Another fallen comrade to be remembered during next month’s Ride of Silence. http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
Although proper care and maintenance might have saved it. (grin)
Also … It’s been a while since I’ve looked at a Brooks saddle, but what are these ‘laces’ of which Yehuda speaks? The Brooks saddle I once had was riveted to the frame.
Brooks offers lacing as an option on some of their saddles, but not all come that way. The B17 Standard does not ordinarily come with laces, but the B17 Aged does (in fact, all the Aged line of saddles have laces). Some people punch their own holes and lace their own saddles to give them extra strength and stiffness. My B17 has been fine just the way it is, so I’ve never bothered adding laces.
Did this to an old Bell Model 40 saddle. I should have given it some oil or proofhide, but I never did. I’m taking much better care of the Brooks Flyer (B17 with springs) which I have fitted to my touring bicycle. Perhaps the best-ever touring saddle in my opinion!
ugh that is a truly horrible thing I spent a year trying to break one in before (re)finding a Flite Titanium, by far the most comfortable sadle for me anyway
(adapted from Simon & Garfunkel)
Goodbye saddle, my old friend
I’ve come to sit on you again
Because a chamois softly creeping
Left its impression while I was riding
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
Poor Yehuda. Now he’ll have to go through months of pain to break in a new Brooks? Might as well bolt a piece of 2×4 to the seatpost, feels about the same as Brooks saddle
I’ve never understood the concept of breaking a Brooks saddle. To me they are comfortable out of the box. I put one on my 1st 26″ bike back in High School and loved it immediately – NO CHAFING! The saddle that came with my paperboy bike chafed my inner thighs and the springs were just plain annoying. Ah, memories.
I had both the rear springs on a Brooks B33 break on me a couple of years ago. The saddle was about two years old, but I phoned Brooks anyway, and they offered to either repair the saddle if I sent it to them, or they could send me a new pair of springs if I was happy to do it myself – either option was free of charge.
I have had 3 broks on different bikes through the decades and only the first gave me grief due to poor maintenance.
Left in the rain without a cover etc, the leather stretched and cracked. Yes they are adjustable but only so much. The top got thin and narrow and the sides colapsed unitl it was like riding a clothesline. The repalacement and my current one is oiled and covered when not in use outside. As a result, they both have lasted decades and are as good as new!
Finally took some advice from friends, broke down and bought a Brooks B17. Did a 40 miler on it first day and loved it right away! I really thought that it would be uncomfortable without “padding”, but now understand the concept of the leather hammock suspended on a frame. Agree with the no-chafing bit, too. I hope it only improves as I break it in (and vice versa!).
You’re perspiration and heat as you ride will gradually make it conform to your shape so it will be a saddle made for YOU.
All you need to do is be patient as this may take a while. Rush it and you will fall into the trap I did with my first (ignorance compounding the error)
Yah, my saddle is beginning to crack. It’s a nice fat wide saddle for a feminine posterior in black and white vinyl, Electra brand. I think, though, I might find a nice selection of choices these days. Used to be I had pretty much only one choice, the Selle Drifter seat. A fine comfy seat, certainly, but short on style.
Aaaahhh yess, the fond memories of agreeing to disagree with the saddle which brings up just how much I appreciate the luxury of the nice cushy happy bum seat of the recumbent.
Good ridin’
Kel
These things are very personal as each of our bums are different from another persons.
What I do when I buy a new seat is put a plastic bag over it so I don’t damage the logos or finish and give it a few days to see if it really is right for me. If not most stores will let you exchange it for another one.
I have learned enough to know pretty much with a test ride if it’s going to work for me. I know which sore spots settle out and which become intolerable over a few hours pedalling.
Another fallen comrade to be remembered during next month’s Ride of Silence.
http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
Although proper care and maintenance might have saved it. (grin)
Also … It’s been a while since I’ve looked at a Brooks saddle, but what are these ‘laces’ of which Yehuda speaks? The Brooks saddle I once had was riveted to the frame.
Some of Brooks’ early saddles, like the B17 (I have one of these on my ’74 Carlton) have lacing holes along the bottom edge of the leather. This allowed you to fine-tune the stiffness along the spine of the saddle.
http://www.brooksengland.com/catalogue-and-shop/saddles/touring+%26+trekking/B17+Aged/
Correction: mine is actually a B5N – but it’s basically the same.
Brooks offers lacing as an option on some of their saddles, but not all come that way. The B17 Standard does not ordinarily come with laces, but the B17 Aged does (in fact, all the Aged line of saddles have laces). Some people punch their own holes and lace their own saddles to give them extra strength and stiffness. My B17 has been fine just the way it is, so I’ve never bothered adding laces.
Did this to an old Bell Model 40 saddle. I should have given it some oil or proofhide, but I never did. I’m taking much better care of the Brooks Flyer (B17 with springs) which I have fitted to my touring bicycle. Perhaps the best-ever touring saddle in my opinion!
Aah, the dreaded torn nose of the brooks, the thought of loosing and old friend……. and worse yet, the thought of breaking in a new one!
ugh that is a truly horrible thing I spent a year trying to break one in before (re)finding a Flite Titanium, by far the most comfortable sadle for me anyway
Saddles? Aaaaahaahahahahaha! Weapon of Ass Destruction.
(rides a low flying deck chair, otherwise known as a Challenge Fujin SLII).
Indeed.
One of the reasons I prefer recumbents over ‘normal’ bikes.
I do have to say that my HP Scorpion FS makes for a better flying deck chair as I don’t have to worry about balance when parked
I’ve never understood the appeal of riding in a deck chair. I don’t like sitting in deck chairs even when they’re standing still.
One reason I still ride uprights is I happen to go offroad like this:
http://malenki.ch/Touren/10/Galerie/05/slide_42.html
or that: http://malenki.ch/Touren/11/Galerie/Tag_20/slide_19.html
or there (harhar):
http://malenki.ch/Bilder/Fahrrad/dscf_F30-2_014036_feuchter_Waldweg_small.jpg (though got away with dry feet)
With a recumbent it wouldn’t be so much fun.
(adapted from Simon & Garfunkel)
Goodbye saddle, my old friend
I’ve come to sit on you again
Because a chamois softly creeping
Left its impression while I was riding
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence
Poor Yehuda. Now he’ll have to go through months of pain to break in a new Brooks? Might as well bolt a piece of 2×4 to the seatpost, feels about the same as Brooks saddle
I’ve never understood the concept of breaking a Brooks saddle. To me they are comfortable out of the box. I put one on my 1st 26″ bike back in High School and loved it immediately – NO CHAFING! The saddle that came with my paperboy bike chafed my inner thighs and the springs were just plain annoying. Ah, memories.
I completely agree. I’ve got two of them (one on each bike), and have never had a bit of problem.
I loved mine too from the start. I guess we just have great butts!
My Brooks saddle didn’t become comfortable during the last 20 years. Maybe I should ride more on my Upright?
Same here. My B17N was perfect out of the box.
Gotta agree; loved the Brookes right from jump. Felt like is was a$$-adjusted from teh first ride.
Get it back to Brooks, they’ll recover it for a customer of Yehudas’ standing
I had both the rear springs on a Brooks B33 break on me a couple of years ago. The saddle was about two years old, but I phoned Brooks anyway, and they offered to either repair the saddle if I sent it to them, or they could send me a new pair of springs if I was happy to do it myself – either option was free of charge.
I love service like that!
I have had 3 broks on different bikes through the decades and only the first gave me grief due to poor maintenance.
Left in the rain without a cover etc, the leather stretched and cracked. Yes they are adjustable but only so much. The top got thin and narrow and the sides colapsed unitl it was like riding a clothesline. The repalacement and my current one is oiled and covered when not in use outside. As a result, they both have lasted decades and are as good as new!
Silly me – ‘Brooks’ !
Thanks for the reminder, Rick! I haven’t applied Proofide to my saddle for a good six months or so. Probably time to give it another treatment.
I’ve only had mine about a year, but I’m hoping that both it, and the Surly it’s attached to are around for decades!
Finally took some advice from friends, broke down and bought a Brooks B17. Did a 40 miler on it first day and loved it right away! I really thought that it would be uncomfortable without “padding”, but now understand the concept of the leather hammock suspended on a frame. Agree with the no-chafing bit, too. I hope it only improves as I break it in (and vice versa!).
You’re perspiration and heat as you ride will gradually make it conform to your shape so it will be a saddle made for YOU.
All you need to do is be patient as this may take a while. Rush it and you will fall into the trap I did with my first (ignorance compounding the error)
My B17 also was comfortable from the first ride, and has only improved with use over the past three years.
I can’t belive that Yehuda is giving up so easily!!! Here’s Grant Petersen’s answer to a “broken” Brooks saddle: http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m19qc9kJrG1qdvnvk.jpg
And a close-up: http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m19qdk3Rii1qdvnvk.jpg
Seen that many times in the charity shop!
Yah, my saddle is beginning to crack. It’s a nice fat wide saddle for a feminine posterior in black and white vinyl, Electra brand. I think, though, I might find a nice selection of choices these days. Used to be I had pretty much only one choice, the Selle Drifter seat. A fine comfy seat, certainly, but short on style.
Aaaahhh yess, the fond memories of agreeing to disagree with the saddle which brings up just how much I appreciate the luxury of the nice cushy happy bum seat of the recumbent.
Good ridin’
Kel
These things are very personal as each of our bums are different from another persons.
What I do when I buy a new seat is put a plastic bag over it so I don’t damage the logos or finish and give it a few days to see if it really is right for me. If not most stores will let you exchange it for another one.
I have learned enough to know pretty much with a test ride if it’s going to work for me. I know which sore spots settle out and which become intolerable over a few hours pedalling.