Brooks

my bio turbo's starting to come into its own.

i think.

got a lovely little arione, in black, 20 pound to you.

did you not get on with it??

i have a rolls on one bike and that's instantly been comfy and a brooks 17 narrow on the other - still a pain in the ass 10 months on (but getting better). I have high expectation for the brooks in the long term though

I found the rolls to be a lots more uncomfortable than the previous saddle (B-17), perhaps it's personal preference?

I just want a comfy race saddle, I've tried LOTS, but not those two

Everyone kept saying how comfortable the Rolls is, I end up buying one and turn out to be really uncomfortable (but not sore), so now I take everyone's advice with tonnes of salt.

rolls hate my arse

rolls hate my arse

it is me or does it hate arses that are quite boney?

I thought you had a rolls on your spartonius?

I do, Spartonius is the Bike of Death... Looking out for another Regal for it tho', that's some real OTP comfort right there... Recommended...

@Platini & nimhbus - point of order, it can't be the Emperor's new saddle because if it was it would just be a nekkid seat-post.

...which would probably be just as comfortable - and a lot lighter...

[quote=tomasito;258831]Anybody know a place in london that sells the Brooks bar grips made from leather washers?

I've seen em in London Fields shop, Mosquito and I'm pretty sure Condor. They are pretty pretty big in the hand compared to normal grips (like AME or ODI) and super expensive. Oh and don't get that bike wet.

To break in a brooks saddle you just have to keep proofiding it (like once a week at first) and ride it. I would say they are more suited to a touring or old fashioned road race position, ie, quite upright. The lower your position the thinner the saddle should be, goes the logic. Regals are pretty wide but a few roadie pros still use them (like Tom Boonen) so some must find them the most comfortable - they ain't the litest. And they might not suit you of course. Oh and SJS cycles are still selling Brooks at £35 not the new price of £50, I'm sure they'll update soon though.

Everyone kept saying how comfortable the Rolls is, I end up buying one and turn out to be really uncomfortable (but not sore), so now I take everyone's advice with tonnes of salt.

search this group for saddle comfort, found out that a simple dipped front end can easily make it either very uncomfortable or very comfortable, already adjust my saddle from slighty tipped to more levelled and it already comfortable.

doh.

Hello,

been lurking on here for a while now, helped me alot building my first track bike, just have a question that remains.

Im looking to get a Brooks 17 saddle, just dont know to go with the standard one or the narrow one. Basically i only ride around in the city, alot of bumps here so i need some comfort. My riding style is pretty fast, usually race around getting from A to B fast. would the standard one be too wide (alot of inner thigh friction) and is more a easy going saddle to just cruise around? or would it do fine.. and shouldnt i waste 30euros extra on the narrow one?

Cheers

I've got a B17 (normal width). I've done loads of miles on it and some proper long rides and never found it uncomfortable. It was comfortable from the beginning too - the breaking in thing was not a huge deal. However it will break in really quickly when it gets rained on, even when you've waterproofed it with wax.

thanks for the reply all, i went with the standard brooks b17, beeing 6ft4 i think it was the right choice not to get the narrow one, this feels pretty good enough thigh space also, as a surprise it was quite comfortable from the first ride. love how it really seems to absorb the nasty bumps here. only problem i have is that i seem to be sliding to the front all the time, while my saddle angle is perfectly horizontal.. hmmm

my first choice was a san marco regal but i couldnt find a new all leather version anywhere that was in my budget, only the crackled suede version but i really hate the look of it.

i got the b17 new for 57 euro (45quid) btw

only problem i have is that i seem to be sliding to the front all the time, while my saddle angle is perfectly horizontal.. hmmm

Try pointing the tip up very slightly, should be ok!

hehe ye ill try that now, hope im not getting numb nuts, or as i see your from amsterdam: een slaapzak :D

From London, but livin in Amsterdam. Either Way HaHa!

If that doesn't work try moving ya saddle back a bit! May help??

+1 to what polkiinghorn says.

I do remember my b17 being really slippy at first, but after a couple of rides in the wet the shiny surface dulls and becomes less of a problem (warning: the black ones do leave a mark on lighter coloured materials at first while you are breaking them in so don't wear your best jeans).

My b17 has changed shape, I do believe it has moulded to my sit bones as well as getting softer. I found that when breaking the saddle in which I did over winter it felt least comfortable for about the first 5 miles, then gradually improved over my full commuting distance (18miles), I put this down to the leather being cold. By about 500 miles the saddle had changed shape and was fairly comfy, by about 1200 the softening and moulding meant I had to tighten for the first time - this probably varies with the weather you ride in and your weight (I'm 70kg). Now with easily 3000 miles, it's really comfy for any distance.

Measured with a spirit level across front and back (middle now dips more than it did new), I have 11mm spacer between front of saddle and spirit level to get it level, so front is 11mm lower.

I also found that the sides started to flare out as it got softer so I drilled holes down the sides and laced them together underneath, which really works better than just tightening the saddle.

Good luck with your new purchase.

I have an on one Pompino and am thinking of investing in a Brooks saddle for it. Has anyone got one on a Pompino? Would it look wrong? Any suggestions on which model to get? I attached a pic of it.

1 Attachment

send Skully a PM

What model do you use and why?

I've always wanted one - but can't decide between swift and swallow, which seem most appropriate.

B17 narrow (seem to be about £50-£60 in shops) + chop, pay loads less.

B17 unmodified.
On a proper race frame I'd chop it, but it looks right unchopped on the Quinn.

i have a swallow. The shape and fit of it is much the same as a B17, which is what i had before. They're good saddles and i for one enjoy the design of them. The simplicity of it appeals to me, as do the materials. However, they are pretty archaic by modern standards and in no way light. even the titanium versions are as heavy if not heavier than nearly all basic modern saddles. On the upside they are supposed to last for years. Decades even if looked after well.

Use the search function up above ^, there's already a wealth of information on the forum regarding both of those you have mentioned, as well as Brooks saddles in general.

B17 narrow (seem to be about £50-£60 in shops) + chop, pay loads less.

he's right you know, a B17 narrow chopped is identical to a swallow. Also, it's worth noting that Brooks prices are through the fucking roof.

Skully, can you think of anyone who might be able to perform said chop for a reasonable price and to the highest of standards? ;)

Honestly it's horses for course, some says the Swallow's more comfortable, some says the Swift is, I find the B17 to be the most comfortable (I'm still getting used to the Swift, it getting slighty more comfortable as time go by), but it's up to the person, some would find it uncomfortable and take 3 months to finally get comfortable, whether some already found it spot on right out of the box.

As for the weight, it's moot when a lightweight thin saddle that doesn't support you well make you slower than a heavy saddle that support you perfectly (that is, in my opinion really).

They're more expensive nowadays, but considering that it's still being made by ancient machinery in the North of England and quite possibly the most comfortable saddle ever, it's barely expensive in that regards.

swift.

similar shape and profile as a team pro, but higher quality (more supple) leather, and slightly shorter (more modern) profile. they are better looking than the b17 and not nearly as long as the swallow.

swifts are (for me) the most comfy saddle out there, good length, nice taper, they break in fairly quickly, and they're lovely :)

as a side note, from what i've seen, swallows tend to have a much shorter life-span than any other brooks, maybe it's the leather they use, but they strecth out really quickly, then you come to the end of the bolt, and they're done. and in my opinion they're kinda ugly, big long feckers. a chopped B17 is much nicer than a swallow.

unmodified, really old, b17. got it on ebay and love it.