How do You know your Brooks saddle is due for replacement?
08-15-19, 12:03 PM
#1
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How do You know your Brooks saddle is due for replacement?
I am fond of Books B17 saddle. I have it on 3 of my bikes. My commuter bike's seat show visible signs of excessive wear but the saddle seems to still work fine. Are there any other indicators of what a Brooks saddle needs to be able to do in order to meet functional requirements?
08-15-19, 12:47 PM
#2
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When the leather is torn.
When the tightening screw is bottommed out, and the saddle sags.
When tightening the nut only tightens the center ridge, but not the sides where your sitz bones should be supported.
When it is no longer comfortable, no matter what you do.
Most Brooks users hang out on the C&V forum.
When the tightening screw is bottommed out, and the saddle sags.
When tightening the nut only tightens the center ridge, but not the sides where your sitz bones should be supported.
When it is no longer comfortable, no matter what you do.
Most Brooks users hang out on the C&V forum.
08-15-19, 02:32 PM
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If you take care of it (protect it from weather, judicious application of Proofide), chances are it won't get to a point where you need to replace it. I have several Brooks saddles in use here, ranging from 25 years old to 50 years old, and still sound and comfortable.
08-15-19, 05:35 PM
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Can you post a picture? I have 4 Brooks, 2 new and the others close to 50 years old. The older ones show some age related cracking but otherwise are just as comfortable as my newer ones.
I think you will know when to retire it. I've had another (non-Brooks) leather saddle that stretched under my sit bones to the extent that it formed an uncomfortable center ridge as well as flaring out on the sides. I took the leather off because I needed to repair the cracked back frame, so I remolded it before re-riveting and then added lacing to handle the flare. It looked pretty good but after one ride I could tell that it would quickly revert to its damaged state.
I think you will know when to retire it. I've had another (non-Brooks) leather saddle that stretched under my sit bones to the extent that it formed an uncomfortable center ridge as well as flaring out on the sides. I took the leather off because I needed to repair the cracked back frame, so I remolded it before re-riveting and then added lacing to handle the flare. It looked pretty good but after one ride I could tell that it would quickly revert to its damaged state.
08-16-19, 03:52 AM
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Mine has close to 4000 miles on it. I will try to take a photo today
08-16-19, 04:45 AM
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They used better leather in the old days, forty or so years ago. The saddles from the early 1990s used thinner leather and were were not so good. There has been some improvement since then.
08-16-19, 08:54 AM
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When it looks the same as all the used ones on ebay
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12-05-19, 09:17 AM
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My bike is primarily white with green and blue stripes, what color brooks saddle should I get?
Last edited by SkullHead; 12-05-19 at 09:18 AM. Reason: dumb
12-05-19, 09:19 AM
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12-05-19, 10:58 PM
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My trusty Brooks Pro began tearing away from the cantle rivet on the right side. "No problem," I told myself as I departed on a Trans Am attempt. Wrong. Had to buy a new saddle on Day 6.
12-06-19, 05:25 AM
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This beautiful one had about 40,000 km (25,000 miles) on it before it was stolen.
None of my other Brooks saddles have reached that level of comfort yet. 
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12-06-19, 07:24 AM
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I was thinking about purchasing one. I wondered if would be a hassle keeping it on tight, wearing out the screw/post hinges/hardware over time?
