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Brooks saddle choice



 
 
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  #1  
Old May 2nd 08, 12:19 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Default Brooks saddle choice

I commute to work on a Dawes Giro 300 (03 model), with the bars set 2
inches below the saddle.

I need a new saddle. Brooks saddles are widely considered very
comfortable. There are a wide range of models, which would be the best
choice for me. TIA
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  #2  
Old May 2nd 08, 01:29 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com is offline
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Default Brooks saddle choice

On May 2, 5:19*am, wrote:
I commute to work on a Dawes Giro 300 (03 model), with the bars set 2
inches below the saddle.

I need a new saddle. Brooks saddles are widely considered very
comfortable. There are a wide range of models, which would be the best
choice for me. TIA


Really no answer to this as everybody's bum is a little different and
bike fit has a big effect on saddle comfort. Go to a shop that has a
good selection that also has a test or trade policy. Probably a B-17
or perhaps a Swift but hard to say. I tried Brooks twice(a Swift and a
Swallow) and I couldn't get used to them. I use SSM Rolls now, have
for years, still made by Selle San marco.
  #4  
Old May 2nd 08, 02:31 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
landotter
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Posts: 6,336
Default Brooks saddle choice

On May 2, 7:29 am, "Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com"
wrote:
On May 2, 5:19 am, wrote:

I commute to work on a Dawes Giro 300 (03 model), with the bars set 2
inches below the saddle.


I need a new saddle. Brooks saddles are widely considered very
comfortable. There are a wide range of models, which would be the best
choice for me. TIA


Really no answer to this as everybody's bum is a little different and
bike fit has a big effect on saddle comfort. Go to a shop that has a
good selection that also has a test or trade policy. Probably a B-17
or perhaps a Swift but hard to say. I tried Brooks twice(a Swift and a
Swallow) and I couldn't get used to them. I use SSM Rolls now, have
for years, still made by Selle San marco.


The Rolls would be a great choice for a sporty commuter. Classic, flat
and firm. B-17 if you insist on Brooks. Both run around 30GBP in the
UK.
  #6  
Old May 2nd 08, 05:37 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
* * Chas
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Posts: 1,839
Default Brooks saddle choice

wrote in message
...
I commute to work on a Dawes Giro 300 (03 model), with the bars set 2
inches below the saddle.

I need a new saddle. Brooks saddles are widely considered very
comfortable. There are a wide range of models, which would be the best
choice for me. TIA


I've been riding Brooks Pros on my road bikes for over 30 years. I used to
ride Avocet saddles on my MTBs because the gel gave me some extra comfort
off road.

Everyone's sitting area is different. You need to determine your personal
requirements. A properly fitting, properly adjusted saddle should provide
support for the "sit bones" on both sides of the rear of your pelvis.
These points are generally wider apart in women than in men.

You should feel no pressure in the middle or front of your crotch region.
If you have problems with a "sleepy winky" the saddle is not properly
adjusted or it's not correct for your anatomy.

Also you should not feel too much of your body weight distributed to your
hands.

Here's a breakdown of the various Brooks models by width across the rear
of the saddle:

B17 Standard - Wide flat rear saddle area - suitable for riding upright
bars. Popular with many commuters.

Professional - Narrower in the rear and mid section for more performance
oriented riding.

Swift - Slightly narrower than a Pro but with cut away sides in the mid
section for weight savings and less possibility of chafing.

Swallow - Even narrower than the Swift with cut away sides and titanium
rails.

B17 Narrow - Reintroduced??? version of very narrow leather saddles that
were popular on track bikes before the introduction of plastic saddles.

They also make various models with coil springs in the rear that were
designed for upright riding positions on very rough roads.

Brooks makes a lot of "vanity" versions with different "colour" leather,
large copper rivets, chrome or copper plated rails plus some with titanium
rails.

The conventional wisdom is that it takes about 300 miles to break in a
Brooks saddle. I have some Brooks Pros that are still as hard as the day
that I bought them - my butt broke in to them instead.

Saddles with thick padding or gel may feel comfortable for short distances
but can start causing numbness after riding some distance because they let
you sink into them too much.

About a year and a half ago I discovered WTB saddles. They offer a wide
selection of anatomically designed saddles for different uses. I prefer
the Pure-V models because they provide a wide flat area in the rear like a
brooks Pro. They also have a gel padded area in the midsection and nose to
ease any pressure on the "personal" areas.

A lot of other brands are now offering similar models. You may be able to
find a LBS with test or sample saddles that you can try out.

Good luck,

Chas.



  #7  
Old May 2nd 08, 05:45 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
* * Chas
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Posts: 1,839
Default Brooks saddle choice


"Qui si parla Campagnolo-www.vecchios.com" wrote in
message
...
On May 2, 5:19 am, wrote:
I commute to work on a Dawes Giro 300 (03 model), with the bars set 2
inches below the saddle.

I need a new saddle. Brooks saddles are widely considered very
comfortable. There are a wide range of models, which would be the best
choice for me. TIA


"Really no answer to this as everybody's bum is a little different and
bike fit has a big effect on saddle comfort. Go to a shop that has a
good selection that also has a test or trade policy. Probably a B-17
or perhaps a Swift but hard to say. I tried Brooks twice(a Swift and a
Swallow) and I couldn't get used to them. I use SSM Rolls now, have
for years, still made by Selle San marco."

Peter,

I've only ridden a few miles on a Brooks Swift. I bought an old bike last
year with an almost new Swallow on it. Neither of those saddles are very
comfortable for me. I ride Brooks Pros on most of my road bikes. Some of
the Pros are more comfortable than others.

I've also been riding WTB Pure-V saddles on both road and MTBs and found
them very satisfactory. The gel in the mid section helps prevent "sleepy
winky" syndrome.

Chas.


  #8  
Old May 2nd 08, 05:58 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
landotter
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Posts: 6,336
Default Brooks saddle choice

On May 2, 11:45 am, "* * Chas" wrote:
The gel in the mid section helps prevent "sleepy
winky" syndrome.


Surely you mean the less vulgar "CPS"? ;-) (cold penis syndrome)

I'll again post that for those needing support for wide bones, that
otherwise like those wtb saddles, the Velo Tempo S2 is a great
solution for not much money.



  #9  
Old May 2nd 08, 08:18 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
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Posts: 153
Default Brooks saddle choice

B-17 standard is the way to go. I wont ride anything else


On May 2, 9:48*am, Lou Holtman wrote:
wrote:
I commute to work on a Dawes Giro 300 (03 model), with the bars set 2
inches below the saddle.


I need a new saddle. Brooks saddles are widely considered very
comfortable. There are a wide range of models, which would be the best
choice for me. TIA


The best advice is 'get your butt to a bikeshop with several models of
Brooks saddles and try them'. They are too expensive to just mail order
based on advice from someone with a different shape of behind.

Lou


  #10  
Old May 2nd 08, 08:25 PM posted to rec.bicycles.tech
rick b
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Posts: 17
Default Brooks saddle choice

In my experience the bottom-of-the-line standard-width B17 is a better
saddle than the more expensive versions. I have three standard B17's
and had one B17 professional. The standard saddles all broke in much
faster, probably under 50 miles.
The professional model never broke in after about 500 miles and
several months, with resultant saddle sores. I sold it on Craigslist
for $10 less than I paid. It was a reasonably-priced lesson.
I see no reason to spring for those Swallows and Swifts. Some users
trim the B17 leather down to resemble those racy models, but that's
risky.
Used Brooks saddles on Ebay are also risky. I bought several and most
of them were dried out and hard as rocks, which never got better. I
sold them at a local fleamarket.

rick b.
 




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