Saddle related problems

[Arnaud]

I've owned a Raven Sport Tour for eight months and done over 3.000km during that period. It is equipped with a San Marco Rolls saddle.I didn't have any problems until recently when I started riding longer distances, typically involving five to six hours in the saddle.My last regular ride of around 20km was quite painful from the first km.
Anyway I'm not going to bore you to death with my sore bum story; I just wanted to find out if any of you had any experience with noseless saddles like the BiSaddle.All the technical stuff on the manufacturers websites makes sense but I'd like some comments from independent parties.

Arnaud from Perth

[davefife]

My RST was fitted with the San Marco Rolls as well,  I lasted about 6 weeks and 500 miles on it, I found it not to my liking at all!! and replaced it with a Specialised BG, following a go on a mates bike equipped with one.  Having upped my daily mileage and cycling 4 days a week at the moment, its not bad, but i get sore sit bones after the 40  mile mark.  I too have been researching and am going to go for a Brooks B17.  The testimonials in favour of this seat really cannot be argued with (can they?) and the longevity of the product is legendary both in terms of production and use.
I would pass on the BiSaddle, unless you can trial one, and go for the Brooks.

[geocycle]

I use a B17 on my Raven Tour.  The breaking in issues are well documented and most people get through OK eventually.  IMO one of the reasons the are so effective is that they are utterly unforgiving in terms of position.  A few mm in height and a degree or so of angle make a big difference on a hard leather platform with no gel cushion.  However, now I've got it right I'll not go back to gel.

[freddered]

I binned the San Marco after 1 ride and fitted a Brooks B17.

It's the best, no question about it in my opinion and zero breaking-in time for me.  

Check out the pictures on http://www.pbase.com/canyonlands/fullyloaded, considering the number of different saddles available it's no coincidence that a high proportion of high-mileage riders choose Brooks.

Mine has never sagged into my shape (maybe I'm Brooks shaped) but is comfy anyway.

I have spent 16 hours a day on it on some occasions, I doubt if I could stand San Marco for 2 hours.

Also, because the leather is suspended (like a hard hammock) between nose and tail with nothing else in-between it acts like a suspension seat-post.  If I push hard with my hand on the top of the saddle I can see the leather depress by about a centimetre.

Anyway, they've been selling them over 100 years without much in the way of modification.  They must be doing something right.

[Arnaud]

OK, it looks like my French derriere will be suported by the finest British leather ! But which model ? Apart from the choice of colour there are so many variations of the B17.
My cycling partner has a Raven Tour coming soon so I'll ask SJS to chuck in an extra Brooks saddle.

[lewisnoble]

Interesting discussion, as I opted for a Brooks 17 but cannot get used to it (after 4 months and approx 800 miles - is that enough?) and get really sore bum bones after about 15 miles.

Should the leather be kept tight (otherwise it squeaks as you go over bumps) or slack??  I am thinking of moving to a gel, but as someone said, many of the long distance people go for Brooks . . .

Lewis

[stutho]

Another vote for the B17.  It took about 2000 miles for mine to break in but even during the break in it wasn't too bad.  The shape and colour of the saddle are wildly different from the saddle that came out of the box.  I definitely prefer the way the saddle looks and feels now!  

On a recent trip to Paris I saw more Brooks saddle in one weekend than I have seen in a lifetime in the UK – maybe it is more suited to the French bottom!

[lewisnoble]

Thanks stutho.  What medication did you use on the saddle?? Proofide as recommended, or something else???  Lewis

[stutho]

There are so much conflicting information on how to care for a Brooks.  I decided to do exactly what  Brooks themselves recommend – Proofide.

[stutho]

Lewisnoble - The angle of a Brooks saddle is critical - far more important than on most saddles. I adjusted mine in 2 degree increments (Thomson seatpost).  Give each position a fair trial say 60 miles.  You will probably get there in the end, but not all saddle suit all people.  

Good Luck!

[lewisnoble]

Yes, angle is a big part of the issue, and has taken some time to get what I think is right  Lewis

[Arnaud]

The Brooks B17 Champion Special arrived yesterday.It looks very British and the retro look goes well with the cork grips.Just looking at it gave me a sore bum ! It felt so stiff and looked so uncompromising ;it brought back chilhood memories of medieval torture instruments. I Proofided it as per instructions and this morning we went for our usual 20km round trip (Jenny's Raven Tour arrived yesterday too, but that's for another forum).Well, it didn't hurt a little bit but felt very slippery.I kept sliding forward. The saddle looks perfectly level. I'll try to lift the nose a little but I am concerned about my nether regions being squeezed. It is now a question of putting some serious miles on the clock and see who comes out the winner. I sincerely hope this doesn't turn into a second Waterloo !

[stutho]

Arnaud. - B17 slippery feeling.  Mine was exactly the same it disappears with time.

[lewisnoble]

Has anyone tried a Comfort Saddle??  No nose at all, looks rather like a shaped park bench, flexes on a suspension system . . .

[john28july]

quote:Originally posted by lewisnoble

Interesting discussion, as I opted for a Brooks 17 but cannot get used to it (after 4 months and approx 800 miles - is that enough?) and get really sore bum bones after about 15 miles.

Should the leather be kept tight (otherwise it squeaks as you go over bumps) or slack??  I am thinking of moving to a gel, but as someone said, many of the long distance people go for Brooks . . .

Lewis

Hello,
I have used Brooks B17 for many years with absolute perfection, that is, until my latest saddle. A Brooks Standard B17. After many rides and swapping between bikes to give it maximum use, I am giving up with this one. The reason, painful sit bones after...approx 15 miles. You are not alone. My impresion is that since the Brooks takeover by the Italian company, a batch was made with different leather.
Ah well another saddle to purchase (Brooks) but which model? Another breaking in period to suffer too.
John.
www.pbase.com/john28july