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The tradition of me breaking stuff continues this. Brooks C-17 seat rail

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The tradition of me breaking stuff continues this. Brooks C-17 seat rail

Old 11-13-22, 06:57 PM
  #1  
Toadmeister
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The tradition of me breaking stuff continues this. Brooks C-19 seat rail

Felt a good crack and than the seat wobble. Dang I broke the seat clamp bolts a couple months back too (Kinekt suspension post).

6’4” 275# isn’t gentle on seats and posts.

Time for a new seat! what to get? I like Brooks and have 2 more leather ones in other bikes. But are there seats with stronger seat rails? Brooks should be steel but I don’t know what grade and strength.



Last edited by Toadmeister; 11-13-22 at 07:05 PM.
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Old 11-14-22, 07:31 AM
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New rails can be had, check Ebay.
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Old 11-14-22, 05:43 PM
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I am 50-75# heavier than you and use the C-17 saddles on my bikes. I seem to get 3-4 seasons out of them before this happens.

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Old 11-14-22, 06:25 PM
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Originally Posted by bwilli88
New rails can be had, check Ebay.
thanks for the tip!
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Old 11-14-22, 09:33 PM
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Originally Posted by DWhitworth
I am 50-75# heavier than you and use the C-17 saddles on my bikes. I seem to get 3-4 seasons out of them before this happens.

DaveW
Update, I ordered 2 sets of replacement rails!
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Old 11-15-22, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Toadmeister
Update, I ordered 2 sets of replacement rails!
Where did you get them?

DaveW
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Old 11-15-22, 06:44 PM
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Originally Posted by DWhitworth
Where did you get them?

DaveW
I ordered direct from Brooks in England
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Old 11-15-22, 07:13 PM
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i wonder if your seatpost clamp has a little high spot that is causing a stress point?
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Old 12-03-22, 08:40 AM
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It looks like improper heat treatment to me, based on what I see of grain structure in that break. It would be an interesting test to see how far a replacement rail would bend before breaking.
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Old 12-03-22, 08:47 AM
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Originally Posted by RH Clark
It looks like improper heat treatment to me, based on what I see of grain structure in that break. It would be an interesting test to see how far a replacement rail would bend before breaking.
My workplace has a materials lab where we could actually analyze this. The Engineer I knew retired around COVID However. Not sure who his replacement is now.
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Old 12-04-22, 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Toadmeister
My workplace has a materials lab where we could actually analyze this. The Engineer I knew retired around COVID However. Not sure who his replacement is now.
I would also examine that base to make sure it isn't causing uneven pressure or damage at the edge when tightened down. I don't think that rail should have broken unless it's defective or the OP is actually bending the rail slightly back and forth when shifting weight around on the seat. I don't think that would happen unless the base is exerting uneven pressure.

Last edited by RH Clark; 12-04-22 at 11:02 AM.
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Old 12-04-22, 01:52 PM
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I'm a bit heavier than you, and I've yet to break something on a Brooks. Also, using a suspension seatpost would, I'd think, soak up a lot of the stress of your weight on the saddle. I'm guessing it was just a defective rail.
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Old 12-13-22, 12:51 PM
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I broke the rail on a B17 when I was 5 miles from home. Not a fun ride back and I was sore for days. It was over 30 years old so it was probably due to fail, but thanks for the reminder. I may try to fix it myself this winter.
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Old 12-14-22, 10:20 AM
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This happened to me with my B66. I replaced the rails but I was never able to get the tension right again. Good luck with yours.
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Old 05-28-23, 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Toadmeister
Felt a good crack and than the seat wobble. Dang I broke the seat clamp bolts a couple months back too (Kinekt suspension post).

6’4” 275# isn’t gentle on seats and posts.

Time for a new seat! what to get? I like Brooks and have 2 more leather ones in other bikes. But are there seats with stronger seat rails? Brooks should be steel but I don’t know what grade and strength.


Originally Posted by Toadmeister
Felt a good crack and than the seat wobble. Dang I broke the seat clamp bolts a couple months back too (Kinekt suspension post).

6’4” 275# isn’t gentle on seats and posts.

Time for a new seat! what to get? I like Brooks and have 2 more leather ones in other bikes. But are there seats with stronger seat rails? Brooks should be steel but I don’t know what grade and strength.


I use the Kinekt suspension seatpost also. I bought a Spongy Wonder noseless saddle years ago and the manufacture recommended replacing the seat clamp bolts on seatposts with Grade 8 bolts. His saddle design if slid back far enough would put a heck of a twisting load on the seat clamp. Ever since I have been careful to try to get saddles and handlebar setups that centered the seatpost load in a more vertical up and down direction. I have used the Spongy Wonder for years pushed way forward which centers the load over the clamp and have not had any clamp bolt issues. Just another thing to think about at my weight range (260lbs). I love the Kinekt seatpost. Best suspension seatpost I've owned and used by far.
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