2021 Brompton C-Line Explore
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Not sure about that tbh - the Flyer fitted briefly to my Fuji in my ownership was pretty hard on my back end too.. thinking about it both this and the Fizik on the Brompton are notably slippier than other saddles in my possession - I wonder if this could be a contributing factor..?
I do still have the spare Brand X (Velo) item that was on the Brompton for a time when I last had saddle issues; which is grippier (probably to a fault tbh) but also heavier. It's happened on and off since I've been riding but seems worse currently for whatever reason..
I'll check in the shed tomorrow, think I've got a Charge Spoon and a Charge Pan? ( the slightly broader one ) lying unused in the bits and bobs drawer if you're interested in trying an alternative?
Thanks - that's very thoughtful of you
I believe the Spoon is geometrically the same Velo-made item as the Brand X item I have spare and the Genesis saddles I run on my CdF and Fuji; both of which I typically get on well with.. although if it looks like I might benefit from something wider I might take up your offer of the Pan
I'm going to try and make an effort today to investigate my bike fit and will compare the BX and Fizik saddles again. I did run the BX for a while as I didn't get on well with the Fizik, however found that I was running the Fizik too far back and had an agenda in keeping it since it's both original fitment and lighter than the BX so it went back on.
Thanks - that's very thoughtful of you
I believe the Spoon is geometrically the same Velo-made item as the Brand X item I have spare and the Genesis saddles I run on my CdF and Fuji; both of which I typically get on well with.. although if it looks like I might benefit from something wider I might take up your offer of the Pan
I'm going to try and make an effort today to investigate my bike fit and will compare the BX and Fizik saddles again. I did run the BX for a while as I didn't get on well with the Fizik, however found that I was running the Fizik too far back and had an agenda in keeping it since it's both original fitment and lighter than the BX so it went back on.
I think my Electric Brommie had a Fizik, stuck a C17 on it and sold it on. Mrs TKK has Selle Royal on all her bikes ( though she's down to 4 now 🤔) Her next project is a Rohloff Brommie with her 2015 M6L as the donor bike.
Cheers - I was briefly enthused by the idea of a C17 but a price, mass, variable reviews and their apparent predisposition to go frilly around the edges put me off..
Today for both science and art I've done an arse print; which looks, somewhat unsurprisingly like a disgruntled face:
Before attachment to the fridge I measured the distance between the eyes as around 117mm (so let's say 115-120mm).
This appears to be within the typical range for men, from what I can find on the net. The Trek / Bontrager site seems to suggest a mean for men of 118mm.
Assessing that my arse is apparently of standard dimensions turns out to be about all this exercise was good for, as there doesn't seem to be much more info about relating this dimension to actual saddles / saddle width.
I've been playing with the saddles on the Brompton and Genesis; the former having noticeably less padding and having a more rounded shape with no central relief down the middle at the back.
Sitting on the Brompton I can unsurprisingly feel discomfort at the point of contact by the sore, while the contact point appears to be different (further forward..?) on the Genesis. Not nec. surprising as I'm more upright on the Brompton so there will be less pelvic rotation..
Tempted to swap the BX back onto the Brompton; on the other hand the prospect of having to actually commit to a task is unappealing
Cheers - I was briefly enthused by the idea of a C17 but a price, mass, variable reviews and their apparent predisposition to go frilly around the edges put me off..
Today for both science and art I've done an arse print; which looks, somewhat unsurprisingly like a disgruntled face:
View attachment 709972
Before attachment to the fridge I measured the distance between the eyes as around 117mm (so let's say 115-120mm).
This appears to be within the typical range for men, from what I can find on the net. The Trek / Bontrager site seems to suggest a mean for men of 118mm.
Assessing that my arse is apparently of standard dimensions turns out to be about all this exercise was good for, as there doesn't seem to be much more info about relating this dimension to actual saddles / saddle width.
I've been playing with the saddles on the Brompton and Genesis; the former having noticeably less padding and having a more rounded shape with no central relief down the middle at the back.
Sitting on the Brompton I can unsurprisingly feel discomfort at the point of contact by the sore, while the contact point appears to be different (further forward..?) on the Genesis. Not nec. surprising as I'm more upright on the Brompton so there will be less pelvic rotation..
Tempted to swap the BX back onto the Brompton; on the other hand the prospect of having to actually commit to a task is unappealing
There's an assymetry there between sit bone indentations unless you sat down skewed.
Do it again on some stairs with the cardboard and your back parallel with the riser. If you live in a bungalow then pop along to your nearest shopping centre and use the stairs there. I promise no one will think you odd 😉
a.twiddler
Veteran
Shouldn't that be arse-symmetry?
Thanks - I thought the same and repeated it with my heels against the legs of the chair (never thought about using the back
) and it was more square; although tbh I think the only way a symmetry issue is likely to be detected is by someone else. I'll keep the shopping centre thing in mind though; should make for a better result especially as I usually do it with no pants on for a more accurate rendition 👍
Five degrees this morning, said the weather forecast..
The outside was bright and fresh as I ventured out in my fleece. Dithering at the car took significantly longer thanks to the thin covering of ice; which slowly melted away as the car idled while I loaded the bike up.
The 3-4 minutes lost here were compounded by having to wait again at the first set of lights, then another 5-10 minutes lost queueing at the Woodstock roundabout as traffic was inexplicibly backed up across from Bladon.. it's never usually this bad and hopefully a one off.. although that's the second day that my usually-predictable-20-minute car portion has pushed on to 30 minutes plus
Finally in Yarnton a small delay was had in getting my thin gloves out of the bag - now things are going to be consistantly cold I think accessories such as these need to be more accessible; and now that the lights live on the bike I'll look to stuff them in the rear pocket of the bag.
Getting underway on the bike was bracing; the wind convincingly making its way through my fleece but the cold being felt most obviously on the unwelcome expanse of my forehead and increasingly my fingers... the latter reaching a low at maybe 2.5-3 miles when I couldn't feel my index fingers or thumbs; instead having to use my middle finger to operate the bell. By the time I reached the city at about 4.5 miles I'd warmed up nicely; my fingers thankfully no-longer painfully cold and useless.. I think this needs to be pre-empted in future with thicker gloves and more of an effort to keep my hands warm in the car.
The tow path was again ethereal; this time with less all-encompassing fog and a more subtle blanket of low-hanging mist rising gently from the canal - I suspect it was a bit colder here for this reason that elsewhere; but worth it to an extent for the solitude and scenery. Due to the temperature there was noticeably less traffic although still the odd muppet unwilling / unable to control their errant pets / offspring..
Time was tight but I managed a quick stop at the butchers and just about squeaked into work on time. Hadn't obviously sweated much on the way in, so just removed my fleece for a bit before putting it back on again when chilly. When the temperature's this low I'm wondering if I'd get away with wearing less technical fabrics and keeping them on all day..
Not a terrible journey and it feels like an achievement given that I don't usually ride in such low temperatures; although I need to do something to address the cold hands issue as I can't tolerate that every morning. The thought of how I'd manage a puncture with frozen, dysfunctional hands didn't bear thinking about.
Sorry no pictures on account of the time constraints and fact that for a large part of the journey my hands didn't work properly..
EDIT: After four days of rest my left cheek is still not as it should be, however much better than it was. Other than the odd slight moment of irritation it seems to be playing well with the newly-fitted BX saddle - I think because its padding is firmer and deeper than that that of the original Fizik item so it feels both more supportive / less punishing over the bumps when I'd sometimes bottom out onto the substrate beneath the minimal padding of the original perch.
Looks like the BX will be staying for the forseeable; although I'm also temped to fit one of the new swanky "stealth black" Charge Spoons that are currently doing the rounds; as this should be of identical geometry to the BX but a bit lighter if the numbers are to be believed.
I don't think the Fizik will be going back on.. which begs the question of whether I punt it on or keep it for the sake of originality..
The outside was bright and fresh as I ventured out in my fleece. Dithering at the car took significantly longer thanks to the thin covering of ice; which slowly melted away as the car idled while I loaded the bike up.
The 3-4 minutes lost here were compounded by having to wait again at the first set of lights, then another 5-10 minutes lost queueing at the Woodstock roundabout as traffic was inexplicibly backed up across from Bladon.. it's never usually this bad and hopefully a one off.. although that's the second day that my usually-predictable-20-minute car portion has pushed on to 30 minutes plus
Finally in Yarnton a small delay was had in getting my thin gloves out of the bag - now things are going to be consistantly cold I think accessories such as these need to be more accessible; and now that the lights live on the bike I'll look to stuff them in the rear pocket of the bag.
Getting underway on the bike was bracing; the wind convincingly making its way through my fleece but the cold being felt most obviously on the unwelcome expanse of my forehead and increasingly my fingers... the latter reaching a low at maybe 2.5-3 miles when I couldn't feel my index fingers or thumbs; instead having to use my middle finger to operate the bell. By the time I reached the city at about 4.5 miles I'd warmed up nicely; my fingers thankfully no-longer painfully cold and useless.. I think this needs to be pre-empted in future with thicker gloves and more of an effort to keep my hands warm in the car.
The tow path was again ethereal; this time with less all-encompassing fog and a more subtle blanket of low-hanging mist rising gently from the canal - I suspect it was a bit colder here for this reason that elsewhere; but worth it to an extent for the solitude and scenery. Due to the temperature there was noticeably less traffic although still the odd muppet unwilling / unable to control their errant pets / offspring..
Time was tight but I managed a quick stop at the butchers and just about squeaked into work on time. Hadn't obviously sweated much on the way in, so just removed my fleece for a bit before putting it back on again when chilly. When the temperature's this low I'm wondering if I'd get away with wearing less technical fabrics and keeping them on all day..
Not a terrible journey and it feels like an achievement given that I don't usually ride in such low temperatures; although I need to do something to address the cold hands issue as I can't tolerate that every morning. The thought of how I'd manage a puncture with frozen, dysfunctional hands didn't bear thinking about.
Sorry no pictures on account of the time constraints and fact that for a large part of the journey my hands didn't work properly..
EDIT: After four days of rest my left cheek is still not as it should be, however much better than it was. Other than the odd slight moment of irritation it seems to be playing well with the newly-fitted BX saddle - I think because its padding is firmer and deeper than that that of the original Fizik item so it feels both more supportive / less punishing over the bumps when I'd sometimes bottom out onto the substrate beneath the minimal padding of the original perch.
Looks like the BX will be staying for the forseeable; although I'm also temped to fit one of the new swanky "stealth black" Charge Spoons that are currently doing the rounds; as this should be of identical geometry to the BX but a bit lighter if the numbers are to be believed.
I don't think the Fizik will be going back on.. which begs the question of whether I punt it on or keep it for the sake of originality..
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Temporary traffic lights in Bladon
Thanks - looks like I'll be relying on the satnav again until that's all done one.. maybe I'll have to attack through the industrial estate via Kidlington for the forseeable..
Got stuck in it twice today, it’s causing major problems, most of Oxford seems be dug up at the moment. It’s a real challenge getting about and trying to just do regular stuff by car.
biggs682
Itching to get back on my bike's
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- Northamptonshire
Sounds like mine
