[RBW] Re: Dialing in a Brooks Saddle
Hi Jay, Your story sounds familiar. Twenty years ago, I was a dedicated Brooks man...loved the leather idea, the color, the aging, etc. And mine too, were comfortable right out of the box. N.B. I have always been a fan of padded bibs and chamois cream. Then the birthdays started to accumulate and my handlebars mysteriously levitated higher and closer, this changed things. And my dermatologist reminded me that as we age, the skin thins and we lose subcutaneous fat...and I'm a skinny butt guy to begin with. Ultimately, after an infinite numbers of adjustments, I had to give up two beautifully aged and broken in honey tan saddles. As an aside, as I have lost some flexibility with age, and gained some degenerative spinal changes, what helped me was having a lower than predicted saddle height and a smaller saddle offset w/r to the BB. This may or may not help you. Not to be pessimistic, but age changes everything. But you should definitely give a shot, trying all posible positions and angles. Best of luck ! Alan in NYC, adjusting to aging as. best I can. On Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 10:27:00 PM UTC-5 Jay wrote: > Next week I'll be throwing a leg over a Roadini for the first time (I > posted a couple weeks ago about the frame I ordered) and I thought I was > set on my saddle, but decided yesterday I need to try something very > different. > > A little bit of background before I get to my question... > > When I started cycling around 20 years ago I had Brooks B17 on my road > bike (custom geometry, not too aggressive) and a Masi commuter bike. It > was a while ago so I can't recall what I liked about them, and why I > eventually stopped using them, but I do recall one memory...I always used > padded bib shorts (still do) and one day in the winter I went for a 2hr > ride and only realized when I got home that I just had on my underwear and > tights. In at least that way for me at that time, the saddle was that > comfortable. > > Since that time I've used a lot of plastic saddles from Fizik, Selle > Italia and the latest is a Prologo (147mm wide, with a bit of padding). I > used this saddle on two bikes the last 4 months and it was a noticeable > improvement over the Selle Italia saddles I was using previously. I > thought this is what I would use on the Roadini (and still may, in the long > run). But when I use it on my Salsa Fargo (bar level with saddle) and ride > for 2+ hours, I get friction and general discomfort. And can I ride > without padded bib shorts? Heck no, I can't even go around my block > without bibs when using this saddle. > > To get to my point, I ordered a B17 in Honey to try out on my Roadini. > I'm getting it tomorrow and I'm going to try it on my Fargo (nice weather > for next little while). I know that overall I need to be patient, only > change one thing at a time, and only small adjustments. > > My thinking, where I wanted to get your input, is that I would be set up > the bike so saddle and bars are level, and will likely start with the > saddle level (from what I recall this will have the rear of the saddle > where my sit bones are located, pointed down a bit, but that's how my > Prologo is today and I can ride in the drops and take my hands off and I'm > balanced...so I think I'll start there and see how it goes). > > Any other words of wisdom that I can consider? Thanks in advance. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/4a33a714-49f6-4c46-9a6d-57ab965bafc1n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Dialing in a Brooks Saddle
Hi Jay, Best words of wisdom I can provide is to get tons of saddle time and adjust every 3-5 miles...it'll be dialed in before you know it. Also, keep your Brooks waxed, don't let it get soaked, only a quarter turn to tighten them up (loosen a smidge before you tighten). Yeah, that's all I've got. My Leo has a B17 Pro in black, and my Sam has the same but in honey. Was just thinking I'd swap since dark gold and tan sidewalls look great with brown saddles. Either option is a win/win because those saddles are great. Happy trails, Tony On Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7:27:00 PM UTC-8 Jay wrote: > Next week I'll be throwing a leg over a Roadini for the first time (I > posted a couple weeks ago about the frame I ordered) and I thought I was > set on my saddle, but decided yesterday I need to try something very > different. > > A little bit of background before I get to my question... > > When I started cycling around 20 years ago I had Brooks B17 on my road > bike (custom geometry, not too aggressive) and a Masi commuter bike. It > was a while ago so I can't recall what I liked about them, and why I > eventually stopped using them, but I do recall one memory...I always used > padded bib shorts (still do) and one day in the winter I went for a 2hr > ride and only realized when I got home that I just had on my underwear and > tights. In at least that way for me at that time, the saddle was that > comfortable. > > Since that time I've used a lot of plastic saddles from Fizik, Selle > Italia and the latest is a Prologo (147mm wide, with a bit of padding). I > used this saddle on two bikes the last 4 months and it was a noticeable > improvement over the Selle Italia saddles I was using previously. I > thought this is what I would use on the Roadini (and still may, in the long > run). But when I use it on my Salsa Fargo (bar level with saddle) and ride > for 2+ hours, I get friction and general discomfort. And can I ride > without padded bib shorts? Heck no, I can't even go around my block > without bibs when using this saddle. > > To get to my point, I ordered a B17 in Honey to try out on my Roadini. > I'm getting it tomorrow and I'm going to try it on my Fargo (nice weather > for next little while). I know that overall I need to be patient, only > change one thing at a time, and only small adjustments. > > My thinking, where I wanted to get your input, is that I would be set up > the bike so saddle and bars are level, and will likely start with the > saddle level (from what I recall this will have the rear of the saddle > where my sit bones are located, pointed down a bit, but that's how my > Prologo is today and I can ride in the drops and take my hands off and I'm > balanced...so I think I'll start there and see how it goes). > > Any other words of wisdom that I can consider? Thanks in advance. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/297a2bb4-00c1-48a4-8985-0e624ff47837n%40googlegroups.com.
[RBW] Re: Dialing in a Brooks Saddle
1. I think a level B17 is a mistake, you end up with the rear portion sloping down and forcing your wrists into the bars. My B17s (it's all I ride) start with the rear perfectly flat and the nose up. It will feel awkward at first but give it a few miles before deciding it's too front-high. 2. Padded shorts always made me miserable, then one day I read a Grant article saying that added material in saddle and/or shorts contributes to friction which increases pain. I ditched the padding and my B17 saddles basically disappear when riding, I simply don't think about them. Joe Bernard On Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7:27:00 PM UTC-8 Jay wrote: > Next week I'll be throwing a leg over a Roadini for the first time (I > posted a couple weeks ago about the frame I ordered) and I thought I was > set on my saddle, but decided yesterday I need to try something very > different. > > A little bit of background before I get to my question... > > When I started cycling around 20 years ago I had Brooks B17 on my road > bike (custom geometry, not too aggressive) and a Masi commuter bike. It > was a while ago so I can't recall what I liked about them, and why I > eventually stopped using them, but I do recall one memory...I always used > padded bib shorts (still do) and one day in the winter I went for a 2hr > ride and only realized when I got home that I just had on my underwear and > tights. In at least that way for me at that time, the saddle was that > comfortable. > > Since that time I've used a lot of plastic saddles from Fizik, Selle > Italia and the latest is a Prologo (147mm wide, with a bit of padding). I > used this saddle on two bikes the last 4 months and it was a noticeable > improvement over the Selle Italia saddles I was using previously. I > thought this is what I would use on the Roadini (and still may, in the long > run). But when I use it on my Salsa Fargo (bar level with saddle) and ride > for 2+ hours, I get friction and general discomfort. And can I ride > without padded bib shorts? Heck no, I can't even go around my block > without bibs when using this saddle. > > To get to my point, I ordered a B17 in Honey to try out on my Roadini. > I'm getting it tomorrow and I'm going to try it on my Fargo (nice weather > for next little while). I know that overall I need to be patient, only > change one thing at a time, and only small adjustments. > > My thinking, where I wanted to get your input, is that I would be set up > the bike so saddle and bars are level, and will likely start with the > saddle level (from what I recall this will have the rear of the saddle > where my sit bones are located, pointed down a bit, but that's how my > Prologo is today and I can ride in the drops and take my hands off and I'm > balanced...so I think I'll start there and see how it goes). > > Any other words of wisdom that I can consider? Thanks in advance. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/aba9e21f-a799-4f6a-90f1-bd821e30d077n%40googlegroups.com.
