Thorn Cycles Forum
Technical => General Technical => Topic started by: pberrey on September 15, 2004, 09:52:46 pm
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What are people's experiences with sprung saddles, like the Brooks Conquest, and suspension seatposts? Are they noisy? Heavy? Really good? Why aren't we *all* riding with some form of comfort device besides chamois?
Please bare in mind that I weight 100 kilos so there is little point buying anything with suspension/springs if I'm just going to squash them!
Thanks.
Paul.
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I have tried a Brooks Conquest but didn't like it. I much prefer the Champion Flyer which has a wider top, it's a B17 with springs. Mine has stretched a lot though, half an inch in two years, so I can't see it lasting forever.I weigh about the same as you.
My other suspension experiences are a USE SX post, which is good but not entirely lacking in Stiction(MTB speak), so good for ironing out bumps but not small vibratory movements. I also have a Moxey parallelogram post which absorbs both large and small movements, but takes some getting used to and is best for offroad.
Cane Creek do a touring version of this, with a smaller parallelogram which looks an interesting possibility.
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Which do you prefer (and why) between the saddles and seatposts?
I think a saddle would do the job for me as it would take the sudden impact out of an unseen pothole without changing the effective seat height whilst I'm riding.
Thanks.
Paul.
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I use the Champion flyer a lot on the Nomad.
I did have a seatpost suspension jobbie that I paid about £110-00 for a few years ago, can't even remember the make/model. It was okay but the Brookes is better to me at 115kgs.
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I've been trying different option lately. I went from a B17, which was nice but gave me a numbness, to conquest which was better but still quite hard since I'm light. Now I've invested in a Cane Creek Thudbuster suspension post with a Team professional brooks saddle. I've not had any saddle soarness since.
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Having just done 550km on an off-road tour with a Thudbuster ST equipped Raven Enduro, I'm firmly in the suspension seatpost fan club.
I didn't notice any complication to pedalling efficiency - just the opposite as I was encouraged to sit and spin the Rohloff gears even more. Only maintenance required was a spot of lubrication half way through.
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I have a Brooks B17 with a Thudbuster ST. I'm a heavy rider (98Kg [:I]) and even with the hardest elastomers, on the road I bounce up and down uncomfortably. Off road it's an ideal combination.
I'm looking to change from the Thudbuster, but would still like something to take the sting out of large potholes. Would a sprung brooks saddle be the answer; are the springs stiff enough?
Kevin
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I have a Brooks Conquest sprung saddle on my Raven. It is marketed for MTB use and absorbs the impact of potholes, etc. well, but the springs are stiff enough to prevent bouncing due to irregular surfaces or pedalling efforts.
You could also consider the Champion flyer (recommended by Luceberg). I have a B17 (on a Brompton) which is longer and more comfortable on the road.
I think the Conquest has also stretched more than the B17 (bought in early 90s) or my Brooks Pro (early 80s). I adjusted the Conquest tension nut several flats to remove sagging after 9 months. The other saddles have never been adjusted.
Colin
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Thanks Colin. If it's not too personal a question, how heavy are you? [:D]
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quote:
Originally posted by Stijn
I've been trying different option lately. I went from a B17, which was nice but gave me a numbness, to conquest which was better but still quite hard since I'm light. Now I've invested in a Cane Creek Thudbuster suspension post with a Team professional brooks saddle. I've not had any saddle soarness since.
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quote:
Originally posted by sarissa
Having just done 550km on an off-road tour with a Thudbuster ST equipped Raven Enduro, I'm firmly in the suspension seatpost fan club.
I didn't notice any complication to pedalling efficiency - just the opposite as I was encouraged to sit and spin the Rohloff gears even more. Only maintenance required was a spot of lubrication half way through.
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Has anyone tried a Brooks Flyer? From what I read here riders have good reports of putting an unsprung saddle on a suspension post. The bike I have on order is equipped with a Brooks Professional. Is that too much the racing saddle for extended touring?
Any feedback would be welcome.
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To answer two questions:
1) kwkirby01: (Conquest sprung saddle) I weigh 63 kg.
2) sfbiker: (Brooks Pro) I've toured for more than twenty years on a Brooks Pro; it's comfortable, but I think the B17 is better. I like the springs on the Conquest; it was comfortable during a 350 km camping tour to the Pyrenées two weeks ago, but I still wonder if the Flyer (a "sprung B17") would have been a better choice for extended road touring.
I usually wear tennis shorts (no chamois)!
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Colin: Thanks for your input. Do the Brooks saddles take a long time to break in or can you tell prettty quickly if one is not going to work.
sfbiker
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sfbiker,
From my experience, they feel hard when you first sit on them, but remain more comfortable than most padded, plastic based saddles, even during the first long trip. Afterwords, like good shoes, they become more and more comfortable with regular use.
Colin
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Colin: Thanks again for responding. My Brooks Flyer Trekking arrived by mail. Its hard alright. I assume you HAVE to use the Brooks Proofide to break in the beast.
Peter
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I can't remember what it is called but I got some saddle rub from a Horse riding shop and that works well on the Brooks.
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I use the cheaper gel filled seats in vinyl and to date cannot complain about a double coil seat, on rough roads do save rim damge and can be suprisingly comfortable. If this is too old fashined then try the blocks, elastemer I think instead.
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Can't offer any suggestions on sprung seat, only that I'm looking into the Thudbuster ST seatpost in which to mount my Specialized Alias saddle which is very good for me, as a long distance cyclist and labourer(about 73kg's). I've discovered a SNAB or 'Sensitive New Age Back' after being rear ended by a car. The cause the demise of my last bike (Hence my purchase of a Thorn - Catalyst).
I'm interested knowing whether the Thudbuster ST will eat up enough small bumps and road roughage that the steel frame doesn't reduce, and help keep the back healthy. So if I can hook into this topic, maybe someone can type in some helpful thoughts if they have had some experience with thudbusters or other suspension seatposts with a similar intention in mind.
And in case some one comes up with suggestion, I'm not going to be riding a recumbant. I'd be dead if I was on one when I got hit, despite my appreciation of their relative advantages.
Cheers and nice to be alive and riding a Thorn.
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quote:
Originally posted by sfbiker
Colin: Thanks again for responding. My Brooks Flyer Trekking arrived by mail. Its hard alright. I assume you HAVE to use the Brooks Proofide to break in the beast.
Peter
Do NOT use anything other than Proofhide and only use Proofhide in a limited quantity. Any substance such as Neetsfoot oil found in a Horse livery type shop will virtually kill the Brooks. I know from years of experience I can assure you.
Rub a fair ammount of Proofhide onto the underside of the saddle and a similar quantity on the top seating area whilst in a warm place. Use the bike and suffer the pain until behold a wonderful comfortable seat will surprise you one day when you get on for a ride.
Do NOT use anything other than Proofhide please..........
John.