Sitting on a Dead Cow

[Deleted member 803]

My son is picking up his new bike in a few weeks and wants a Brooks saddle. Has anyone had extensive experience with them. If so, I would love some comments good and bad..thanks!

 

[Aushiker]

I blogged on my Brook saddles back in 2009. All my diamond frame bikes still have them, I have toured extensively on them, I commute on them and my new fatbike build is getting one. I guess I am a fanboy

Andrew

 

[Ann M.]

When you get a Brooks saddle broken in, there's nothing else that will ride like that will. Have done several 200+ mile rides on one without saddle sores; which is not something that I can claim on most other seats. Little trick is to work neatsfoot oil (or some kind of leather conditioning oil) into the underside of the saddle; take time to work it into the leather, then as you ride, the saddle will conform properly to your body.

 

[Aushiker]

Little trick is to work neatsfoot oil (or some kind of leather conditioning oil) into the underside of the saddle; take time to work it into the leather, then as you ride, the saddle will conform properly to your body.

Personally I wouldn't go near a Brooks saddle with Neats-foot oil. Brooks England specifically warn against this:

Neat’s-foot oil, in particular, is known to have serious harmful effects on a Brooks saddle, weakening the inner fibres of the leather to the point where the leather is no longer strong enough to support the weight of a rider; it will also destroy the sheen finish of the leather.

Andrew

 

[Ann M.]

There are other choices, Proofide which Brooks recommends and the classic bike resource, Sheldon Brown, has a bit of a discussion on leather saddle break in techniques; the neatsfoot oil is just a traditional option and you don't have to put it on the topside! If you're always riding in wet climates, then the neatsfoot oil works too well! Just trying to remember what my endurance riding buddies and I did to prep the saddles.

 

[Noreen]

I have 3 bikes, and they all have Brooks saddles (67S - with springs for my sore back). I have been told that you can tell whether a Brooks will work for you fairly quickly - even on a short test ride. If it is really uncomfortable right off the bat, it is likely never going to be really comfortable when broken in. Just broken in and uncomfortable.

For me, my LBS ordered me a 67S and let me test ride. It was comfortable immediately, and with a little adjusting (front to back; and angle) it got more comfortable. I used the Proofhide on all of them.

This winter I test rode a bike with studded tires and it had a Brooks B17. It was the most uncomfortable ride I have ever had. Even factoring in that it was a man's saddle and broken in by someone else, I couldn't imagine riding more than a few miles on it. So 86, have your son test ride a few Brooks models and I think he will know pretty quickly whether it will work for him.

 

[Aushiker]

This winter I test rode a bike with studded tires and it had a Brooks B17. It was the most uncomfortable ride I have ever had. Even factoring in that it was a man's saddle and broken in by someone else, I couldn't imagine riding more than a few miles on it. So 86, have your son test ride a few Brooks models and I think he will know pretty quickly whether it will work for him.

That is interesting as the Flyer (67S) and the B17 actually use the same top so should be the same comfort from that aspect. The difference between the two being the springs. I have a Flyer (standard one) and haven't found the springs that useful but then I don't have a sore back. I have ridden 1,000+ kilometres of congratulated roads with it and never felt it help ... it was like I couldn't get the springs to spring so to speak.

Glad to hear it works for you but.

Andrew

 

[Jonah]

I love the Brooks Cambrium saddle. The saddle is comfortable IF I am resting on my is ischial tuberosites. Since the seat is made of rubber, rain is no issue (compared to leather). I have also found this saddle to be great for non-ebikes. This saddle in combination with a body float = happiness when riding my Evo Jet. There is no slipping on the Cambrium because of the textured cotton surface. I have found the leather saddles to be sufficiently slippery that I had to angle up the saddle nose to avoid having to constantly readjust my position. I have not had pain with this saddle. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Deleted member 803]

I may look at a Brooks for myself. When my bike was being disassembled and rebuilt prior to picking up my bike for the first time, the dealer fitted me with an SQ Lab seat. I have been increasing my rides from a few hundred feet to a few hundred yards. Today I pumped up a 24% grade for 1/2 a mile and found that I suffered some numbness. I did not stand up (can't at my age). A very weird feeling.