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51
Non-Thorn Related / Re: Has anyone had a bike fit?
« Last post by PH on July 27, 2026, 01:30:45 PM »
I had a bike fit by Hewitt Cycles as a part of the buying experience some 25 years ago, it made some changes to my position which I didn't at first like, but ended up changing other bikes to match.  That's an issue with trial and error, you will resort to what feels familiar, rather than what might be best.  Years later I tried the guide linked below, and it came within mm's of the Hewitt fit.  Both professional and guided need to be taken as a starting point, rather than an absolute, we are all different, though not as different as some assume.
https://wheel-easy.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/bike-set-up-2017a.pdf
52
Transmission / Re: Replace chain
« Last post by PH on July 27, 2026, 01:25:25 PM »
Quote from: Andre Jute on July 25, 2026, 10:59:10 PM
Quote from: PH on July 25, 2026, 10:13:35 AM
If you're going down the route of swapping chains to preserve other components, you have to frequently measure and not go by mileage.

Riders can do what they choose, but there are two practical options, wear it all out and replace together or replace chains before anything else is worn.  Doing something between those two has no advantage and will cost more in components than either.

There's Martin's middle way of swapping chains in and out at quite short intervals when his bikes ran with open chains, which substitutes maintenance time for components costs.
I'd forgotten that, it was very popular on derailleur set ups at one time, I even tried it once myself, but the effort to keep the wear in synch was two much for me.
53
General Technical / Re: Brooks saddle
« Last post by Andre Jute on July 27, 2026, 12:53:34 AM »
Quote from: mickeg on July 26, 2026, 12:25:27 PM
I applied Proofide to the top and bottom on a regular basis, initially more frequent than later.

IIRC, Brooks instruction for applying Proofide are to apply the proprietary wax to the top and the bottom when first applied, but for subsequent applications only to the top.

I presume that is to avoid building up wax on both sides so that the leather can breathe out any moisture through one flat side with only a light, single application of Proofide.

Trivia, I bought my Brooks saddle and leather grips in the Honey colour, not because it matched my bike well (it was actually a very good match but a bit flashy for me) but so that I could create a custom dark brown by soaking the saddle in neat foot oil (buy it from a saddlery or tack store which supplies the horse racing crowd).
54
General Technical / Re: Brooks saddle
« Last post by mickeg on July 26, 2026, 11:18:07 PM »
Quote from: jul on July 26, 2026, 04:42:38 PM
Quote from: mickeg on July 26, 2026, 04:22:12 PM
Quote from: jul on July 26, 2026, 12:54:24 PM
Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..
...

Then keep it, but I really think you should put some effort into maintenence.

Yet i use proofide... but i can do small holes and add laces

If you really like it, then occasional Proofide should suffice.  If you lack fenders (mudguards) on the bike, putting some on teh bottom side is not a bad idea.

If it was mine, I would increase the tension on the leather, but maybe the current shape is what you like?  If so, maybe not change the tension.
55
Non-Thorn Related / Has anyone had a bike fit?
« Last post by Binky on July 26, 2026, 09:42:55 PM »
I'm still getting back into the swing of cycling again after a few years off the bikes, I'm older, heavier and less bike fit than I was, and also riding riser bar bikes while my drop bar road bike is gathering dust in a corner. I'm considering a bike fit to get the most out of my cycling and to possibly iron out a few issues I'm having.

I've noticed there are now quite a few people offering bike fitting services, from the expensive to the not so expensive, from specialists who do nothing but bike fits to bike shops who also offer it as one of their many services.

Has anyone had one? What did you think of the experience? Has it improved your cycling or solved any issues you may have had?
56
General Technical / Re: Brooks saddle
« Last post by jul on July 26, 2026, 04:42:38 PM »
Quote from: mickeg on July 26, 2026, 04:22:12 PM
Quote from: jul on July 26, 2026, 12:54:24 PM
Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..
...

Then keep it, but I really think you should put some effort into maintenence.

Yet i use proofide... but i can do small holes and add laces
57
General Technical / Re: Brooks saddle
« Last post by mickeg on July 26, 2026, 04:22:12 PM »
Quote from: jul on July 26, 2026, 12:54:24 PM
Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..
...

Then keep it, but I really think you should put some effort into maintenence.
58
General Technical / Re: Brooks saddle
« Last post by jul on July 26, 2026, 12:54:24 PM »
Ok, but i am comfortable on my B17..

However, i don’t want to take care as Mickeg ,  maybe is it possible to find a similar saddle as the B17 but without leather ?

If somebody know the B17 and who can suggest to me another saddle as comfortable as the B17 ?

59
General Technical / Re: Brooks saddle
« Last post by UKTony on July 26, 2026, 12:41:39 PM »
I just follow the Brooks leather saddle care instructions. Yours certainly looks like it needs replacing.

https://www.brooksengland.com/en-gb/pages/how-to-maintain-leather-saddles
60
General Technical / Re: Brooks saddle
« Last post by mickeg on July 26, 2026, 12:25:27 PM »
I would replace that one, that one is pretty stretched out.

But I have Brooks saddles that I have been riding for a couple decades that do not show anywhere near as much stretch as yours.

I have been careful to make sure that I wore my saddle into the shape I wanted before I put Brooks Proofide on it.  And I did not ride those saddles in the rain.  And once they were most of the way to the shape I wanted them, I applied Proofide to the top and bottom on a regular basis, initially more frequent than later. 

And I use a rain cover when the bike might be in the rain.  I am pretty obsessive about making sure I do not ride on a wet saddle.

One of mine in attached photo, my records say that this one was bought two decades ago, most of my bike tours were on this one.  It was honey color when new.  Photo was from last month.

But I have several bikes, I do not put a lot of wear on any individual bike.

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