Stretching a Brookes saddle...

[Globalti]

As I have posted on here before, I once bought a Swift and was so shocked at the weight and crudeness of it that I sold it straight on for the same money. It looked like a medieval chastity belt maker had cobbled it together in a shed in Birmingham.

 

[srw]

If it's comfortable, don't do anything. A Brooks is a thing of beauty, to be cherished and enjoyed. Those of you who say otherwise are just jealous that they haven't found which particular Brooks fits best. Either that, or you're masochists.

 

[Smokin Joe]

If it's comfortable, don't do anything. A Brooks is a thing of beauty, to be cherished and enjoyed. Those of you who say otherwise are just jealous that they haven't found which particular Brooks fits best. Either that, or you're masochists.

I bet you go to parties where people throw their car keys in a bowl and there are handcuffs and whips in the bedrooms.

 

[Twenty Inch]

I'm with Chuffy. They do feel different when broken-in, but the tension is set very carefully at the factory and is best left alone unless it's getting uncomfortable.

Then why do they waste all that money and production time putting an adjustable bolt on the saddle and a key in the box?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Then why do they waste all that money and production time putting an adjustable bolt on the saddle and a key in the box?

I've wondered about that too. Especially as I've never had to adjust mine in over twelve years of use. What have you done to the thing, BFTB, that means you need to adjust it after such a short period of time?

 

[Smokin Joe]

I've wondered about that too. Especially as I've never had to adjust mine in over twelve years of use. What have you done to the thing, BFTB, that means you need to adjust it after such a short period of time?

Blimey RT, I had you down as an ok sort of guy

Re BFTB, maybe his incontinence pants leaked and ruined the leather?

 

[Chuffy]

I've wondered about that too. Especially as I've never had to adjust mine in over twelve years of use. What have you done to the thing, BFTB, that means you need to adjust it after such a short period of time?

I think the nose-bolt spanner is some kind of moral test. Reaching for the bolt represents failure on a deep and very personal level.

I managed to kill my first Brooks after barely a year after applying too much Proofide and fiddling with the bolt. Make of that what you will....

 

[TheDoctor]

That's what riding in rubber shorts does...

 

[Bigtallfatbloke]

What have you done to the thing, BFTB, that means you need to adjust it after such a short period of time?

..it's not to bad...I mean it's still comfy...I just seem to 'sink down into it' recently. I reckon I'll leve it rather than risk cocking it up.

 

[postman]

Gave mine a tweak last year with a spanner and a touch of Astonish leather cream.Superb saddle.I have had it a very long time.

 

[Chuffy]

This page shows some Brooks butchering and lacing. It might be a solution for you BTFB.

I have never ridden my Brooks in rubber shorts. I'm not that kinky...

Another useful thread here and the article by Sheldon Brown

that the first article references. Sheldon gets it horribly wrong about the breaking in period and the use of leather softening agents (repeat after me, you DO NOT want to soften the leather) but he's spot on about the tension bolt.

 

[Bollo]

I regularly stroke my Brooks while waiting for a train or stopping for some cake. Its very soothing - try it.

Don't touch the bolt.

 

[robbarker]

Then why do they waste all that money and production time putting an adjustable bolt on the saddle and a key in the box?

That's for the 50 year service. Or something.

 

[Danny]

My Brooks B17N definitely went so saggy after a few years that it needed to be tightened up - and I am not particularly heavy.

Could their be a difference between different Brooks saddles? Which ones are people using who say they have never had to tighten theirs?

 

[PpPete]

I suspect the variation may be because leather is a natural product and varies considerably from beast to beast, how old it was at death, even what season it was killed. Then how dry an environment it's stored in etc. etc.
I'd certainly not get another - tried tightening it because not comfortable, ended up with nose slightly twisted with respect to the frame, and the edge of the leather on the "up" side causing a very nasty chafe on inner thigh.

this isn't mine - but the attached serves as a cautionary tale.