A Tale Of Two Saddles

In the course of things, even the best components get worn out after much use. My Fizik Arrione saddle that came with my Cannondale road bike (the second bike), was coming apart at the seams, literally. It was time for a replacement. This saddle had over 20,000 miles on it, which I felt was pretty good service from a plastic saddle with artificial covering. My natural choice, after having one on my touring bike, and spending 272 miles on the same saddle for a week on the Katy Trail was my trusty Brooks B-17. So, lucky me, I already had one to try out, all broke in and all, so as I was taking it off the mountain bike to put back on the tourer, I slipped it onto the seatpost of my road bike and took it for a ride. I ended up making it a short ride! Several adjustments later, as well as some colorful language, I gave up. Left it on the bike for now though, as I had planned to try it again. A few days later, I once again set out on a short ride, and spent more time adjusting than riding it seemed. Still not right. I really can't understand this, it was so comfortable on the touring bike and the mountain bike, why not this one? After doing some research, I discovered that the B-17 design works best with a more relaxed, upright riding position, not an aggressive lean forward racing position with the handlebars a couple inches below the saddle like it is on my road bike. After pouring over Brooks technology and saddle choices as well as some blogs, I found that Brooks "Team Professional" model was more likely to be the correct one for my bike and riding style. This model was used by pro racers "back in the day", and should be right at home on my "racing" style bike. So, I ordered on from England, and five days later had it in my hands. The difference in appearance was immediately apparent

 

The B-17 (top in the photo) is much broader in the nose area than the Pro model, and the taper to the seating area is much more abrupt in the Pro model than the B-17. The seating area is also a tad smaller on the Pro model, although not really by much. What is not so apparent from this picture however, is that the Pro model is much flatter from nose to rivets than the B-17 which is more "hammocky". This makes the seating area much more precise and gives you little "wiggle" room for the perfect position. The long slender nose of the saddle is perfect for a hard ridden road bike, however as it lets me keep my pedal strokes in tight and close to the top tube where they should be. Way too many people suffer knee pain and Achilles tendon pain because they swing their knees out away from the bike on the down stroke, and alas, many saddles actually encourage this by their design. Not so this one however. The other thing that becomes apparent on this picture is the rivets. I do not pay an additional $50 for hand pounded rivets. I'm sure the gentleman that pounds them in feels justified in charging that much, but Brooks does offer a much cheaper alternative in their machine riveted saddles. Same saddle, but automation replacing craftsmanship results in a cheaper price. The rivet on the nose of the saddle is what gave birth to the term "On the rivet" in professional cycling when a rider rides up on the nose of the saddle to gain a bit more climbing power. Of course today's plastic saddles have no rivets, but the term is still used.

So ..... how did it perform? First ride, right out of the box, not so good. As usual, many adjustments were made to get the saddle right. First ride was 34 miles, still didn't have it right. A Brooks saddle, when new, is very, very slippery, and it needs to be set with the seat portion (in the back) level, even though the nose seems to be pointed up too much. This looks like it would be terribly uncomfortable, but in reality, it's not, due to the design of the saddle. If you do not heed this initial adjustment, you will indeed have an unpleasant experience with your new saddle. You will constantly be sliding forward putting pressure on your wrists and hands, and your derriere will not be in the proper place on the saddle either. So, I did adjust it a bit nose high, and it proved to be a bit much. My Touring bike saddle is micro adjustable, and I can fine tune it with just partial turns of the adjustment screw. Not so with the road bike saddle which has click-stops. Still didn't have it right.

This is after the second ride on the Team Pro, the level is just about perfect. After it gets well broke in, I should be able to drop the nose a bit more. But the saddle nose never got in the way as it sits now.

And this, is the B-17 in the correct level position for break in comfort. You will notice it appears to be more severely angled up in front in order to get the seat portion level. Again, there is no problem with the nose of the saddle, and with the handlebars set at seat height, this is almost a perfect level setting for my comfort.

Second ride, I left the house, and it became immediately apparent what was wrong. Why didn't I notice this the other day? First, I dropped the nose one notch, then lowered the seatpost but about an inch. That was how much taller the Brooks was than my old saddle. Now, all of a sudden the saddle just seemed as though it belonged, and after a 48 mile ride, I actually had less discomfort with this brand new saddle than I did with the Fizik on similar rides. Plus, nothing about this saddle got in the way while riding in an aggressive racing type posture. Now, if I can just get the "dimples" where my "sit bones" contact the saddle, all will be perfect. I have found with a Brooks, why Englishmen have been noted for being so virtuously patient. It takes time! It took me almost 500 miles to break in my B-17 to where I could ride it almost any distance in comfort, and this one is as hard as a rock! Plus, the leather is much thicker than the B-17. It will take much patience and more time, but I'm confident that the end result will be worth it ..... especially the tail end..... Brooks designed these saddles for riders who put lots and lots of miles on their bikes ..... (read professionals), and us mere mortals probably will never wear one out, but instead of breaking one in for just a few days, it will probably take me weeks. I can wait. It really is much more comfortable right out of the box than I imagined it would be.

The drawbacks to this particular saddle are a single riding position, without much 'wiggle' room, and a long break in period. The advantages are that it works well on a road bike with a more aggressive riding position, and will most likely last a very long time. You notice, I did not list weight here. Yes, the Brooks is a bit heavier than the Fizik...... in fact almost double the weight. That weight, however, is added to the frame of the bike, and it's not really an issue. I could lose 250 grams of gut, and it would have a similar effect. In reality, I would defy anyone to let me put the Brooks on one bike, and a Fizik on another identical bike, allow me to blindfold them and have them pick up each bike by hand and tell me which is lighter. The extra weight is only an issue in your mind. 250 grams of saddle weight isn't going to keep me from getting up a hill. I did, however, make a weight reduction to my saddle. I got a smaller, lighter seat bag to carry my spare tube and inflator. Now the saddle is only 100 grams heavier.......... I think it's going to be a keeper!

Addendum, Oct 1, 2013: After 1500 miles, I just about gave up on getting this Team/Pro saddle to break in. Unlike my B-17 Brooks, which wasn't uncomfortable right out of the box, and after 200 miles felt pretty good, this one, has never felt nearly as good. True, I can do the long rides with it, and it has been more comfortable than my old Fizik, it just hasn't been what I have come to expect from a Brooks. So .... before I just give up on it (they aren't cheap), I thought I'd try a little redneck saddle break in. Soaked the underside with neatsfoot oil .... (something I NEVER do with a Brooks normally), and put a little tension on the leather with a couple of C-clamps, I'll leave it for 24 hours and then try it again. I put the B-17 on the bike for a couple of rides, and what a wonderful difference. The only problem with the B-17 on this bike is that the nose of the saddle gets in the way on a road bike with low handlebars. I've been thinking about maybe trying a womans version. Same saddle, just 15mm shorter. On the other hand, before I give up, I'll try my Okie break-in and let you know how it works.