Brooks and suspension post

[Graham1]

I am about to change my saddle on my commuter for a Brooks B17, I have a USE SX suspension seat post fitted will this make any difference to the brooks or should I have a standard fixed post?

 

[RedBike]

On the advice of one of the vetren cyclists at our club a year or two ago I invested in a B17. It lasted for all of 2 weeks before I ebayed the horrible thing.

Apparently it takes months of riding and waxing to get the saddle to soften and mould to your backside. My backside wouldn't take months of this torture; in fact my backside couldn't take an hour of it. The saddle had to go!

For the first few weeks I would keep the suspension seatpost in place, and make sure you wear padded shorts and assos cream!

 

[Chuffy]

<ignores Redbike>

Hmmm, Brooks on a suspension post eh? <rubs chin>
Should work fine, I can't think why it wouldn't. As for the legendary 'breaking in' period, well, it's not so bad as all that. The key things to remember are:

• Don't touch the tension bolt
• Use Proofide ONLY and use it sparingly. One application from new (including a liberal coating on the underside) will do. Maybe another coat on the top after a month, but no more.
• YOU DON'T SOFTEN THE LEATHER!!!!! This is a common misconception, the leather shouldn't ever be softened, it's supposed to be stiff. Instead, what happens is the leather will gradually mould to the shape of your backside. Some people just never get on with Brooks saddles, but this is true of all saddles.
• Don't touch the tension bolt!

 

[ASC1951]

Apparently it takes months of riding and waxing to get the saddle to soften and mould to your backside.

Maybe for some people, but all my Brooks saddles have been comfortable straight out of the box. All that happened after 'months' is that they got even more comfortable.

I would have given it more than a couple of weeks, personally, but if it didn't suit you there's no point keeping it.

As to the suspension post, I would try the B17 on a rigid post first. Instinct tells me that something which is designed to deform very very gradually shouldn't be subjected to extra bouncing up and down, even if you are a racing snake.

 

[Twenty Inch]

I am about to change my saddle on my commuter for a Brooks B17, I have a USE SX suspension seat post fitted will this make any difference to the brooks or should I have a standard fixed post?

It's agin the laws of man and nature. There'll be trouble afore night...


(stay on the road, stay off the moor)

erm - I'll buy it off you if you don't get on with it.

 

[02GF74]

dunno - i had a brooks saddle once, very comfy. swapped over to flite which I find comfy too, should have kept the brooks but ....

 

[Graham1]

Thanks for the replies, Chuffy I guess you shouldn't touch the tension bolt, ASC1951 racing snake if only, 6 foot 2 in 15 1/2 stone.
Well we will give it ago and see how i get on.
Thanks again

 

[Chuffy]

Did I mention not to touch the bolt?

Re: ASC1951's point. I wondered about that too, but surely the post will absorb some of the impact of a big bump? Hence there will be less force going into the saddle than if you didn't have the post.
I think...

 

[jimboalee]

Listen to Chuffy. You don't need one of these.

 

[jimboalee]

When I bought my Pro' Honey, being the cheeky chappie I am, I rode to Smethwick, Downing St, would you believe.
I called in and told them how pleased I was with it and "What do I put on it to waterproof it?"

In the LBS, an enormous can of Proofide was £4.95, but good old lads at Brooks gave me a little can ( giveaway sample ).

I've had it twenty five years and its hardly used, so what I would do with a BIG can, heaven knows.

If you buy a Brooks, give them a ring and act dumb, they might mail you a sample of Proofide.

 

[ASC1951]

In the LBS, an enormous can of Proofide was £4.95, but good old lads at Brooks gave me a little can ( giveaway sample ).

I've had it twenty five years and its hardly used, so what I would do with a BIG can, heaven knows.

Yes, me too - just a quick slather on both sides when it's new. I've never had to use the tension spanner, either.

 

[threefingerjoe]

Getting back to the original note...I'm inclined to question the idea of a B-17 on a suspension post. I get the impression, that this is a hybrid or "comfort" bike, as I've never seen a suspension post on a drop-bar bike. If so, since it is a more upright riding position, you may want to take a look at the B-67. That is a wider, sprung saddle, for an upright position.

Personally, I've never gotten on well with a suspension post. Perhaps I've never gotten one adjusted properly. My experience has been that with my weight on it, it collapses and is too low. Maybe yours is a good enough post that you can tighten the tension enough to just give a little on bumps, but doesn't collapse during normal riding?

 

[jimboalee]

I noticed a suspension post used on the Paris – Roubaix.

I had one once. The problem is setting the correct height. You have to assess the amount of squeeze and set the height higher than normal. Mine was about 10mm.

Mine was with a San Marco somethingorother, and to be honest, it was fantastic.
Its a weird feeling. When you honk, the seat rises with you. When you sit again, the seat sinks and that can be un-nerving at first.

 

[Graham1]

I have just been out on my Dawes with the newly fitted Brooks B17, decided to fit a fixed seat post to try first and i am really pleased with both the seat and post, really comfortable even after 21 miles,only one slight problem I have got it tipped to far back but I will adjust this in the morning and give it another go, if it gets more comfortable as it gets broken in all I can say is Wow

 

[tyred]

I put a Brooks B66 (the one with springs) on my restored Raleigh 20, mainly because I thought it looked like a nice period touch but I have found it extremely comfortable from day one. I never found it hard or uncomfortable in any way. The only small complaint I have is that the springs tend to squeak going over bumps.