What does the S mean (Brooks saddles)

Jim D said:

What does the "S" mean in Brooks saddle model numbers? I thought it
indicated a lady's model, but now I see people advertising "
'Men's Brooks Flyer S' or 'Men's Brooks B66 S' etc.

They are indeed supposed to be lady's models. "S" for short.

Quoted message said:

Since I ride in an fairly upright position nearly all of the time, I'm
thinking of buying one of the wider, sprung Brooks saddles. But "S" or
not "S"... that is now the question...

Also "Champion" or not "Champion". B66 Champion is narrower than B66, for
example.

Then "Professional"... extra hard. Or "Special"... 'specially expensive.

Ultimately... "Real Man"... www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

Quoted message said:

The other question is: single rail or twin rail. My bike has a
traditional type seat post. It would probably makes sense to buy a
micro-adjust seat post and get a Brooks saddle with single rails, do
you agree? Then it'll weigh a lot less and have notchless saddle angle
adjustment, yes?

A single rail will make life easier and may save some weight, but a twin
rail can be used on a modern micro-adjust seat with one of these adapters:

www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-0-Combi-Alloy-Twin-rail-saddle-adaptor-for-Brooks-Twin-rail-saddles-830.htm

or http://tinyurl.com/tsjj9

Most of so-called micro-adjust seatposts aren't notchless though. They just
have smaller notches than the old fashion type. Look for a seatpost with
two bolts for true stepless adjustment.

~PB

Correction: I meant "seatpost" instead of just "seat" here

Quoted message said:

A single rail will make life easier and may save some weight, but a
twin rail can be used on a modern micro-adjust seat

~PB

Pete Biggs said the following on 16/11/2006 23:28:

Quoted message said:

Ultimately... "Real Man"... www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

I wonder how many "real men" tried to buy that saddle :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 08:11:14 +0000, Paul Boyd

usenet.dont.work@plusnet said:

Ultimately... "Real Man"... www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

lol :-) ... there certainly seems to be a lot of "S" version saddles
floating around (on eBay and such) and not so many "non-S" versions. I
wonder why that is.

Are the "S" saddles actually unsuitable for men, or is it just an
aesthetic issue (that men feel stupid, sporting a woman's saddle)?
Would a man find an "S" saddle less comfortable or less practical for
male use in any way?

Jim D

In article <[email hidden]>

Jim H said:

On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 08:11:14 +0000, Paul Boyd

usenet.dont.work@plusnet said:

Ultimately... "Real Man"... www.sheldonbrown.com/real-man.html

lol :-) ... there certainly seems to be a lot of "S" version saddles
floating around (on eBay and such) and not so many "non-S" versions. I
wonder why that is.

Are the "S" saddles actually unsuitable for men, or is it just an
aesthetic issue (that men feel stupid, sporting a woman's saddle)?
Would a man find an "S" saddle less comfortable or less practical for
male use in any way?

The only practical way to find out if you get on with a a saddle is to
ride on it - in the case of a new leather saddle it could take a few
hundred miles to break in properly. There's no sense choosing a saddle
just by width and length, because the shape and resilience are also
important factors. However - when you're riding hard do you slide
forward to the nose of the saddle much? If so you may find that a
shorter saddle restricts your style, otherwise it will probably be fine.
I think the women's saddles were originally made shorter so it was
easier to ride in a skirt.

Pete Biggs said:

A single rail will make life easier and may save some weight, but a twin
rail can be used on a modern micro-adjust seat with one of these adapters:

www.sjscycles.co.uk/product-0-Combi-Alloy-Twin-rail-saddle-adaptor-for-Brooks-Twin-rail-saddles-830.htm

That's good to know, thanks. Apart from the weight, is there any other
advantage/disadvantage in the twin rail version? I vaguely recall
hearing someone mention something, but I may be wrong. Perhaps one is
stronger or something...

Apart from eBay, can anyone recommend a good-value supplier for a
Brooks B66, online?

Thanks...

Jim D

Quoted message said:

On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 13:12:38 -0000, Rob Morley <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

However - when you're riding hard do you slide
forward to the nose of the saddle much?

I've never noticed that effect.

Quoted message said:

If so you may find that a
shorter saddle restricts your style, otherwise it will probably be fine.
I think the women's saddles were originally made shorter so it was
easier to ride in a skirt.

The other thing may be to do with the way that women stop. They
typically hop down into the space between the saddle and the
handlebars. Brooks & Co. probably assumes that most women wouldn't be
happy with a 10" saddle horn poking them from behind...

Jim D

Jim D said the following on 17/11/2006 13:26:

Quoted message said:

I've never noticed that effect.

I had, but never really thought much about it. I probably would if I
had a shorter saddle!

Quoted message said:

The other thing may be to do with the way that women stop. They
typically hop down into the space between the saddle and the
handlebars. Brooks & Co. probably assumes that most women wouldn't be
happy with a 10" saddle horn poking them from behind...

I'm pretty sure that most men wouldn't be happy with a 10" saddle horn
poking them from behind either :-)

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

Rob Morley said:

The only practical way to find out if you get on with a a saddle is to
ride on it - in the case of a new leather saddle it could take a few
hundred miles to break in properly.

IME of Brooks saddles (I currently own and use 3 on different bikes)
they will communicate a basic "rightness" (or not!) straight out of the
box. The basic shape needs to be right to start with, so breaking in
takes it from good to better rather than from agony to tolerable. The
latter just isn't worth it, the former is not a problem.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch said:

Rob Morley said:

The only practical way to find out if you get on with a a saddle is to
ride on it - in the case of a new leather saddle it could take a few
hundred miles to break in properly.

IME of Brooks saddles (I currently own and use 3 on different bikes)
they will communicate a basic "rightness" (or not!) straight out of the
box. The basic shape needs to be right to start with, so breaking in
takes it from good to better rather than from agony to tolerable. The
latter just isn't worth it, the former is not a problem.

Pete.

Thanks for that. It would be great to be in a position where one could
try out a few Brooks saddles before settling on one. Sadly, I'm not in
such a position. I have the choice of ordering by mail order, with the
option of returning it if not happy (my legal right), or paying a
local shop a 50% deposit so they can ordr one for me. Are there any
other (better) options I haven't considered?

Cheers,

Jim D

Jim D said:

Thanks for that. It would be great to be in a position where one could
try out a few Brooks saddles before settling on one. Sadly, I'm not in
such a position. I have the choice of ordering by mail order, with the
option of returning it if not happy (my legal right), or paying a
local shop a 50% deposit so they can ordr one for me. Are there any
other (better) options I haven't considered?

Do you know anyone with one? David Martin of this e-Parish became a
happy customer of Brooks after borrowing my B17 for a few days.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

In article <[email hidden]>
Jim D <[email hidden]> wrote:
<snip>.

Quoted message said:

Thanks for that. It would be great to be in a position where one could
try out a few Brooks saddles before settling on one. Sadly, I'm not in
such a position. I have the choice of ordering by mail order, with the
option of returning it if not happy (my legal right), or paying a
local shop a 50% deposit so they can ordr one for me. Are there any
other (better) options I haven't considered?

Find a shop that has a selection in stock?

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

Quoted message said:

Thanks for that. It would be great to be in a position where one could
try out a few Brooks saddles before settling on one. Sadly, I'm not in
such a position.

Where are you?

cheers,
clive

On Fri, 17 Nov 2006 15:32:15 -0000, Rob Morley <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Find a shop that has a selection in stock?

Non around here, I'm afraid. But I got one local bike shop to order
one in without my paying a deposit. Good price too: £40 for a B67. So
I can at least see it before deciding. Maybe can even talk him into
letting me sit on it. Seems miles better than paying £48.50 to someone
on eBay with no return option.

Thanks...

Jim D

Paul Boyd said:

Jim D said the following on 17/11/2006 13:26:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

The other thing may be to do with the way that women stop. They
typically hop down into the space between the saddle and the
handlebars. Brooks & Co. probably assumes that most women wouldn't be
happy with a 10" saddle horn poking them from behind...

I'm pretty sure that most men wouldn't be happy with a 10" saddle horn
poking them from behind either :-)

No no no. The horn is there to catch the back of the shorts as you
remount, thus allowing a full moon at the drivers stuck behind you.