On Sunday, May 18, 2025 at 4:35:13 PM UTC-5 [email protected] wrote: Friends,
My Brooks B67S saddle…the wide saddle with springs…was squeaking so distractingly much that I decided to try the B17S (no springs), and OUCH. So stiff! I had a B17 many years ago and don’t remember it being so stiff, but I rode lots more then and perhaps I broke it in quickly. My previous B17 was on my Atlantis, which is set up with mustache handlebars, so I wasn’t riding entirely upright…the new saddle is on my Platypus with Choco handlebars, so I sit more upright on it, and I have a feeling my sitbones hit differently on the Platy. This is a rabbit hole down which you can go on the 'net :-) As others have mentioned, there are different versions B17, with different types of leather, some of which start out a bit more forgiving than others. My experience with the B17s sold by Rivendell over the years varied, most of them being pretty comfy from the start, one of them (the gray with titanium rails) taking longer. You note that your position is different, more upright. Lots of people find they need to tilt a B17 nose-up a fair amount for comfort with an upright position. The B17 is traditionally aimed at a more touring-oriented position, leaning forward a bit but not fully down in racing territory. For me, that translates to about a 45 degree angle between my back and the ground. I definitely found that if I use a B17 with an upright position, I have to tilt the nose up to properly position my rear end. As for softening the leather, being too aggressive with that will pretty dramatically shorten the life of the saddle. Of course, a long-lived saddle that's misery sounds like a terrible thing, so lots of people are willing to made a trade-off. I found that a few 2-hour rides on hot days made a lot of progress for me. I also found, though, that for the position I mostly ride in, the B17 shape and dimensions isn't ideal for me. For an upright position, I'd be tempted to try the B67S again, and put a little medium-weight oil in the springs. Ted Durant Milwaukee, WI USA -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/45562971-8a1a-4f8e-925b-46534c4c19e2n%40googlegroups.com.
