I have two An- Atomica saddles and love them. They were very early models and have held up quite well. I remember them as being labled "Robusto", which was a little narrower than the Titanico. When I look at the web site now, I see only one model, and no info about dimensions at all. The only options are color and two choices for the laminate. He used to offer a half dozen models. What happened?
Michael On Jan 18, 12:28 pm, Chris Halasz <[email protected]> wrote: > Richard, > > On drilling the holes: > Be sure the rawhide is snug to the hole, mitigating the tendency for > the saddle leather to stretch and tear. The rawhide is about > 0.1" (2.75mm) thick by .22" (6mm) wide. The rawhide is real, real snug > through the holes. It was not easy to pull the rawhide through. > > The lacing pattern: > It is constrained by the length of the rawhide I stole from my wife's > Baggins bag, as is the number of holes. I was limited to about three > passes across the saddle. When I would ride the saddle, I would pinch > where it felt it was biting into my perfectly developed adductors, and > it always seemed like that was centered right about the middle of the > logo impression midway along the saddle skirt. So, I drilled six holes > centered on the logo impression, evenly spaced (1.5cm on centers, > starting about .5cm in on each side). > Concerned about how much load the quarter inch rawhide could > withstand, I could either begin at the front or the rear of the > saddle. However, a full stretch at the back might overload the > rawhide, and likewise transfer that load to the holes. So, as the real > intent was to pull the skirt in to keep it from pinching my inner > thighs, I started at the front. Tried knotting the rawhide together a > few times, but all the knots kept slipping, and I was having trouble > tying off the limited length. So ... I simply slip knotted the ends at > the back, not attaching them together, which all seems to make sense > now - although I'm tempted to try a different pattern in the future > (but no rush - it feels perfect). This accomplishes narrowing the > saddle, and keeping the rear end as plush as designed. > > Added a new underside picture here: > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-fisherman/3206194449/ > > And another topside one here: > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/sea-fisherman/3207038900/ > > If the new Brooks Imperial with its limited cutout and larger skirt > needs lacing, I'm thinking this is a must for me with these wonderful > Titanico SAs! > > (As you're in Virgina, please ignore the subsequent photo of me > walking the bike at the pool the other day, as it may bother some that > we're headed there again today on our bikes.) > > Cheers, > > Chris > Tucson, AZ > > On Jan 18, 9:38 am, R Gonet <[email protected]> wrote: > > > Chris: > > > Thanks for the nice fix. I have two questions. First, what do you > > mean when, in drilling the holes, you say you finished with a 1/4" > > bit, "being careful not to ream the hole..." What do you mean by not > > reaming the hole? > > > Second, in the last paragraph you say that you "...didn't want the > > full weight pulling across the rawhide." Could you expand that > > thought a bit please. It looks like your lacing only crosses the > > saddle toward the nose, then laces through the sides of the saddle > > toward the rear. Why is this? > > > I just purchased a SA and have only a hundred miles on it. Out of the > > box it was more comfortable than my broken-in B17. If the SA proves > > to be as good after 1000 miles I will get one for my other bike. > > Then, what to do with the B17? > > > On Jan 18, 11:02 am, Chris Halasz <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Bill, > > > > Thanks! > > > > Your experience sounds the same as mine and others with the SA > > > saddles. I was doing the same thing you describe, scooting up on the > > > saddle to mitigate the girth, which is contrary to the design benefit > > > of the saddle. > > > > I haven't experienced the modified Brooks, but am considering it for > > > another B-17. I do notice the added length of the SA does allow a less > > > static position than on a Brooks. > > > > By restoring and strengthening the skirt, the lacing also added just > > > the right amount of support to the saddle, so I found that same > > > (improved) sweet spot toward the back of the seat as you'd position on > > > a B-17. However, as folks with positive experience describe, the > > > difference is not just in the immediate, but in the post-ride comfort > > > as well. > > > > I've updated my description on Flickr, but note that I used 6mm (.22") > > > rawhide (don't think my wife will miss that piece from her Baggins > > > bag ...), piloted the holes with an 1/8" bit, then 3/16" tapered, then > > > 1/4", being careful not to ream the holes with the latter. Had to > > > taper the rawhide ends to lace through the holes; you want a nice snug > > > fit. The leather drilled easily, of course. > > > > There's just a loop knot at the last section of each side towards the > > > back; didn't want the full weight pulling across the rawhide. Besides, > > > the length worked out just right for that. > > > > Again, very pleased; it feels great. > > > > Cheers, > > > > Chris > > > Tucson, AZ > > > > On Jan 17, 11:47 pm, "Bill M." <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > Your lacing job looks great! The laced SA looks like a wider, cut out > > > > version of a Swift (Swifts look great IMO). Congrats on having the > > > > nerve to take a drill to such a pricey saddle. > > > > > I have had my SA Titanico Watershed for a couple of weeks now, and I > > > > find myself thinking about exactly the same modification because of > > > > the way the skirts tend to rub my thighs. I don't think it's a matter > > > > of the SA losing its figure as much as it never having had the same > > > > skirt profile as a Brooks. My various Brookses have a much more > > > > defined 'crease' around the perimeter, and the skirts are much more > > > > vertical than those of the SA so they stay out of the way a little > > > > better. > > > > > I wrote to SA to ask about the pressure points I had on my inner > > > > thighs from the skirts. Here is their response: > > > > > [quote]Regarding saddle pressure points on both sides, try lower the > > > > seat post 1 cm > > > > at a time. Ride long enough to feel the effects. We have also found a > > > > few > > > > instances where folks had over tightened tension which created a > > > > similar > > > > issue. The entire saddle surface area, particularly the front 2/3 of > > > > overall > > > > length were methodically designed over a period of years to provide > > > > flexible > > > > soft tissue support and an invisible contact, meaning the slot and > > > > saddle > > > > sides edges did not want to make themselves known. > > > > > Regards, > > > > Tom Milton > > > > MCM Selle An-Atomica, Inc. > > > > 707.372.6540 [/quote] > > > > > I interpret that as "It's supposed to be like that". > > > > > I rode 20 + miles on the SA today to play with position. My instinct > > > > on a Brooks has always been to sit as far back on the saddle as > > > > possible to minimize perineal pressure. It seems I have to sit much > > > > further forward on the SA to keep the skirts from rubbing my inner > > > > thighs. Moving it back a good 2 cm (long rails on these puppies!) and > > > > scooting forward a bit got me sitting on a narrower part of the > > > > saddle; dropping the seatpost a few mm and tilting the nose back down > > > > a tad to compensate help make things more comfortable. I'm about 1/2 > > > > way back on the tension screw after 110 miles or so. > > > > > The softer leather (mine is a standard, not a Clydesdale) and cutout > > > > nose of the SA do help relieve a lot of pressure. I don't feel the > > > > edges of the slot at all. The SA is very nice on the sit bones. > > > > Getting back on a Brooks after the SA, I feel a LOT of pressure in the > > > > area where the SA is cut out. I may wind up having one or more of my > > > > Brooks saddles modified by SA - they will do the cutout and laminate > > > > the leather to prevent stretching out for about $50. > > > > > I wonder how a cut out Velo Orange Model 6 saddle would feel? > > > > >http://www.velo-orange.com/vosaddlemodel6.html > > > > > Bill > > > > > On Jan 17, 7:08 pm, Chris Halasz <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > > If you haven't tried one, or if you have, and like many, found the > > > > > saddle splayed a bit in the center, I had experienced the same. Note > > > > > how it had lost its 'figure', as compared with a Brooks B-17CS: > > > > > >http://flickr.com/photos/sea-fisherman/3205439336/ > > > > > > I stitched it up (it is, BTW, the WC model): > > > > > >http://flickr.com/photos/sea-fisherman/3205439196/ > > > > > >http://flickr.com/photos/sea-fisherman/3204591917/ > > > > > > And now it is FINE! > > > > > >http://flickr.com/photos/sea-fisherman/3204591881/ > > > > > > By far, the most comfortable saddle I've experienced. > > > > > > Cheers, > > > > > > Chris > > > > > Tucson, AZ- Hide quoted text - > > > > > - Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
