Saddles

The Oracle said:

Do you have to wear padded shorts in the saddle of racers? What about jeans?

The main problem with jeans is the thick seam between the legs.

--
Dave...

Michael MacClancy said:

I'm sure that saddle comfort has as much to do with saddle position as with the design of the
saddle itself. Are you sure that it's not too far back or forward, that it's level and it's at the
right height?

Good point. The way to be sure is go out with suitable spanners and try all the variations you can.
I find incremental setting, riding round the block, changing the increment again, and so on works
very well for finding the magic setup. Different folks like different things, there's no Magic
Formula for what's right.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Dave Kahn wrote: [Jeans]

Quoted message said:

The main problem with jeans is the thick seam between the legs.

And then we move on to supplementary problems, like the lack of freedom of movement caused by both a
heavy fabric and restrictive cut (which also limits what can go in the pockets), and then there's
the way they take forever and a day to dry if you get caught in the rain (and they're incredibly
obtuse to wear when they are wet).

Jeans are pretty hopeless for anything much active, really. They might have been good for cowboys
and miners in the 1870s American West, but we can do rather better now.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Maureen wrote:
[B17]

Quoted message said:

Oh dear. I`ve just ordered one. I have tried the ones with the cut-outs and haven`t really found
them very comfortable, so this is a bit of a last resort.

As long as your bum is more or less Brooks shaped to start with you should be okay. Not everyone's
is, of course, but if you're not too far off then it's a very comfy saddle. I have one on my MTB and
a similar design on the Brompton (trying said Brompton Brooks saddle recently a female acquaintance
with a lady's Body Geometry saddle on her MTB remarked how much more comfortable the traditional
saddle was than hers), and the B66 (more or less a B17 with springs at the back) on my old tourer is
the most comfortable saddle I've used on any bike, ever. Still not as good as my 'bent, but OTOH no
surprises there as that has a big padded armchair on it rather than a saddle.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

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

Quoted message said:

Michael MacClancy said:

I'm sure that saddle comfort has as much to do with saddle position as with the design of the
saddle itself. Are you sure that it's not too far back or forward, that it's level and it's at
the right height?

Good point. The way to be sure is go out with suitable spanners and try all the variations you
can. I find incremental setting, riding round the block, changing the increment again, and so on
works very well for finding the magic setup. Different folks like different things, there's no
Magic Formula for what's right.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells
Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Amusingly enough, when I go off-road MTB'ing with No.1 son, we come across this. He hasn't quite got
the stamina levels I've got and my bike is actually lighter / better geared for uphills, so I swap
bikes with him on the uphills. I have my saddle high and level (parallel to ground), he has his low
and angled back. I raise his seat post but don't bother with changing seat angle. After quarter of
an hour in each others saddles we're both complaining of back ache !!....'orses for courses. Dave.

"Peter Clinch" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]... <snip>

Quoted message said:

Still not as good as my 'bent, but OTOH no surprises there as that has a big padded armchair on it
rather than a saddle.

Pete.

...and I'm sooooo looking forward to trying mine out. Should arrive tomorrow or Saturday. Then all
I've got to do is put it back together. Prepare for some revolutionary 'bent design to come out of
the guesswork..... Dave.

Peter Clinch said:

Dave Kahn wrote: [Jeans]

Quoted message said:

The main problem with jeans is the thick seam between the legs.

And then we move on to supplementary problems, like the lack of freedom of movement caused by both
a heavy fabric and restrictive cut (which also limits what can go in the pockets), and then
there's the way they take forever and a day to dry if you get caught in the rain (and they're
incredibly obtuse to wear when they are wet).

Jeans are pretty hopeless for anything much active, really. They might have been good for cowboys
and miners in the 1870s American West, but we can do rather better now.

Pete.

I've never owned a pair of cycling shorts I've always cycled in a pair of cut down jeans[1], March
to October anyway, I've always found them comfortable. I don't put anything in the pockets, I use a
bum bag and a small seat post bag for anything I need.

This morning they were soaked in the rain and they dried fine on the heater beside my desk ready for
the ride home.

Most of my cycling is done on my mountain bike though I think if I had to do some long distance on
the road bike it may be a different story.

I might try some "propper" shorts one day.

[1] When the kids were small I was always wearing out the knees in the jeans so I have a good
supply. :-)
--
Mark Road bike, Mountain bike and I'm getting something special built for me ( I hope it will
arrive soon).

I was at Dundee the other day. Nice place. Steve

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

Quoted message said:

Dave Kahn wrote: [Jeans]

Quoted message said:

The main problem with jeans is the thick seam between the legs.

And then we move on to supplementary problems, like the lack of freedom of movement caused by both
a heavy fabric and restrictive cut (which also limits what can go in the pockets), and then
there's the way they take forever and a day to dry if you get caught in the rain (and they're
incredibly obtuse to wear when they are wet).

Jeans are pretty hopeless for anything much active, really. They might have been good for cowboys
and miners in the 1870s American West, but we can do rather better now.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics, Ninewells
Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

the Mark said:

I might try some "propper" shorts one day.

I very rarely wear "propper" cycling shorts: only if I'm on the MTB=20 (comparatively seldom) or the
Muni (which is never for very long). But=20 compared to cut off jeans a pair of, say, Rohan Goa
shorts are lighter,=20 allow more freedom of movement, are just as hard wearing if not harder=20
wearing (though lower tear strength) and dry in a fraction of the time.=20 In drizzle they'll dry
out as fast as they get wet, where the cotton=20 in denim just absorbs water. They are, of course,
more to pay for than=20 snipping an old pair of jeans, but I'm more interested in comfort than=20
comfort/=A3. Plenty of other options about in any outdoor store, check out the=20 "travel clothing".
And off the bike you've got secure and capacious=20 pocket space.

Pete. --=20 Peter Clinch University of Dundee Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Medical Physics,
Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden]
dundee.ac.uk~pjclinchOpen ↗

Marc said:

craggs said:

Getting back into cycling after a long lay off,the saddle on my road bike is a bit extreme in the
comfort stakes any suggestions on a better saddle ( ie split ,gel, etc )any feedback would be much
appreciated.🙁

Brookes!

The masochists choice.

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

Quoted message said:

The Oracle said:

Do you have to wear padded shorts in the saddle of racers? What about jeans?

The main problem with jeans is the thick seam between the legs.

Wet jeans can also wear though your skin, just like sandpaper, if you ride too far in them.

Andrew

Tim Hall <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

One of those new fangled online bikeshops does this, although I don't think you need to leave any
children as a deposit. Unfortunately I can't remember the name.

www.gearshift.co.uk do a 10 day saddle loan scheme.

£100 deposit, 6 saddles (specify mens/womens - don't think you get to choose which 6), you pay
return postage, £10 voucher off a saddle you buy from them.

Tim Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I, on the other hand, have had nothing but good experiences with B17s

and,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

come to think of it, the Pro I had on the tourer in the dim and distant past

Likewise, even up to a 400k audax on a brand-new Team Pro (by way of an experiment !) Similarly,
I've tried a Colt and a Swift, and found them uncomfortable.

Quoted message said:

I've had a Flyer (?B17 with springs) for 4 months and am having good experiences (though I am
surprised how asymmetric the dimples are - is it me or the leather ?).

You - all mine get a bigger dimple one side than the other.

Quoted message said:

Can I ask seasoned users for guidance as to when to tighten a Brooks ? Is it obvious when it needs
it ? Is it obvious how much it needs to be tightened ?

Look at the shape of the top from the side when new, and then give it half a turn if you notice it's
started to sag in the middle. Don't over-tighten, and excessive use of Proofhide, oils etc may make
it conform to your shape quicker, but it will also sag quicker, and once you've reached the end of
the adjustment that's it

Andrew

Patrick Herring ph@$pamblock.anweald.co.uk said:

Peter Connolly said:

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

Quoted message said:

craggs <[email hidden]> wrote:

...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Brookes!

...if you've got a 'Brooks' shaped backside! I've been trying to break mine in for over a year,
on and off...almost a tin of Proofide, and it's still not conforming to my shape...but I spent so
much on it, I'm not giving up!

[... B17: 9 months, Conquest: 2 months ...]

on the B17 I mostly wore jeans whereas now it's mostly Rohans and the like. I wonder whether the
thinner fabric allows your, er, shape through better, and maybe there's a better transmission of,
er, heat'n'moisture. No jpegs.

I mostly wore jeans myself while breaking my B17 in over the winter, occasionally with proper shorts
underneath. Took about a fortnight to become comfortable using the method suggested on their website
and by the LBS. That and a bit of daily use over the following months has given it 10-15 mm of
'squash' in the middle, and slight indentations where my ischial tuberosities - sit bones - sit on
its shoulders.

Perhaps the saddles themselves are subject to variation as well as their users. OTOH, perhaps I do
have a Brooks-shaped bum. No JPEGs.

--
Andrew Chadwick <We're all in this together

In article said:

Tim Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

"Dave Larrington" <[email hidden]> wrote

Quoted message said:

I, on the other hand, have had nothing but good experiences with B17s

and,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

come to think of it, the Pro I had on the tourer in the dim and distant past

Likewise, even up to a 400k audax on a brand-new Team Pro (by way of an experiment !) Similarly,
I've tried a Colt and a Swift, and found them uncomfortable.

Quoted message said:

I've had a Flyer (?B17 with springs) for 4 months and am having good experiences (though I am
surprised how asymmetric the dimples are - is it me or the leather ?).

You - all mine get a bigger dimple one side than the other.

Quoted message said:

[snip]

For as long as I've been cycling seriously (many years) I've always had saddle sores and boils
form on the left side, never the right. This must be due to a slight anatomic variation in my
pelvis. I've occasionally experimented with tilting the saddle slightly to one side but I'm not
sure if it helps.

AC

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