Brooks vs rider weight

Interesting point. I had a B17 when I was in my late teens and early 20s, and when I was a
lightweight. Over several years use I never caused it to mould to my rear, and I had to keep
reminding myself that "it was the best" ! Now 40+ years on, I'm trying to lose weight by getting
into cycling again, and I've no idea where my B17 is. (Bike got stolen.) Am now riding Selle Royal
Lookin gel with some pleasure.

--
M Stewart Milton Keynes, UK www.megalith.freeserve.co.uk/oddimage.htm

"Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I've often wondered if heavier riders are often happier with Brooks saddles, and lighter riders
happier on non-Brooks. Any lightweight riders out there who love Brooks? Joe

Joe said:

I've often wondered if heavier riders are often happier with Brooks saddles, and lighter riders
happier on non-Brooks.

Any lightweight riders out there who love Brooks?

Lightweights don't load their "contact patch" to the same psi as bigger, heavier riders. They should
be able to get by with a meager saddle from both a size and design standpoint. Witness what passes
for a seat-- without complaints!-- on many a kid's bike.

As rider weight goes up (and seat contact area doesn't by much), then the quality of the square
inches available becomes much more important. This is Brooks's forte. For instance, many lighter
riders are quite happy with the austere Brooks "Swallow" model, but who could make peace with a
plastic saddle in such a shape?

As a leather saddle molds to shape, the critical loaded area increases in size as well as specific
compliance. Plastic saddle makers seek to mimic this effect with gels, cutouts, etc., but a
plastic saddle can never be truly "custom-fitted" by its user, as a leather saddle becomes just by
being ridden.

The subtleties of a Brooks or similar saddle are likely to be lost on the bantamweight rider who
perches without discomfort on an unpadded saddle shell or a handrail.

Chalo Colina

Joe said:

Any lightweight riders out there who love Brooks?

What do you call light? I weigh about 180lb and am just over 6' tall
- I find the Brooks B17 comfortable. But not as comfortable as my recumbent ;-)

Soft saddles are superficially comfortable for a few miles, but over the long haul I would want a
firm saddle for sure, preferably a leather one. The soft squidgy stuff puts pressure on the soft
tissues and causes more problems than it solves; a good leather saddle supports the sit bones and is
a Fine Thing. But you have to set it up right - most people find that the nose needs to be tilted
down just a fraction for drop-bars.

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗ New!
Improved!! Now with added extra Demon!

Quoted message said:

What do you call light? I weigh about 180lb and am just over 6' tall
- I find the Brooks B17 comfortable. But not as comfortable as my recumbent ;-)

I'm 185 and dont even notice my Brooks B17- thats a good thing to not even think about you butt.

What do I call light? My weight is 155 at 5'9". That's what I call light.

Joe

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Any lightweight riders out there who love Brooks?

What do you call light? I weigh about 180lb and am just over 6' tall

Joe' from Road Runner said:

What do I call light? My weight is 155 at 5'9".

You really need to drop about ten more pounds to be competitive. No one as fat as you can stick with
the leaders when the hammer falls on the big climbs. Your season doesn't have to be a total waste,
though. Have you heard of emetics?

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace Our father who art in heaven ... I sincerely
pray that SOMEBODY at this table will PAY for my SHREDDED WHEAT and ENGLISH MUFFIN ... and also
leave a GENEROUS TIP ....
11:16:10 AM 12 August 2003

Kevan Smith /\/\ said:

Joe' from Road Runner said:

What do I call light? My weight is 155 at 5'9".

You really need to drop about ten more pounds to be competitive. No one as fat as you can stick
with the leaders when the hammer falls on the big climbs. Your season doesn't have to be a total
waste, though. Have you heard of emetics?

What if you don't care about being competitive? What if you like to ride your bike solely because
you enjoy doing so? Personally, I think 155 at 5'9" is pretty thin -- isn't that Armstrong's weight
and height?

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

Not sure what you mean by that. I'm 52 years old, and I eat more than anyone else in the house. But
I exercise a lot, and do not gain weight.

My question was about Brooks saddles and rider weight.

Joe

Quoted message said:

You really need to drop about ten more pounds to be competitive. No one as

fat

Quoted message said:

as you can stick with the leaders when the hammer falls on the big climbs.

Your

Quoted message said:

season doesn't have to be a total waste, though. Have you heard of

emetics?

"Kevan Smith" <[email hidden]/\/\> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 12 Aug 2003 11:25:28 GMT, "Joe" <[email hidden]> from Road

Runner

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

What do I call light? My weight is 155 at 5'9".

You really need to drop about ten more pounds to be competitive. No one as

fat

Quoted message said:

as you can stick with the leaders when the hammer falls on the big climbs.

Your

Quoted message said:

season doesn't have to be a total waste, though. Have you heard of

emetics?

Well, so far ya got Bob & Joe with that!

Bill "withholding my stats TYVM" S.

Bob M from SBC url='http://yahoo.sbc.com/'http://yahoo.sbc.com/url said:

What if you don't care about being competitive? What if you like to ride your bike solely because
you enjoy doing so? Personally, I think 155 at 5'9" is pretty thin -- isn't that Armstrong's weight
and height?

Yes, and look at him. He has trouble winning one stinking race a year.

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace How many retired bricklayers from FLORIDA are
out purchasing PENCIL SHARPENERS right NOW??
12:48:12 PM 12 August 2003

x-no-archive:yes

Quoted message said:

What if you don't care about being competitive? What if you like to ride your bike solely because
you enjoy doing so? Personally, I think 155 at 5'9" is pretty thin -- isn't that Armstrong's
weight and height?

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

It was a joke, Bob. He was channelling Fabrizio....

Pat in TX

Joe' from Road Runner said:

My question was about Brooks saddles and rider weight.

Look. Ditch the old leather stuff and get something modern like a Selle San Marco ERA composite
saddle with braided carbon fiber with Kevlar incorporated in a force direction orientation and
titanium rails. Also, the key to weight loss is to burn more calories than you consume. At this
point in the season, it shouldn't be a problem.

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace I am a jelly donut. I am a jelly donut.
12:54:12 PM 12 August 2003

Pat' from said:

It was a joke, Bob. He was channelling Fabrizio....

A little too well ... Sometimes I frighten me.

Anyway, today I'm a little sad. I've done a century, so now what?

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace But they went to MARS around 1953!!
1:13:12 PM 12 August 2003

In article <[email hidden]>, Kevan Smith

/\/\ said:

Pat' from said:

It was a joke, Bob. He was channelling Fabrizio....

A little too well ... Sometimes I frighten me.

Anyway, today I'm a little sad. I've done a century, so now what?

If you're looking for suggestions,

how about taking a little break? Maybe get some women friends together, grab a couple of sacks of
well-chilled brewskies, and throw a li'l croquet party/picnic with all of the above. Regale the
ladies with stories of your epic adventure.

Impossibly steep slopes make for really fun croquet courses.

cheers, Tom

--
-- Powered by FreeBSD Above address is just a spam midden. I'm really at: tkeats [curlicue] vcn
[point] bc [point] ca

Pat said:

x-no-archive:yes

Quoted message said:

What if you don't care about being competitive? What if you like to ride your bike solely because
you enjoy doing so? Personally, I think 155 at 5'9" is pretty thin -- isn't that Armstrong's
weight and height?

-- Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

It was a joke, Bob. He was channelling Fabrizio....

Pat in TX

Ahhh...I see that I'm working too hard! I need to exercise my joke muscles.

--
Bob M in CT Remove 'x.' to reply

(Tom Keats) from said:

how about taking a little break? Maybe get some women friends together, grab a couple of sacks of
well-chilled brewskies, and throw a li'l croquet party/picnic with all of the above. Regale the
ladies with stories of your epic adventure.

Well, consider:

1) I'm training for the state road championship race next month.

2) My wife would just love to have a bunch of my "women friends" over.

3) I don't drink.

On the other hand, a barbecue sounds like just the ticket.

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace When I met th'POPE back in '58, I scrubbed
him with a MILD SOAP or DETERGENT for 15 minutes. He seemed to enjoy it ...
3:1:15 PM 12 August 2003

In article <[email hidden]>, Kevan Smith
<[email hidden]/\/\> says...

Quoted message said:

(Tom Keats) from said:

how about taking a little break? Maybe get some women friends together, grab a couple of sacks of
well-chilled brewskies, and throw a li'l croquet party/picnic with all of the above. Regale the
ladies with stories of your epic adventure.

Well, consider:

1) I'm training for the state road championship race next month.

One day off won't hurt your training much.

Quoted message said:

2) My wife would just love to have a bunch of my "women friends" over.

Ok, then have _her_ women friends over

Quoted message said:

3) I don't drink.

Then make up a few gallons of lemonade or iced tea instead.

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, a barbecue sounds like just the ticket.

Mmmmmmm...

--
David Kerber An optimist says "Good morning, Lord." While a pessimist says "Good Lord,
it's morning".

Remove the ns_ from the address before e-mailing.

"Kevan Smith" <[email hidden]/\/\> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

My question was about Brooks saddles and rider weight.

Look. Ditch the old leather stuff and get something modern like a Selle

San

Quoted message said:

Marco ERA composite saddle with braided carbon fiber with Kevlar

incorporated in

Quoted message said:

a force direction orientation and titanium rails.

To each their own. I used to love Turbos in the old days. Got a Flite when they were new and, while
it was not as comfy, it looked cool. Then a MaxFlite , ouch. San Marco Era, hard and painful. Terry
Fly, not bad but I could feel the edge of the hole. Flite TT, good in just one spot but I kept
moving out of it. Avocet 02, felt the edge of the foam depression. Turbomatic, best so far but I
still kept squirming. Decided to try a Brooks Swift and it felt pretty good right off the bat. Its
still breaking in but is the best I have tried. I actually don't seem to have as much sweat build up
in my crotch which makes things more comfortable. Saddles are so personal and, if you fit a Brooks,
it will soon become a custom seat.

Tim McTeague

Quoted message said:

On the other hand, a barbecue sounds like just the ticket.

Smoke a brisket. Send me half as payment for the idea.

Quoted message said:

--
home.sport.rr.comcuthuluOpen ↗ human rights = peace When I met th'POPE back in '58, I scrubbed
him with a MILD SOAP or DETERGENT for 15 minutes. He seemed to enjoy it ...
2:22:15 PM 12 August 2003

--
Rick Onanian