laplander

It has been five years since i have been on a bike, but this year i have decided, at age 67 to
start riding again. I purchased a Brooks Swift saddle, with all my other saddles, i set it level
with the top tube, and it would feel right, with the Brooks, i have to tip it back at least 5 degrees
to make it feel comfortable, if i level it i slide forward, has anyone else experienced this with a
Brooks saddle? I have not decided on the comfort level of the saddle yet either.

Mr. Fly

Both my Swifts are tilted slightly up at the front because that's my preferred setting. I used to have them even more tilted but found that once the saddles got broken in a bit, the requirement for tilting the front up lessens. The broken-in saddles have slight dimples and less slippery surfaces to hold you on better.

BluesDawg

Often a Brooks will appear to be tilted up at the nose when the seating area is actually level. Also, Brooks saddles are pretty slick when new and you will tend to slide forward. After a bit of the sheen wears off, they hold you in place more, though not as much as most saddles.

Donegal

I have both a Brooks Professional and Swift and for some reason, both are tilted up at the nose. I believe that since they are so slippery, it keeps you from sliding foward. One is on a trainer that I have spent a thousand hours on, and because of that, I have micro-adjusted it until it is just perfect. I have never been able to get any other bike to sit that comfortably. Nose is up on the Brooks.

jwh

Same here too. If you don't you'll keep sliding forward.
I've had mine for 6 years and it's still slippery but I like it that way.

Allegheny Jet

I agree that the nose needs a bit of an angle. Both of these saddles work just fine for me even though they are set differently. That is a Brooks Professional on the Raleigh.

laplander

It seems that you would put uncomfortable pressure in all the wrong places, especially on a road bike doing a century ride.

Allegheny Jet

It's not an issue for me. I usually ride the Raleigh with the Brooks on long event rides and have not had any pressure issues. The Brooks doesn't flex much or have extra padding that compresses when seated on it. In my basket of spare saddles is a Terry Fly which is padded and has a cut out. The first 10 miles the saddle feels like a dream but is a daemon on rides longer than 1 hr. Every one had different fitness levels and ride lengths, we all need to find what works best for ourselves. It never hurts to "tweak" the saddle position during the season to match your riding.

laplander

Allegheny Jet, Thanks for the information on the Terry Fly, I have that saddle, I put it on my bike
a few years ago because it felt so comfortable, and was going to use that saddle on my century
in the spring. I think I'll break in the Brooks on my trainer, and try it on the century instead.
I wasn't quite sure of the Brooks, because it feels so darn stiff. I put proofide on it, and used
a heat gun to melt it into the leather, I hope that helps soften the leather. The Terry saddle was
not ridden much, I put the bike away before I had a chance to put any time on that saddle.
I have heard a lot of good things about the Brooks, a few negatives, but thats understandable,
I think by spring, the Brooks should be ready to go.