Braking in a brooks saddle

[Manonabike]

I own several brooks saddles and I'm currently braking in my latest saddle, a brooks flyer. This saddle is behaving exactly the same as all the others, one side of the saddle gets comfortable before the other. The interesting thing here is that on one saddle the side that gets comfortable first is not the same side than on another saddle so I'm sure this issue has nothing to do with my seat bones but the leather the saddle is mad of.

I remember that while braking in a B17 both sides were broken in within 100 miles of each other, however, it took a lot longer with the Team Pro.



Has anybody experienced this interesting phenomenon?

 

[doog]

1100 miles to break in my team Pro

http://www.cyclechat...71#entry1744971

 

[Manonabike]

1100 miles to brake in my team Pro

http://www.cyclechat...71#entry1744971

The question was if you had experienced breaking in one side of the saddle first.....

 

[darthTrader]

I have a B17 and TBH it didn't need any breaking in, it was supremely comfortable straight out of the box

 

[StuartG]

I have a B17 and TBH it didn't need any breaking in, it was supremely comfortable straight out of the box

+1
(And I have had three)

 

[Manonabike]

I have a B17 and TBH it didn't need any breaking in, it was supremely comfortable straight out of the box

No doubt. I've heard many people saying that about brooks saddles, unfortunately I cannot say the same but it's not so bad either. I can take a brand new B17 or as in my current saddle, a flyer, and ride 20 mls reasonably comfortable.

There is a point in the breaking in process when the indentations have already appeared and one of them is totally comfortable but the other is not quite..... in my experience, depending on the saddle, it might take an extra 100 miles or more to get both sides equally comfortable. That is what I'm asking.... am I the only person experiencing this phenomenon?

 

[doog]

The question was if you had experienced breaking in one side of the saddle first.....

edited

You may have noticed that I made no mention in my link. of one side breaking in before the other, so I guess that answers your question .

 

[Moodyman]

I've only got one Brooks (normal B17), and I find that one side is more comfortable than the other - it's also visible with the eye.

Only done about 600 miles in total though, so may even itself out over time.

 

[vernon]

Has anybody experienced this interesting phenomenon?

Nope.

Where's this notion of having to break in a Brooks saddle come from?

All three of mine have been fine from the off.

So confident was I with the comfort offered by Brooks saddles that I set of on a LEJOG ride with a brand new B17. Comfortable from the moment I sat on it.

Asymettrical breaking in. Are you consistent with the side that you dress on.

 

[srw]

1100 miles to brake in my team Pro

That's one hell of a long stopping distance. I find I can brake inside a few yards, which ever saddle I'm sitting on.


I've never needed to break in a Brooks saddle - they're just comfortable. Occasionally after I've not ridden for a while a long ride gives me a bit of discomfort, and sometimes that's one buttock rather than the other, but it's not systematic.

 

[doog]

Where's this notion of having to break in a Brooks saddle come from?

us blokes who have bony arses ? It was worth the effort mind.

 

[doog]

That's one hell of a long stopping distance. I find I can brake inside a few yards, which ever saddle I'm sitting on.

I borrowed the spelling from the OP

(or was it the red wine) btw thanks I have just noticed you can still edit 13 hours later

 

[darthTrader]

Yes but were both sides equally comfortable straight out of the box, or was one side more equal than the other?

It's been unilaterally spot on from the get go FWIW though I do have a well padded rump

 

[Manonabike]

I've only got one Brooks (normal B17), and I find that one side is more comfortable than the other - it's also visible with the eye.

Only done about 600 miles in total though, so may even itself out over time.

I think you will find it will even itself out, at least that has been my experience.

I can also confirm there is a visible difference which does disappear in time.

As for the poster wondering if I'm the only person noticing this..... well, my B17 took about 100 miles before I could feel both indentations equally comfortable..... my team pro was something else, I'd say it took another 500 miles before the indentations were the same..... 700 miles altogether. So how could I miss those 500 miles?

 

[Bicycle]

Just pull the levers mounted on your handlebar.

As you slow down, you'll be braking in a Brooks saddle.