Brookes Saddles

[JamieRegan]

I'm doing my first 300 mile ride in a couple of weeks.

I did my longest ride, so far, of 36 miles on Friday in 3 hours, so was quite pleased with that and the only issue I had was a sore bottom. Nothing major, but to be expected.

I have a BTwin hybrid and it's a gel seat, which is pretty comfortable, usually, but I've been reading about Brookes saddles and wonder if it's really worth forking out for one.

Will it be that much better than my gel seat?

Have I left it too late anyway - I leave on 7th April?

 

[Herbie]

I'm doing my first 300 mile ride in a couple of weeks.

I did my longest ride, so far, of 36 miles on Friday in 3 hours, so was quite pleased with that and the only issue I had was a sore bottom. Nothing major, but to be expected.

I have a BTwin hybrid and it's a gel seat, which is pretty comfortable, usually, but I've been reading about Brookes saddles and wonder if it's really worth forking out for one.

Will it be that much better than my gel seat?

Have I left it too late anyway - I leave on 7th April?

Yes very much worth forking out for a Brooks.I had a gel saddle for years and always suffered with a sore arse after long rides but since i got my B17 have had a pain free arse and don't even wear my padded shorts anymore.

 

[PpPete]

Gel saddles are the pits.... but unless you have a Brooks shaped bum you may find they are even worse for you.
Personally i would not dream of setting off on any ride over 30 miles without one of the narrower Brooks saddles - but I doubt I would last 20 miles on a B17

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

You would think that lots of padding (or gel) on your saddle would equal comfort; however, over distance, the opposite is true: your sit bones sink into the padding, which puts pressure on your perineum.

If you plan on doing long distance rides, then a Brooks is a sensible investment. Some people report that they have had to break them in, others (myself included) find them comfortable from the start. There are, of course, people who simply never get on with them.

If you have a look on Ebay, you'll see that Brooks hold their value very well, so it will sell easily if you do decide not to keep it.

This is the best price I've seen for a B17 recently; their Proofide is a good price too.

 

[JamieRegan]

So what is a 'Brookes shaped bum'? Careful now, I'm at work.

 

[Manonabike]

So what is a 'Brookes shaped bum'? Careful now, I'm at work.

It's a bum that can make good friends with a brooks saddle from the start, no braking in period needed.

My theory on the subject is this: Brooks saddles are very hard so when you ride your very first brooks, after riding gel saddles or any soft saddle, the experience comes as a shock so perhaps when a rider, later on, rides another brooks saddle then no more shocking experiences the rider is already kind of used to riding hard saddles.

The fact is that Brooks saddle get much more comfortable with time, when the leather has shaped to your sit bones.

I own 5 brooks saddles and they all needed time to brake in but the first saddle was the hardest to get used to.... although I could ride the others for 50 miles from the start.

On another matter, you will need to put serious training before attempting 300 miles, otherwise, despite the saddle, the ride will be rather painful

 

[JamieRegan]

I think I haven't put in enough training at all. I did a 36 miler, last week. I've done a handful of 12 mile rides and 2-3 months of riding to work and back - 6 miles each way.

Although I'm old and grey, I've a reasonable base fitness and I ran a marathon last year with not enough training, so not too worried about aching muscles and pain - I can deal with that. I am worried about the saddle sores, though. So, anything that might make that better is going to be welcomed.

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

I think I haven't put in enough training at all...

I would agree.

Simon Doughty is a very well regarded long-distance cyclist and his training plan for 400km (and 300 miles is over 480km) is six months long.

Furthermore, in the Audax (long distance cycling) world it is generally considered sensible to do a season of 200km & 300km rides before tackling a 400km.

Running and cycling are very different disciplines and, as you referred to, being able to stay in the saddle for that long is a big part of it; and you're not making life any easier using a hybrid.

If the ride takes place over several days with full support and a B&B at the end of each day's ride, then I wish you every success; if it's non-stop, then I really think you should speak to someone who a) is an experienced distance cyclist and b) knows you and your ability: contact the local CTC.

Sorry to put a damper on things, but 300 miles is a long way for anyone, never mind a novice.

 

[Ian H]

If you're going to change your saddle, give yourself as much time as possible to get used to it before a long ride.

 

[oldfatfool]

get something like an aged Flyer if your ride is in the next couple of weeks, saves the breaking in period.

As mentioned if this is a non-stop 300 miles then sorry you have no chance, even spread over full week at 50 miles day in day out I think you may struggle if the most you are used to is 2 X 6 miles a day.

What is your normal terrain like? and what is the profile of your 300 miles?

 

[smokeysmoo]

FWIW I wouldn't entertain 300 miles for all the tea in China, and I've been riding for years with regular weekly total distances of up to 100 miles. I'm actually planning my first imperial century ride this year, yet despite my mileage and my years in the saddle I still feel under prepared for it. So IMHO you are biting off far more than you can chew.

I wish you every success if you decide to go ahead with it, but I'd urge you to re-schedule it for next year and get some serious mileage/saddle time in this year first.

 

[andy_spacey]

I have a B17 That has 5000 miles on it
b67 which has 2000+ on it and in 3 weeks I am doing a 3000mile using it.
I was the same when i read about them.. How can they be that good?
There are and worth every penny
ps: I don't even need to wear cycling shorts with a brooks

Breaking them is easy, just get the leather wax/oil/cream and put it on and ride.
From the start your be Ok And every 50 miles they get better and better.

 

[Manonabike]

I have a B17 That has 5000 miles on it
b67 which has 2000+ on it and in 3 weeks I am doing a 3000mile using it.
I was the same when i read about them.. How can they be that good?
There are and worth every penny
ps: I don't even need to wear cycling shorts with a brooks

Breaking them is easy, just get the leather wax/oil/cream and put it on and ride.
From the start your be Ok And every 50 miles they get better and better.

I find that riding a Brooks without padding is very comfortable indeed and it's better with not padding at all than a thick padding or cheap quality padding. Having said that, I'm very sensitive down below so I wear triathlon shorts with an extremely thin pad, so thin that it should not be called pad but they are seamless which is what I look for.

About two years ago a friend of mine nearly gave up on his Team Pro saddle and now he loves it, more so than his B17. I think every week a different saddle is my favourite

 

[plot72]

I was advised when I got my last B17 to shove it in a bag over Winter with Neatsfoot (saddle) oil over it, extract in March and ride. That seemed to work well for me, arse grew like the saddle and saddle grew like the rider....but less wrinkley. Wouldn't part with it now though.

I still add from time to time more oil for the winter and tighten up the underseat brasing nut which (I'm not sure if it's the right thing to do) seems to work.

 

[rb58]

IMHO you've left it too late to switch to a Brooks saddle for a long ride starting in under two weeks time. You may be lucky and get on with it from the off, or you could be like me and spend 6 months and hundreds of miles trying make your backside Brooks-shaped. What you can't risk is starting the long ride without having figured that our first.

Like others have said, I would be seriously concerned about undertaking a 300 mile ride when the longest you've done so far is 30 miles. It's not just your backside that will be sore, you'd be surprised at how sore the other contact points (hands and feet) can get if they're not prepared. After all, at your average speed of 12mph, your looking at 25 hours saddle time. Not easy.