Brooks alternatives

[Vladimir]

Hi guys,

So I'm quite tempted by a brooks saddle. I like the idea of it moulding to various parts of your anatomy, and the breath-ability.

Now, it is possible that a brooks might be purchased for me for my birthday. If so, what model should I "suggest"? I know that B17 is meant to be the standard one that suits many folk. I think it might suit me just fine too, I'm quite broad of frame (38 inch waist) but at the same time I've had minor chafage issues in the past (chafing against a big saddle http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=36828&gclid=CPWq9JT9yq8CFYpjfAod_G5YcA).

If my birthday present is not a brooks, what are my alternatives? (would love the original article but pockets not deep enough) I heard something about there being lots of Brooks leather saddle replicas out there, just not sure which ones to "trust"? Does anyone have any experiences with these?

I've also heard talk about selle italia/gel flow; how do these rate against the brooks?

Thanks

Vlad

[oldcycleguy]

First determine the size of your "sit bones", then for a suitable Brooks saddle phone them and ask, and I assume that will apply to all manufacturers.

[Vladimir]

First determine the size of your "sit bones"

lovely idea. how does one do this?
thanks.
Vlad

[andrew_s]

Spa Cycles sell the Brooks copies.
Generally, chafing isn't a problem with Brooks-style saddles - the leather polishes enough that there's no friction. Indeed, many new users find them too slippery, though experienced users like the easy of changing position slightly. It does mean that setting up the saddle position is important, especially the angle.

[oldcycleguy]

First determine the size of your "sit bones"

lovely idea. how does one do this?
thanks.
Vlad

See my post:-

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=62770

The only thing that I did not mention was that your back should be in a similar position to that when you are riding your bike.

[oldcycleguy]

Spa Cycles sell the Brooks copies.
Generally, chafing isn't a problem with Brooks-style saddles - the leather polishes enough that there's no friction. Indeed, many new users find them too slippery, though experienced users like the easy of changing position slightly. It does mean that setting up the saddle position is important, especially the angle.

When I recently phoned Brooks, they said that if you use drop handlebars then you should use one of their "Team Pro" saddles as the nose is narrower, otherwise you may chafe your legs on their other saddles such as the B17.

[nez]

First determine the size of your "sit bones"

lovely idea. how does one do this?
thanks.
Vlad

you put blacking on your bottom then sit on a clean sheet of paper.

[WrightsW5]

Spa Cycles sell the Brooks copies.

Spa Nidd, the Middlemore B89 copy

[pedalsheep]

Oldcycleguy wrote

When I recently phoned Brooks, they said that if you use drop handlebars then you should use one of their "Team Pro" saddles as the nose is narrower, otherwise you may chafe your legs on their other saddles such as the B17.

Seems odd when the saddle most commonly seen on a drop bar tourer is a B17. I'm certainly happy with mine.
I thought the Team Pro was supposed to be a racing saddle.

[andrewjoseph]

...

When I recently phoned Brooks, they said that if you use drop handlebars then you should use one of their "Team Pro" saddles as the nose is narrower, otherwise you may chafe your legs on their other saddles such as the B17.

I think this can be a problem on saddles like the b17 that have a deep 'thigh glide' area. As the leather softened on my saddles, so this deep skirt area
flares out and the edges began to rub. to cure this i drilled a few holes in the bottom of this 'skirt', threaded a lace through and tied a knot, this kept the shape better and stopped the rubbing.

[Moodyman1]

Oldcycleguy wrote

When I recently phoned Brooks, they said that if you use drop handlebars then you should use one of their "Team Pro" saddles as the nose is narrower, otherwise you may chafe your legs on their other saddles such as the B17.

Seems odd when the saddle most commonly seen on a drop bar tourer is a B17. I'm certainly happy with mine.
I thought the Team Pro was supposed to be a racing saddle.

That's because tourers/audax/sportive bikes have a more upright seating position. I think Pedalsheep is saying that of you ride a head down - buttock up racer then you need a Team Pro or similar.

I have a B17 on my 'sportive' bike and it's lovely 99% of the time. But if I get more aero, it starts to rub in all the wrong places.

[Vladimir]

I went down to the LBS and got them to measure my sit bones. Not sure how accurate the guy was (althought this is the same chap that has helped me lots of times before); but he ascertained the width being 150 mm. It was a specialised "measuring device" but it did seem to be expressing its result in mm, as opposed to "within this area you want this model, within this other area you buy another model from us".

one way or another, I think 150 mm is a safe bet.

What next?

[johnb]

What next?

Read this



http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/ ... urvastheid



And this for Specialised
http://specialized.custhelp.com/app/ans ... ze-at-home.

[Vladimir]

I'm having difficulty getting a measurement of my sitbones! reading this: http://swhs.home.xs4all.nl/fiets/tests/zadels/index_en.html#zadel-zitbot-breedte and trying their method of feeling the sitbones with my fingers, getting in the correct position on top of a measuring tape, I get around 130-137 mm in width, not 150!

Also, according to the same page, seeing as my sitbones are wider than 12.5 cm, instead of going for the b17, I need to be getting on a B68 (& B67, B66)... How much truth do you guys think there is in that?

[danmitch]

Spa Cycles sell the Brooks copies.
Generally, chafing isn't a problem with Brooks-style saddles - the leather polishes enough that there's no friction. Indeed, many new users find them too slippery, though experienced users like the easy of changing position slightly. It does mean that setting up the saddle position is important, especially the angle.

When I recently phoned Brooks, they said that if you use drop handlebars then you should use one of their "Team Pro" saddles as the nose is narrower, otherwise you may chafe your legs on their other saddles such as the B17.

Agree with this - I have my bars about 2" below the saddle and am more comfortable on a Team Pro than B17. I moved the B17 to my Brompton where it's perfect.

Dan