Burr

Should the nose be a little lower? I've been cycling 55 years and I am having seat problem now.
Both of my Prostate saddles are wore out and I am going to use my road Brooks with springs for a few weeks!

I cycle 25 miles on a closed route three days a week and lift three days and I'm 74 now!

This retired life is wonderful, I don't know how I ever had time to work!!

dsaul

Nose lower than level will push you forward and put more pressure on your hands, causing hand pain or numbness. Level or nose slightly up works better at getting your sit bones onto the wider part of the saddle and taking pressure off the sensitive parts.

Burr

Thanks, I remember lowering the nose one time and I keep sliding forward.
I have it level and I'll keep it that way

easyupbug 

A slight nose up as dsaul says might be worth a try, easy to do and one of the guys (of similar vintage and similar situation) I often ride with uses nose slightly up for relief.

dsbrantjr

I am in a similar situation age-wise and find slightly nose-up better for me. Just bring the tool(s) needed to make the adjustment with you along on a ride, and make gradual changes; it should be clear when you hit the sweet spot.

rmfnla

Best advice.

FWIW, nose down pitches you forward, putting too much weight on your hands.

I have always ridden nose slightly up, and when I was wrenching I surprised many customers who thought it looked wrong but gave them the best position...

davidad

I ride B-17's and have found that the heel of the saddle should be a little higher than the center. The nose ends up looking too high.

RubeRad

The 'right' angle for the seat is the balance between making you slide forwards, or slide backwards.

I find that for leather saddles, that tends to be more nose-up than saddles which are rigid all through.

Way to go on keeping active at 74! I've started this thing where I organize a group ride for my friends every year on my birthday where I ride (at least) my age. I did 50 last year, but I expect at some point I'm going to need to switch from miles to kilometers!

fietsbob

Moving the saddle ( & your center of mass) back, also removes a bit of weight from your hands

ltxi

Nose a bit up, usually 1/8" above level as a starting point, road saddle at least works best for most folk. I tend to more. Riding 55 years, tho, I'd think you should already have a decent handle on your preferred positioning.

Cross Creek

You didn't say which Brooks sprung saddle, but if it's a Flyer or B-67 with springs only in the rear, I'd start with the saddle level, keeping in mind that that your body weight will depress the rear a little (or a lot, depending on how you ride and how big you are). Definitely don't make it nose-down, however, for the reasons cited in previous posts.

rmfnla

Or not.

Those springs are pretty stout; I don't notice them depressing even when they are doing their job...

Burr

Yes But, I am getting a little sore so I thought I would look for a little feed back!!

Learn something new every day "sometimes"

Looigi

+1 on slightly up. I ride with bar tops 10 cm below the saddle top and use flat saddles. For those who with less drop and/or use saddles curved front to back, things may be different.

ltxi

Got it. My bike related learn something new everyday bit for this year was how not to ride on wet, sun drenched ice.

Burr

You bust your butt?

alfonsejr

I ride B-17 comfortably with nose slightly up. Set up my sprung B-67 same way and it put pressure in the wrong area. Changed it to level or very slightly nose down and it's much better. I also weigh 250+ and this is on a more upright, townie type of set up, meaning the springs get a bit of a workout.

Lascauxcaveman 

Are your hands getting sore (nose too far down) or your manly bits getting too sore (nose too far up, improper under garments, head tube or stem too long, manly bits just too dang large, etc).

What's getting sore?