Comfortable saddle?
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craftycockney
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 20 Jan 2007, 11:45am
- Location: Cardiff, South Wales
Comfortable saddle?
Bought a second hand Mercian with a Brooks professional leather saddle but its giving me a hard time! Bought Use suspension seat post (firm!) which has definitely helped but still on a long run is uncomfortable. Is it important to get the tilt right or my ageing bum firmly on the rear area or should I give up and buy something else? Any suggestions?
yup
Ditch the Brooks. These are instruments of torture. There are those hardy souls on this forum who swear by them, but you can strike matches on their buttocks. Try anything by F'iz'ik (I'm not sure about the apostrophes, but the saddles are fab).
There's more to this than the saddle. It's about getting your weight distribution right. It's about having the bars at a comfortable position - which will vary with the kind of ride you're doing. There's no sensible way to do this over the internet. My strong advice is to hie thee to a DA ride and watch some of the older riders in action, particularly those with a racing pedigree. It's an education.
Ditch the Brooks. These are instruments of torture. There are those hardy souls on this forum who swear by them, but you can strike matches on their buttocks. Try anything by F'iz'ik (I'm not sure about the apostrophes, but the saddles are fab).
There's more to this than the saddle. It's about getting your weight distribution right. It's about having the bars at a comfortable position - which will vary with the kind of ride you're doing. There's no sensible way to do this over the internet. My strong advice is to hie thee to a DA ride and watch some of the older riders in action, particularly those with a racing pedigree. It's an education.
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
The problem with all Brooks saddles is that the leather can vary when new from beautifully supple to rock hard. When people discuss them from opposing viewpoints, they are generally talking about one or the other. Acres is written on breaking them in but IMO if you have a hard one you are beat from the start. They should never be bought mail order for this reason (unless there is a 100% certain no quibble returns policy) and as even the shops that sell them do not carry many, anybody wanting a nice one has to shop around. This is already much longer than I intended because it is not long since we went through all this before and a search should bring it up.
(I edited a mis-spelling)
(I edited a mis-spelling)
I got a Brooks Pro which I treated with copious quantities of leather treatment bought from a local saddlery. It noticeably softened the leather (following alomst total immersion for a month!) but it turned my leggings brown for weeks and I daren't sit down in the pub for fear of leaving dubious marks behind!!!
I also found that the large brass rivets, whilst looking rather stylish, made short work of Lycra!
The Brooks is now in the cupboard with a veritable pile of other saddles that have been bought over the years and failed to meet expectations. I think we should establish a National Saddle Bank for the purposes of swapping redundant saddles until (a) we find one we can get on with and (b) all those saddes find a good home!
Keith
p.s. - if you wanna good deal on a large quantity of leather treatment....
I also found that the large brass rivets, whilst looking rather stylish, made short work of Lycra!
The Brooks is now in the cupboard with a veritable pile of other saddles that have been bought over the years and failed to meet expectations. I think we should establish a National Saddle Bank for the purposes of swapping redundant saddles until (a) we find one we can get on with and (b) all those saddes find a good home!
Keith
p.s. - if you wanna good deal on a large quantity of leather treatment....
I rode a Selle Italia Flite ti (light) saddle for about eight years before deciding I couldn't take the pain any more - unaffectionately known as Roger cos it was like sitting on a bannister.
Then I bought a Selle Italia SLR XP (really light), rode this for a year and decided my ass wasn't enjoying it.
Now I have bought a Specialized Avatar (twice as heavy as XP at 344g but reduced to £31.99 at Condor Cycles) and I think I am on the road to pain-free riding.
As my saddles get heavier, my pain becomes less... hmmmm.
I am also looking at buying a Brooks Professional if anyone wishes to email me (seriously!).
Then I bought a Selle Italia SLR XP (really light), rode this for a year and decided my ass wasn't enjoying it.
Now I have bought a Specialized Avatar (twice as heavy as XP at 344g but reduced to £31.99 at Condor Cycles) and I think I am on the road to pain-free riding.
As my saddles get heavier, my pain becomes less... hmmmm.
I am also looking at buying a Brooks Professional if anyone wishes to email me (seriously!).
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Asdace
I've been cycle-touring for 30 years now and have always used Brooks saddles. First was Black B17 Standard and then lasted 20 years, went mr. floppy. Then got a Honey B17 Standard and broke it in using it for work and back, counting the miles to 1000 and no profide on it. It's now used touring and apply Profide twice a year also have B17 Flyer. Again broken in the same way and that is on the Mountain Bike. I don't slap large amounts of Profide, just a enough to thinly cover the whole area of saddle. Leave for a few days, then buff to a beautiful shine 
. I've know some cyclist's soak them in water 
. I've know some cyclist's soak them in water 
The Brooks Team Pro I have is the best saddle I've ever had.
1. It's as hard as nails. Never put anything on except sweat.
2. My buttocks are soft and squidgy, I weigh 13 1/2 stone.
2. The big rivets on mine don't bother my lycra.
3. I have good geomety, so my weight distribution is good.
4. I believe that a soft saddle consumes power.
Not everybody hates them!
Mick F. Cornwall
1. It's as hard as nails. Never put anything on except sweat.
2. My buttocks are soft and squidgy, I weigh 13 1/2 stone.
2. The big rivets on mine don't bother my lycra.
3. I have good geomety, so my weight distribution is good.
4. I believe that a soft saddle consumes power.
Not everybody hates them!
Mick F. Cornwall
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ricardolamos
- Posts: 110
- Joined: 16 Jan 2007, 1:45pm
Saddles!
I fully agree with the comments about Brooks saddles being a swine to break in.I had a top of the range model years ago and treated it regularly with oil,wax etc and it still gave me a numb undercarriage!
After trying and suffering a range of saddles I settled on Rolls which I must say are brilliant.
If you can still get it,try a Rolls Ergo,this has a gel insert which is very comfortable but even the standard Rolls are v/good.
After trying and suffering a range of saddles I settled on Rolls which I must say are brilliant.
If you can still get it,try a Rolls Ergo,this has a gel insert which is very comfortable but even the standard Rolls are v/good.
I was indifferent to saddles make or model up until the age of 40. After that everything was a problem until I rediscovered Brooks. Now the whole fleet is fitted with Brooks. I have no more saddle problems.
As a natural product they do vary. I have had to send one (new) Brooks for replacement as it was hard & tight on one side, soft & saggy on the other.
As a natural product they do vary. I have had to send one (new) Brooks for replacement as it was hard & tight on one side, soft & saggy on the other.
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reohn2
Saddles are a personal thing,so is riding position,if your happy with your riding position then change the saddle,if you think it could be your riding position then play around with it but remember milimetres make a lot of difference.
Last year we bought a new tandem and on setting the riding position up for MrsR2 as we where refining it she suddenly said thats near enough,three rides later she was complaining how this new tandem wasn't as comfortable as the other,her shoulders ached,lower back was giving her trouble,saddle soreness,etc. So we get out both tandems and with an adjustable spirit level and tape measure compare the two.The new one's saddle was 6mm(1/4in) too high,the tilt of the saddle was 3mm(1/8in)out,and the 'bars were 3mm(1/8in) too low total 12mm(1/2in).Once the settings were righted no more pain.And she rides a brooks!
Last year we bought a new tandem and on setting the riding position up for MrsR2 as we where refining it she suddenly said thats near enough,three rides later she was complaining how this new tandem wasn't as comfortable as the other,her shoulders ached,lower back was giving her trouble,saddle soreness,etc. So we get out both tandems and with an adjustable spirit level and tape measure compare the two.The new one's saddle was 6mm(1/4in) too high,the tilt of the saddle was 3mm(1/8in)out,and the 'bars were 3mm(1/8in) too low total 12mm(1/2in).Once the settings were righted no more pain.And she rides a brooks!
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
r2
Are you sure Mrs r2 is not related to Eddy Mercx? If you have seen the film 'A Sunday in Hell' about the 1976(?) Paris - Roubaix he was on and off his bike during the race checking his saddle and readjusting it every 5 minutes. Makes you wonder how great he might have been if he had concentrated on riding. (Before anybody reports me to the moderators for disrespect, the last bit was meant to be funny.)
This could be why she is an above average stoker.
Are you sure Mrs r2 is not related to Eddy Mercx? If you have seen the film 'A Sunday in Hell' about the 1976(?) Paris - Roubaix he was on and off his bike during the race checking his saddle and readjusting it every 5 minutes. Makes you wonder how great he might have been if he had concentrated on riding. (Before anybody reports me to the moderators for disrespect, the last bit was meant to be funny.)
This could be why she is an above average stoker.
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reohn2
thirdcrank wrote:r2
Are you sure Mrs r2 is not related to Eddy Mercx? If you have seen the film 'A Sunday in Hell' about the 1976(?) Paris - Roubaix he was on and off his bike during the race checking his saddle and readjusting it every 5 minutes. Makes you wonder how great he might have been if he had concentrated on riding. (Before anybody reports me to the moderators for disrespect, the last bit was meant to be funny.)
consider yourself let off with a caution. But one crack at Fausto Coppi and you're a gonner!
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thirdcrank
- Posts: 36740
- Joined: 9 Jan 2007, 2:44pm
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eileithyia
- Posts: 8445
- Joined: 31 Jan 2007, 6:46pm
- Location: Horwich Which is Lancs :-)
Started riding boyfriend's spare bike back in the mists of time when I started out, it was kitted with Brooks and there was little choice (i think) in those days, leather or nasty cheap plastic. My super Galaxy came supplied with Brooks and my tender bits just got used to it.
Greatest Trauma; my saddle was stolen first night of a cycle tour from Copenhagen YH!!!! Nasty replacement just about survived the hol not sure about my bum! Then had to break in another but it served well on LEL and various other long rides.
Greatest Trauma; my saddle was stolen first night of a cycle tour from Copenhagen YH!!!! Nasty replacement just about survived the hol not sure about my bum! Then had to break in another but it served well on LEL and various other long rides.