LexRides

[gdb]

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 15:09:44 -0500
From: "Steve Godbey" <sgodbey@hotmail.com>
Subject: [kycyclist] brooks saddle users
To: "'Kentucky Cycling List'" <kycyclist@louisvillebicycleclub.org>
Message-ID: <BAY120-DAV10FBAF41542BC015344358AE120@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Okay - so, I'm considering giving a Brooks saddle a try for century rides,
and longer. What model of Brooks do you use, and why?


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Message: 6
Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:31:46 -0500
From: Ed Brady <mailinglist@ebrady.net>
Subject: Re: [kycyclist] brooks saddle users
To: Kentucky Cycling List <kycyclist@louisvillebicycleclub.org>
Message-ID: <47D054B2.8090905@ebrady.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I use the B-17, after getting recommendations from a number of
different long distance riders.
I have about 350 miles on it, so it is still pretty new and not broke in
yet. Regardless, it is definitely the most comfortable saddle I have
owned so far. It requires a little more care then the typical plastic
saddle (Proofide needs to be rubbed in occasionally, do not let it get
wet) but I wouldn't let that stop you if you want to get one.

Ed

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Message: 7
Date: Thu, 06 Mar 2008 19:47:35 -0500
From: Steve Rice <srice@insightbb.com>
Subject: Re: [kycyclist] brooks saddle users
To: Kentucky Cycling List <kycyclist@louisvillebicycleclub.org>
Message-ID: <47D090A7.5010800@insightbb.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Steve

I ride Team Pros (got them on 6 bikes) and have found the width to be
good for me. I have managed to develop a crack in metal piece on one of
them which has somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 miles on it. The
Team Pros have the thickest leather of any the Brooks saddles and are
typically very long lived. One issue with Brooks saddles is the
relatively short rails. Most modern saddles have longer rails allowing
you to move the saddle further back. As a result of this, I wasn't able
to get comfortable on my Strong until I changed from a Campy seatpost to
a Salsa post with quite a bit more setback. The only person that I know
that has tried a Brooks and didn't like it is Barry - and he doesn't
like anything. Fortunately, he sells the stuff he doesn't like. (got 2
saddle from him)

Steve

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Message: 8
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 21:51:16 -0500
From: "Mike Kamenish" <nascar@iglou.com>
Subject: RE: [kycyclist] brooks saddle users
To: "'Kentucky Cycling List'" <kycyclist@louisvillebicycleclub.org>
Message-ID: <001901c87ffe$1d393bd0$0e00000a@S0025113646>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I have the "Professional" on my road bike. I believe I already discussed
with you why I like it. http://sheldonbrown.com/leather.html can tell you
all about leather saddles. I just bought a green B-17 w/ copper rivets (from
awesome Bob at Clarksville Schwinn) for my Azuki.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: kycyclist-bounces@louisvillebicycleclub.org
[mailto:kycyclist-bounces@louisvillebicycleclub.org] On Behalf Of Steve Rice
Sent: Thursday, March 06, 2008 7:48 PM
To: Kentucky Cycling List
Subject: Re: [kycyclist] brooks saddle users

Steve

I ride Team Pros (got them on 6 bikes) and have found the width to be good
for me. I have managed to develop a crack in metal piece on one of them
which has somewhere between 30,000 and 40,000 miles on it. The Team Pros
have the thickest leather of any the Brooks saddles and are typically very
long lived. One issue with Brooks saddles is the relatively short rails.
Most modern saddles have longer rails allowing you to move the saddle
further back. As a result of this, I wasn't able to get comfortable on my
Strong until I changed from a Campy seatpost to a Salsa post with quite a
bit more setback. The only person that I know that has tried a Brooks and
didn't like it is Barry - and he doesn't like anything. Fortunately, he
sells the stuff he doesn't like. (got 2 saddle from him)

Steve

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Message: 9
Date: Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:04:22 -0500
From: Dick Krakowski <dkbikes@insightbb.com>
Subject: Re: [kycyclist] brooks saddle users
To: Kentucky Cycling List <kycyclist@louisvillebicycleclub.org>
Message-ID: <0662BD28-1DEA-4699-87DD-05A19D3DEB34@insightbb.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes

Hi Steve, I am using 3 brooks saddles. I have a team pro on my Trek
road bike and two B-17's, one of which is on my Cannondale t1. I have
never had an issue with any of them and in fact, for me, they were
comfortable from the start. One thing I really like about them is in
the summertime when it is hot and muggy, they seem to be cooler than
the plastic covered types. When new, I soak them in neatsfoot oil
overnight and then when dry apply a good coat of Proofide especially
on the underneath. Every couple of months I reapply the proofide. I
have had them very wet, in fact soaked, and they seem alright after
drying and coating with proofide.

Hope this helps.
cu,
Dick

[brokebike]

I've owned a total of 4 Brooks saddles, staring with a basic B-17, and I currently have Swifts on 3 of my bikes. The Swift is the one that seems to fit my anatomy the best (narrow sit-bones). The last Swift I bought off a friend because his hips were a bit too wide for the saddle to be comfortable for him.

My wife also has a B-17 Special on her bike.

I agree with the person in the conversation who said that they may be stiff at first (they are), but are still more comfortable than most saddles out there, even right out of the box. However, many people have widely varying notions of what a saddle should feel like, and how you should be riding one, so a Brooks isn't going to be the miracle saddle for everyone.

As far as care and maintenance, I follow the "little and not very often" rule. Just ride them to break them in. I put about 2-3 coats of Proofhide on when I first take them out of the box, but then maybe once a year after that. Never tighten the chuck on the nose unless you absolutely think it needs it. If it gets rained on every now and again, it probably won't harm it much other than some water spots, but I would try to keep it covered as much as you can if there's a chance it's going to rain on you.

For that, make sure you check out the covers made by Velox, because the Brooks covers ARE NOT waterproof.
_________________
------------[] O

[mcrib]

or a plastic bag from the grocery, looks shitty but it keeps the rain out, and no one will be looking under a grocery bag for a nice saddle to steal.
_________________
Albert Einstein trembled when he found out time was water. Seeping through the rafters to put out this burning world.

[taylor]

this is going back to an old ass thread, but I use one of the dog poop bags from Woodland Park to keep my Brooks dry. we take lots of those bags to take with us to clean up our dog's shit even if we're not in the park. I had to stretch it a little to get it over the back of my B17, but it works ok.

btw, I've had my Brooks for about 5-6 months and it's just now starting to get my butt imprinted into it. I guess I have a long way before my Brooks looks like Tedder's...