notwithstanding my previous comment, and I've done 200k Audaxes on a B17 witrh no trouble.
I always have trouble with padded shorts, and recently, whilst riding padded shorts against my better judgment, I suffered with salt rash to the extent that I had to visit the doctor's to get it sorted.
Generally I wear baggy shorts with plenty of ventilation.
If I was having this problem, it would be the shorts rather than the saddle.
JohnW wrote:I can only speak from my own experience.
My day-rides are up to 150 miles and more in summer (i.e. longest days). I personally find the Brooks Pro better suited to my bum-shape, but others with whom I ride find the B17 better. I think that one finds which is best by trial and error. For short rides up to 60-65 miles I find the B17 fine, even from new, and notwithstanding my previous comment, and I've done 200k Audaxes on a B17 witrh no trouble.
I always have trouble with padded shorts, and recently, whilst riding padded shorts against my better judgment, I suffered with salt rash to the extent that I had to visit the doctor's to get it sorted.
Generally I wear baggy shorts with plenty of ventilation.
If I was having this problem, it would be the shorts rather than the saddle.
My portly XXXXL build excludes lycra and padded shorts so I make do with cotton undies and baggy cotton shorts. Have not had any problems with my B17s. Despite my weight, the dimp0les didn't appear on my saddles until the 800 mile mark. There again the leather used for the saddles is variable in its thickness and 'give'.
Ta everyone for the tips. Hope it doesn't come to the steak /Bobet treatment. My problem might have been caused by the shorts, which have a failrly flimsy insert. Insert or no insert, that seems to be the question. personal choice I suppose.
Are those baggy shorts of yours (JohnW) cycle specific?
Cheers
Are those baggy shorts of yours (JohnW) cycle specific?
Cheers
Hello boink - the baggy shorts that I'm wearing this year are Marks and Spencers "Blue Harbour" 100% cotton in navy blue - personally I wish they did black or grey, but there it is. They are inexpensive - either £4.99 or £5.99 as I remember, and if it helps, the ref. number on the tag is 7174 575. The trick is also to avoid underpants with elastic around the top of the legs. This elastic get impregnated with sweat during the course of a ride, and when it dries at a tea stop or on a decent bit of ventilating downhill the salt starts to rub the skin in that very delicate and personal area, and then the trouble starts. I wear M&S (again) 100% knitted cotton boxer shorts - the change from Y-fronts generated the comment from my wife that I'd joined the twentieth century at last!!!
My doctor's advice is to ignore the 40 degree wash instructions, and always wash underpants at 60 degrees, because fungal infections are not killed at the lower temperature, and broken skin due to salt rash or rubbing elastic is vulnerable to fungal infection. I just do as the good doctor says.
I hope that helps.
And hello vernon - you and I may have the same shape problem. I did try lycra once, but I looked so silly you wouldn't believe it, and the mock-chami insert made them like a portable Turkish bath. Certainly lycra doesn't work for me.
Not all of the other chaps in our section seem to have problems with the padded inserts, but boy I do.
My doctor's advice is to ignore the 40 degree wash instructions, and always wash underpants at 60 degrees, because fungal infections are not killed at the lower temperature, and broken skin due to salt rash or rubbing elastic is vulnerable to fungal infection. I just do as the good doctor says.
I hope that helps.
And hello vernon - you and I may have the same shape problem. I did try lycra once, but I looked so silly you wouldn't believe it, and the mock-chami insert made them like a portable Turkish bath. Certainly lycra doesn't work for me.
Not all of the other chaps in our section seem to have problems with the padded inserts, but boy I do.
The key to saddles, any saddles, is being the right basic shape. While a Brooks will change a bit over time it still needs to be the right basic shape for the rider, and since we're all different you can't guarantee that.
Me, I like Brooks, run a B17 on the MTB, a Brooks/Brompton on the, errr, Brompton and a B66 on the freighter, and they've all been better than the gel saddles they replaced straight out of the box, but then I'm a "Brooks shape" person. If they're really not that much fun at all at the outset then I personally think you're better looking at alternatives rather than going through a long period trying to force them into a shape they're not really designed to be in.
I usually wear padded shorts (and no undies) on mine if it's a long trip (say, 10 miles plus) but otherwise I just cycle in my everyday clothes. But if you really want to be comfortable on a bike for long distances on the road then a recumbent is, IME, better than any combination of saddles and contrived padding (though I actually find the biggest improvement is for my wrists, arms and neck rather than my backside).
Pete.
Me, I like Brooks, run a B17 on the MTB, a Brooks/Brompton on the, errr, Brompton and a B66 on the freighter, and they've all been better than the gel saddles they replaced straight out of the box, but then I'm a "Brooks shape" person. If they're really not that much fun at all at the outset then I personally think you're better looking at alternatives rather than going through a long period trying to force them into a shape they're not really designed to be in.
I usually wear padded shorts (and no undies) on mine if it's a long trip (say, 10 miles plus) but otherwise I just cycle in my everyday clothes. But if you really want to be comfortable on a bike for long distances on the road then a recumbent is, IME, better than any combination of saddles and contrived padding (though I actually find the biggest improvement is for my wrists, arms and neck rather than my backside).
Pete.
I only ride Brooks, the shorts I prefer without padding because I hate sweaty nether regions, though I sometimes use a padded pair under longs in cold weather. Underwear is best worn inside out - it keeps the seams away from the skin. Tesco F&F range is good in cooler weather but too absorbent (sweat) for warm conditions, then it's back to good old M&S.
If at first you don't succeed - cheat!!
PW wrote:I only ride Brooks, the shorts I prefer without padding because I hate sweaty nether regions, though I sometimes use a padded pair under longs in cold weather. Underwear is best worn inside out - it keeps the seams away from the skin. Tesco F&F range is good in cooler weather but too absorbent (sweat) for warm conditions, then it's back to good old M&S.
Yeah PW - my sentiments entirely.
I have a brooks saddle (a 28 year old brooks "professional"), I don't wear cycle shorts, I wear swimming shorts which have netted insides. They don't absorb sweat, let air circulate and hold everything in place. They also don't have seams although I've got to admit I'd not thought about that before...
I find I only get sore when I'm tired and my riding position gets bad. As long as the majority (of my not inconsiderable) weight is on my legs and I'm using my sit bones properly I'm fine. I don't think padding helps at all.
But I'm not an expert, just my opinion and experience.
I find I only get sore when I'm tired and my riding position gets bad. As long as the majority (of my not inconsiderable) weight is on my legs and I'm using my sit bones properly I'm fine. I don't think padding helps at all.
But I'm not an expert, just my opinion and experience.
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Karen Sutton
- Posts: 608
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 11:18pm
- Location: Greater Manchester
I've been riding Brooks B17 saddles for 28 years . I got my first at the York Rally in 1980 and it is still my saddle of choice; that one having pride of place on my 'best' touring bike. In the 1970's/80's I wore Hebden cord shorts, which had a double seat of corduroy. The padded shorts of today didn't exist then.
In all those years I have only had problems with saddle soreness occasionally....BUT only when wearing the modern lycra padded shorts. I have some Polaris baggy cycling shorts which don't give any problems. They have a padded insert but I only tend to use them on shorter rides with the family (sometimes off road, and my off road bike has a Brooks sprung saddle), so haven't tested them on a long club ride yet.
In all those years I have only had problems with saddle soreness occasionally....BUT only when wearing the modern lycra padded shorts. I have some Polaris baggy cycling shorts which don't give any problems. They have a padded insert but I only tend to use them on shorter rides with the family (sometimes off road, and my off road bike has a Brooks sprung saddle), so haven't tested them on a long club ride yet.