Discovering leather saddles

jacques <[email hidden]> wrote:
: I just bought a Brooks B17 leather saddle yesterday morning for my city/tour bike. I was a bike
: apprehensive, wondering about the necessary "break-in": how long ? how hard until it is complete
: ? The result was above all my expectations. In the same afternoon (and evening) I was able to
: ride back home on 190 km (my record !) with very limited pain, even though that brand new saddle
: was not even broken in. As a comparison, I have always suffered a lot after 80-100 km with all
: other saddles I have used, from the cheap plastic one to the gel filled Selle Italia I have on my
: road bike.

: Jacques

That was my experience also with a Brooks b-17. Rode 70 miles on it out of the box and my butt
felt great.

--------------------------------
Bob Masse' [email hidden]
--------------------------------

jacques said:

The result was above all my expectations. In the same afternoon (and evening) I was able to ride
back home on 190 km (my record !) with very limited pain, even though that brand new saddle was not
even broken in.

I am with you on this: I have never found a running-in period necessary with a B17 (the first time I
rode the current one was century, no problem at all). I think if they fit well, they fit from day
one and just keep getting better. If they fit poorly then it's your [censored] that breaks in and not the
saddle :-D

Guy
===
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"Just zis Guy, you know?" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jacques said:

The result was above all my expectations. In the same afternoon (and evening) I was able to ride
back home on 190 km (my record !) with very limited pain, even though that brand new saddle was
not even broken in.

I am with you on this: I have never found a running-in period necessary with a B17 (the first time
I rode the current one was century, no problem at all). I think if they fit well, they fit from
day one and just keep getting better. If they fit poorly then it's your [censored] that breaks in and
not the saddle :-D

Guy

The only problem I had with mine was that I could not get the seat to go far enough back. I had to
buy a seat post with setback. This is partially my bike's geometry, as I've had to do this
periodically, depending on the seat.

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

Quoted message said:

How about the following miles ?

cut............

As a Brooks leather saddle moulds to your shape over time, it will never be more uncomfortable than
when its new! peter

Bob said:

The only problem I had with mine was that I could not get the seat to go far enough back. I had to
buy a seat post with setback. This is partially my bike's geometry, as I've had to do this
periodically, depending on the seat.

I have a long stem, but my bike was originally built with a Brooks. I've wondered about a shorter
stem and setback seatpost as this is apparently more comfortable on long rides. But then if I want
real comfort I have a recumbent...

Guy
===
** WARNING ** This posting may contain traces of irony. chapmancentral.comchapmancentral.comOpen ↗ Advance
notice: ADSL service in process of transfer to a new ISP. Obviously there will be a week of downtime
between the engineer removing the BT service and the same engineer connecting the same equipment on
the same line in the same exchange and billing it to the new ISP.

Bob said:

The only problem I had with mine was that I could not get the seat to go far enough back. I had to
buy a seat post with setback. This is partially my bike's geometry, as I've had to do this
periodically, depending on the seat.

Rivendell Bicycles recently featured a Brooks saddle in their newsletter that has a longer straight
segment in the mounting rails which would allow you to push the seat back further without getting a
special seatpost.

I know this news comes too late to help you out, and that is too bad, but maybe others would like to
know that.

I guess Selle bought Brooks out. Rivendell doesn't necessarily see that as a bad thing. I guess time
will tell.

Just zis Guy said:

I am with you on this: I have never found a running-in period necessary with a B17 (the first time
I rode the current one was

My experience as well. My 7-8 year old B17 is very supple with a moulded "pocket" where my tail is
placed. Been across the country and very comfortable.

A new B17 Champion purchased nearly a year ago is still quite hard. No pocket formed yet (I think
the leather is thicker than with the standard). Still a very comfy ride with the only drawback being
I slide around a bit on it.

Quoted message said:

century, no problem at all). I think if they fit well, they fit from day one and just keep getting
better. If they fit poorly then it's your [censored] that breaks in and not the saddle :-D

Leather saddles break in, but the ultimate adaptive system is the human body. It can pretty much
adapt to *anything*, *eventually*, *if it has to*!

SMH

Zippy the Pinhead said:

I guess Selle bought Brooks out. Rivendell doesn't necessarily see that as a bad thing. I guess
time will tell.

"Selle" means "saddle" in Italian. There's Selle Italia, Selle San Marco, Selle Royal, etc., etc.,
etc. These are all different companies.

Pinhead indeed!

jeverett3<AT>earthlink<DOT>net home.earthlink.net~jeverett3Open ↗

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

Quoted message said:

Just zis Guy said:

I am with you on this: I have never found a running-in period necessary with a B17 (the first
time I rode the current one was

My experience as well. My 7-8 year old B17 is very supple with a moulded "pocket" where my tail is
placed. Been across the country and very comfortable.

If, by "tail", you mean your coccyx ("tailbone"😉, I'd like to see that. You must've put in some
pretty uncomfortable miles to achieve that.

Quoted message said:

A new B17 Champion purchased nearly a year ago is still quite hard. No pocket formed yet (I think
the leather is thicker than with the standard). Still a very comfy ride with the only drawback
being I slide around a bit on it.

Quoted message said:

century, no problem at all). I think if they fit well, they fit from day one and just keep
getting better. If they fit poorly then it's your [censored] that breaks in and not the saddle :-D

Leather saddles break in, but the ultimate adaptive system is the human body. It can pretty much
adapt to *anything*, *eventually*, *if it has to*!

That's the good part, but they eventually break down to the ass-hatchet form. Leather-covered
plastic saddles that fit right off-the-bat and stay that way for their life are the way to go. No
Proofide needed, either!

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

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

Quoted message said:

Zippy the Pinhead said:

I guess Selle bought Brooks out. Rivendell doesn't necessarily see that as a bad thing. I guess
time will tell.

"Selle" means "saddle" in Italian. There's Selle Italia, Selle San Marco, Selle Royal, etc., etc.,
etc. These are all different companies.

Pinhead indeed!

I have reason to believe that there's not quite three separate companies here. Kinda like Brooks is
Selle Italia. Anybody with the real scoop?

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

Robin Hubert said:

"Stephen Harding" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

My experience as well. My 7-8 year old B17 is very supple with a moulded "pocket" where my tail
is placed. Been across the country and very comfortable.

If, by "tail", you mean your coccyx ("tailbone"😉, I'd like to see that. You must've put in some
pretty uncomfortable miles to achieve that.

"Tail" meaning "butt", or to be more concise for you, "ischial protuberances".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Leather saddles break in, but the ultimate adaptive system is the human body. It can pretty much
adapt to *anything*, *eventually*, *if it has to*!

That's the good part, but they eventually break down to the ass-hatchet form. Leather-covered
plastic saddles that fit right off-the-bat and stay that way for their life are the way to go. No
Proofide needed, either!

Problem is the "fit right off-the-bat" part. Leather adjusts, plastic largely doesn't.

If the plastic fits, great. If it doesn't, you have to adjust, and that's possible given some
time and pain.

Leather adjusts to you better than plastic does, and if you take care of the saddle, it won't be
very soon that it breaks down into something no longer comfortable.

There's a reason the Brooks is a favorite amongst long distance riders.

SMH

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

Quoted message said:

Robin Hubert said:

"Stephen Harding" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

My experience as well. My 7-8 year old B17 is very supple with a moulded "pocket" where my
tail is placed. Been across the country and very comfortable.

If, by "tail", you mean your coccyx ("tailbone"😉, I'd like to see that.

You

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

must've put in some pretty uncomfortable miles to achieve that.

"Tail" meaning "butt", or to be more concise for you, "ischial

protuberances".

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Leather saddles break in, but the ultimate adaptive system is the human body. It can pretty
much adapt to *anything*, *eventually*, *if it has to*!

That's the good part, but they eventually break down to the ass-hatchet form. Leather-covered
plastic saddles that fit right off-the-bat and

stay

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that way for their life are the way to go. No Proofide needed, either!

Problem is the "fit right off-the-bat" part. Leather adjusts, plastic largely doesn't.

If the plastic fits, great. If it doesn't, you have to adjust, and that's possible given some time
and pain.

Leather adjusts to you better than plastic does, and if you take care of the saddle, it won't be
very soon that it breaks down into something no longer comfortable.

There's a reason the Brooks is a favorite amongst long distance riders.

Gee, you might believe I'd never used a Brooks. You'd be wrong.

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

Robin Hubert said:

"Stephen Harding" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Leather adjusts to you better than plastic does, and if you take care of the saddle, it won't be
very soon that it breaks down into something no longer comfortable.

There's a reason the Brooks is a favorite amongst long distance riders.

Gee, you might believe I'd never used a Brooks. You'd be wrong.

OK. There is no perfect saddle for everyone. However it's very rare for me to come across someone
who didn't like the Brooks. You appear to be one.

I have used plastic saddles too. They can crack and warp, and coverings tear or hole. Something that
rarely (ever?) happens to the Brooks.

Have to wonder what you did, or how long it took, for your Brooks to "break down into the
ass-hatchet form". This has yet to happen to any of mine in about 8 years for the oldest.

SMH

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

Quoted message said:

Robin Hubert said:

"Stephen Harding" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Leather adjusts to you better than plastic does, and if you take care

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

the saddle, it won't be very soon that it breaks down into something

no

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

longer comfortable.

There's a reason the Brooks is a favorite amongst long distance

riders.

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Gee, you might believe I'd never used a Brooks. You'd be wrong.

OK. There is no perfect saddle for everyone.

I agree, though it's not as complicated as most make it.

Quoted message said:

However it's very rare for me to come across someone who didn't like the Brooks. You appear to >be

one.

I actually liked my Brooks Pro. I just didn't like taking care of it, and I never had it long enough
for it to wear out (having been stolen with the bike). What I really don't like too much about them
now is that they offer very little adjustability and your fit/bike geometry needs to be spot on.

Quoted message said:

I have used plastic saddles too. They can crack and warp, and coverings

tear

Quoted message said:

or hole. Something that rarely (ever?) happens to the Brooks.

Have to wonder what you did, or how long it took, for your Brooks to

"break

Quoted message said:

down into the ass-hatchet form". This has yet to happen to any of mine

in

Quoted message said:

about 8 years for the oldest.

True, it takes quite some time, well, more accurately, "miles". How many miles on that saddle?

--
Robin Hubert <[email hidden]

Robin Hubert said:

Quoted message said:

Have to wonder what you did, or how long it took, for your Brooks to "break down into the
ass-hatchet form". This has yet to happen to any of mine in about 8 years for the oldest.

True, it takes quite some time, well, more accurately, "miles". How many miles on that saddle?

For the oldest Brooks B17 Standard, probably about 20,000 miles on it. The new (about one year old)
B17 Champion only about 3-4000. The oldest one was a "touring saddle" so it has been rained on.
Doesn't seem to have effected it.

Haven't Profided any of them yet for this season, but typically give them a going over once or
twice a year.

SMH