London-Edinburgh-London 2013: The thread

[martint235]

My only worry is having a numb backside after day 1!

How is that a worry? My worry is that it may not be numb after day 1!!!

 

[JoeyB]

How is that a worry? My worry is that it may not be numb after day 1!!!

Ok numb probably wasn't the best word lol... Battered and bruised is what I meant!

 

[ComedyPilot]

The only way to avoid it is by putting hours in the saddle. Also make sure you're sat right on the bike, most of the saddle weight being through your 'sit bones' in your pelvis. Also, get a Brooks saddle - I swear by mine - I am used to touring 10-12 hours a day for 3 weeks with no cycle shorts, so hopefully 16-20 hours a day for 4 days is going to be ok....?

 

[Tynan]

oh dear, the Lady Wife has given a pass freely on the sole condition that 'I train properly'

and LBS have said 'come in for a chat' in response to my ludicrous request that they sponsor me

gulp

I'd dearly love to get started on a brooks, pricey though on my miniscule budget, how long to get one worn in and ready?

 

[martint235]

oh dear, the Lady Wife has given a pass freely on the sole condition that 'I train properly'

and LBS have said 'come in for a chat' in response to my ludicrous request that they sponsor me

gulp

I'd dearly love to get started on a brooks, pricey though on my miniscule budget, how long to get one worn in and ready?

I honestly haven't had a problem with either of my Brooks from the off. I think if you wear padded shorts a lot of the breaking in is negated. I must confess I've never tried to ride either of mine without padded shorts.

My first ride on my first Brooks was 160 miles with no issues.

 

[Alberto]

oh dear, the Lady Wife has given a pass freely on the sole condition that 'I train properly'

and LBS have said 'come in for a chat' in response to my ludicrous request that they sponsor me

gulp

I'd dearly love to get started on a brooks, pricey though on my miniscule budget, how long to get one worn in and ready?

When I first got my B17 I went touring for four long days. Only on the very first day did it feel uncomfortable after 3 hours of pedalling. After that, it became more ok for the duration of the tour, yet did not show any signs of breaking in until I had put 2000 km on it. It is now very comfy indeed, and have no trouble putting in >15 h of continuous pedalling, with padded shorts.

I think it depends on which model you get - the racing ones tend to be harder to break in, and apparently, the colour. The brown ones are known to break in faster?

 

[JoeyB]

So what sort of Brooks is acceptable on my carbon Scott then?

 

[martint235]

So what sort of Brooks is acceptable on my carbon Scott then?

I've got a black Brooks B17 Narrow on each of my carbon Giant and titanium planet x.

 

[Alberto]

I was told to get a B17 regular, as it was my first Brooks, but am no expert at all! Other people seem very happy with the Swift and the Team Pro Classic. These last two are meant to be harder and more suited to race bikes, yet plenty of cyclists use the B17 in all its versions without a problem. The B17 and Team Pro seem to be the cheapest at the moment also. The good thing is, if you do not get on with them, there's a good second hand market where you can pretty much get a full refund on them.

 

[JoeyB]

Looks like I need to get one soon to give me enough time to break it in!!

 

[mcshroom]

Looks like I need to get one soon to give me enough time to break it in!!

You need to prepare your Brooks properly.

1. Take Brooks saddle and large flat stone and place in tumble dryer.

2. Turn heat on tumble dryer to 40 degrees and switch tumble dryer on for 1 hour.

3. Take saddle and stone from the tumble dryer.

4. Throw away saddle and fit stone to bike - the Brooks should have softened it enough.

(quoted from a different forum)

 

[JoeyB]

You need to prepare your Brooks properly.

1. Take Brooks saddle and large flat stone and place in tumble dryer.

2. Turn heat on tumble dryer to 40 degrees and switch tumble dryer on for 1 hour.

3. Take saddle and stone from the tumble dryer.

4. Throw away saddle and fit stone to bike - the Brooks should have softened it enough.

(quoted from a different forum)

As I was reading that I was thinking who is going to let me borrow their tumble dryer and will they be happy with me placing a large flat stone in it??!! haha

 

[vorsprung]

So what sort of Brooks is acceptable on my carbon Scott then?

I used to have a Brooks Swift on my Orbea that looked ok
On my audax bike (Specialized Roubaix) I have a modified B17. It doesn't look good but it works for me.
I got rid of the Swift as it was a bit on the narrow side

 

[JoeyB]

Standard or narrow B17 vorsprung?

 

[vorsprung]

I have a standard B17 because I have a wide arse. The saddle has a slot cut in it