New Saddle // New Me

TomCAt wrote:
:: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference.
:: My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile
:: and mile every day your ass is toast.

Not true.....

::
:: Get a new saddle, it will make your day.

Roger Zoul said:

TomCAt wrote:
:: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference.
:: My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile
:: and mile every day your ass is toast.

Not true.....

And not false. Like most absolute statements about saddles, truth is in
the sitting.

However, I have a statement about Brooks saddles that I think is at
least worth consideration, based on my own experience: if it's not
reasonably comfortable right from the start, it will never get much
better. A poor fit isn't acceptable just because it's leather, and no
amount of "breaking in" will change its basic dimensions.

RichC

rdclark said:

Roger Zoul said:

TomCAt wrote:
:: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference.
:: My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile
:: and mile every day your ass is toast.

Not true.....

And not false. Like most absolute statements about saddles, truth is in
the sitting.

However, I have a statement about Brooks saddles that I think is at
least worth consideration, based on my own experience: if it's not
reasonably comfortable right from the start, it will never get much
better. A poor fit isn't acceptable just because it's leather, and no
amount of "breaking in" will change its basic dimensions.

RichC

A lesson I learned the hard way -- twice.

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

Quoted message said:

TomCAt wrote:
:: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference.
:: My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile
:: and mile every day your ass is toast.

Not true.....

I agree completely...Brooks saddles are definitely not "nice looking". On
any modern road bike, they look as out of place as fuzzy dice hanging from
the rear view mirror of a Porsche.

Let the flames begin.... :-).

GG

Quoted message said:

::
:: Get a new saddle, it will make your day.

rdclark wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::: TomCAt wrote:
::::: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the
::::: difference. My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you
::::: aren't riding mile and mile every day your ass is toast.
:::
::: Not true.....
::
:: And not false. Like most absolute statements about saddles, truth is
:: in the sitting.
::
:: However, I have a statement about Brooks saddles that I think is at
:: least worth consideration, based on my own experience: if it's not
:: reasonably comfortable right from the start, it will never get much
:: better. A poor fit isn't acceptable just because it's leather, and no
:: amount of "breaking in" will change its basic dimensions.

I can accept that...mine happened to be a good fit...after the first 50
miles, I was in love.

More ...

The Brooks is a nice saddle. If it works for you, fine.

It just was not working for me.

Why? I have no idea. Probably because I hadn't been riding enough and my
ass was whimpy.

I don't know.

I will say this. The Terry is sweet. It has the opening ... saves my
penis or something ..... and it is soft.

For me, the new saddle is a god send.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

======================================================================
"Peter Cole" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

rdclark said:

Roger Zoul said:

TomCAt wrote:
:: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference.
:: My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile
:: and mile every day your ass is toast.

Not true.....

And not false. Like most absolute statements about saddles, truth is in
the sitting.

However, I have a statement about Brooks saddles that I think is at
least worth consideration, based on my own experience: if it's not
reasonably comfortable right from the start, it will never get much
better. A poor fit isn't acceptable just because it's leather, and no
amount of "breaking in" will change its basic dimensions.

RichC

A lesson I learned the hard way -- twice.

GaryG wrote:
:: "Roger Zoul" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
:: news:[email hidden]...
::: TomCAt wrote:
::::: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the
::::: difference. My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you
::::: aren't riding mile and mile every day your ass is toast.
:::
::: Not true.....
::
:: I agree completely...Brooks saddles are definitely not "nice
:: looking". On any modern road bike, they look as out of place as
:: fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror of a Porsche.
::
:: Let the flames begin.... :-).
::
:: GG

🙂

TomCAt wrote:
:: More ...
::
:: The Brooks is a nice saddle. If it works for you, fine.
::
:: It just was not working for me.
::
:: Why? I have no idea. Probably because I hadn't been riding enough
:: and my ass was whimpy.
::
:: I don't know.
::
:: I will say this. The Terry is sweet. It has the opening ... saves
:: my penis or something ..... and it is soft.
::
:: For me, the new saddle is a god send.

I'm glad you like it.

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

Quoted message said:

Roger Zoul said:

TomCAt wrote:
:: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference.
:: My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile
:: and mile every day your ass is toast.

Not true.....

And not false. Like most absolute statements about saddles, truth is in
the sitting.

However, I have a statement about Brooks saddles that I think is at
least worth consideration, based on my own experience: if it's not
reasonably comfortable right from the start, it will never get much
better. A poor fit isn't acceptable just because it's leather, and no
amount of "breaking in" will change its basic dimensions.

RichC:

Based on my own experience with a Brooks, yes, I'd agree with that - though
I'll add one point: saddle attitude (eg: position, fore-aft, tilt, up/down)
is perhaps more critical with a Brooks than others. "Tweaking" mine made a
big difference.

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

Quoted message said:

I agree completely...Brooks saddles are definitely not "nice looking". On
any modern road bike, they look as out of place as fuzzy dice hanging from
the rear view mirror of a Porsche.

Let the flames begin.... :-)

I love Brooks but you won't get a flame from me!

Many Brooks' look "top heavy" compared to a modern racing saddle.

A *chopped* Brooks or a factory-stock New Swallow on the other hand - those
are "leather interior on a Porsche" classy.

Case(s) in point: http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/articles/brooks.htm
http://www.wallbike.com/content/butchering.html

(only referring to the really chopped ones - not the "tied" models which
really don't improve the look)

C.

C.J.Patten said:

A *chopped* Brooks or a factory-stock New Swallow on the other hand -
those are "leather interior on a Porsche" classy.

Don't forget those unfortunately named Lepper saddles, which I think look
OK on modern bikes. Haven't ridden one to compare.

Seems trimming the sides of a Brooks down would affect its overall
rigidity--kind of like converting a car to a convertible--you lose the
support of the a pillar. :P

Might give it a try some time though. My Flyer is currently in the parts
bin waiting for something suitable to get bolted to. How to cut such hard
leather I just don't know.

"C.J.Patten" wrote: (clip)A *chopped* Brooks or a factory-stock New Swallow
on the other hand - those

Quoted message said:

are "leather interior on a Porsche" classy.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
They look beautiful. I also like the look of the "aerated" post in the last
picture. How much courage does it take to attack an expensive Brooks saddle
with a high speed grinder for the first time?

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

Quoted message said:

"C.J.Patten" wrote: (clip)A *chopped* Brooks or a factory-stock New
Swallow on the other hand - those are "leather interior on a Porsche"
classy.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
They look beautiful. I also like the look of the "aerated" post in the
last picture. How much courage does it take to attack an expensive Brooks
saddle with a high speed grinder for the first time?

Heheheheh.

Leo and Maxo:

I've done some "high risk" mods to things before - high-precision soldering
of expensive computers etc. I imagine one would feel the same way cutting a
Brooks.

You're sweating bullets and thinking of Alan Shepherd's launch pad quote:
"Please God, don't let me fxxk up."

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=49482
Instructions and photos on that thread.

Chris

C.J.Patten said:

You're sweating bullets and thinking of Alan Shepherd's launch pad quote:
"Please God, don't let me fxxk up."

Actually after spending some time reading,it doesn't seem all that nuts,
just mask off and don't "freehand" it. I might have to make a Swallow
Flier with lacing for xtra firmness. To be honest, I'd like to remove the
springs on it too, but that's a different matter altogether...

C.J.Patten said:

Based on my own experience with a Brooks, yes, I'd agree with that - though
I'll add one point: saddle attitude (eg: position, fore-aft, tilt, up/down)
is perhaps more critical with a Brooks than others. "Tweaking" mine made a
big difference.

I agree that position is critical. I have had to tweak the position of
every saddle I've ever owned, and accept that as a necessary part of
the adjustment process.

I have trouble imagining a way to prove that Brooks saddles need more
or less tweaking than any other saddle, but the idea that they need
more certainly runs contrary to the lore that they "mold themselves to
fit you."

RichC

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

Quoted message said:

I agree that position is critical. I have had to tweak the position of
every saddle I've ever owned, and accept that as a necessary part of
the adjustment process.

I have trouble imagining a way to prove that Brooks saddles need more
or less tweaking than any other saddle, but the idea that they need
more certainly runs contrary to the lore that they "mold themselves to
fit you."

Might be that I'm a wide load on a narrow saddle. 😉

With the old Pro' model I found, there's not so much room to move around
like on their touring models so I found it very important to get the
position just right. There's a sweet spot if I stray from, it becomes very
uncomfortable.

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

Quoted message said:

I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference. My old
Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile and mile
every day your ass is toast.

Is the Brooks old and well-broken in, or is it old and like new? I thought
once the Brooks broke in they fit your [censored] perfectly. I'm fortunate in that
I've never found an uncomfortable saddle. I have two Brooks that feel great,
a high-zoot Specialized BG Pro Ti that feels great, a cheapo Velo BG copy
that feels great, and a Performance super cheapo that's fine.

Quoted message said:

Get a new saddle, it will make your day.

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

Quoted message said:

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

Quoted message said:

TomCAt wrote:
:: I put on a new Terry Men's saddle. I can't believe the difference.
:: My old Brooks leather was nice looking but if you aren't riding mile
:: and mile every day your ass is toast.

Not true.....

I agree completely...Brooks saddles are definitely not "nice looking". On
any modern road bike, they look as out of place as fuzzy dice hanging from
the rear view mirror of a Porsche.

Let the flames begin.... :-).

It looks pretty sweet on my Gunnar Sport. Sherwood forest green bike with
BRG Brooks B17 and natural cork Cinelli tape. :-) I think it looks good on
my Schwinn Peloton, but it has kind of a retro look with faux panel graphic
on the DT. A Brooks B17 would look funny on a carbon wonder bike, but maybe
a Brooks Swallow would look fine.

"C.J.Patten" wrote: (clip) There's a sweet spot (clip)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Unfortunate choice of words. ;-)