tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post115539379737700010..comments2010-05-05T21:03:56.393-04:00Gerry Lauzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895691996292579014noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-80751008792873743432010-03-29T20:13:13.542-04:002010-03-29T20:13:13.542-04:00Unapproved Brooks leather saddle break-in procedure:<br /><br />1) Select the saddle that seems to fit you in the store. Don&#39;t bother to get an &quot;Aged&quot; version, because they do not last as long as the regular versions.<br /><br />+++<br /><br />Step 1) is important, because if you do this to anyone else&#39;s saddle, you will ruin it for them.<br /><br />+++<br /><br />2) Take it home and Proofide the bottom thoroughly, and put a thin coat on the top surfaces.<br /><br />3) LOOSEN THE SADDLE TENSIONING BOLT. Go ahead, loosen it all the way if you want.<br /><br />4) The day you are going to break it in, put a moist washcloth on the back half of the saddle and leave it there for an hour or so.<br /><br />5) Put on your cycling shorts that match or are darker than the saddle color, because a little of the saddle color may bleed onto your pants.<br /><br />6) Remove the damp cloth, and ride for about five miles. By now it should feel bouncy like a firm mattress.<br /><br />7) Ride for about another five miles. You should notice a distinct &quot;hammocking&quot; of the saddle, and it will be hard to sit all the way back on it.<br /><br />8) Let the saddle thoroughly dry out.<br /><br />9) Lightly Proofide the top of the saddle, or use regular wax-based shoe polish.<br /><br />(This step merely exists to shine up the leather and limit the amount of water the leather absorbs, so just use plain-old shoe polish wax if the saddle already feels OK, or use Proofide if it still seems a mite stiff.)<br /><br />10) Tighten the saddle tensioning bolt. (I had to use an adjustable spanner, as the supplied wrench slipped once I pulled the leather back into the stretched position.)<br /><br />That&#39;s it! Ride and enjoy!<br /><br />--Alan, another satisfied Brooks customer.<br /><br />p.s. I was able to mostly break in a new B17 saddle in about 20 miles, and it&#39;s truly a joy to use now.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-1523267345506701372008-07-27T10:03:00.000-04:002008-07-27T10:03:00.000-04:00Hey Jim, I didn't get the chance to ride the new Shimano 3 speed but if the sound you are referring to is the "tick tick tick" kind, the old ones used to make it too and it was normal.<BR/><BR/>Gerry :)Gerry Lauzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895691996292579014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-33748332368283813432008-07-24T13:28:00.000-04:002008-07-24T13:28:00.000-04:00Gerry:<BR/><BR/>First off, great website. I’ve been checking it out and have gleaned a lot of useful information on bikes in general. Last night I received a beach cruiser for my son that I ordered online. A sweet looking Micargi with classic lines. This bike (like your Chief) also appears to be well made. One problem I had though was the Shimano 3 speed nexus hub gears. The gears were already assembled so all I needed to do was to make the adjustment (line up the yellow lines. Unfortunately 2 out of the 3 gears make a lot of noise when I’m riding it. A guy at a bike shop had mentioned that this is just the way they are but I’ve searched online and found few if any complaints about this. Have you come across this problem? And if so, any ideas on how to fix it?<BR/><BR/><BR/>JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-24029887610186337602008-06-26T16:53:00.000-04:002008-06-26T16:53:00.000-04:00Hey Rick,<BR/><BR/> My experience with Selle Royale seats is very good. Make sure the channel is wide enough to prevent numbness. If you are getting a rash, you might have a rip somewhere on the Bontrager seat that is chaffing your skin. Even the smallest rip can cause that, I lost an entire season because of such a rip once. A bike seat is a very personal thing and I can't guaranty you that you will like the Selle Royale, but in my book, hard is bad. That's my .02. Ride hard but ride safe bro.<BR/><BR/>Gerry :)Gerry Lauzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895691996292579014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-15929349721386147162008-06-26T05:15:00.000-04:002008-06-26T05:15:00.000-04:00Jerry,<BR/><BR/>stumbled upon your website. Great site. I purchased a Trek Pilot road bike, but I am getting numb and a persistent rash when using their Bontrager seat. I am changing the seat. I ride 40-50 miles at a time and training for a double century ride in about 4 weeks. <BR/><BR/>I have done some research and noted the Selle Royal Respiro Moderate after my local bike store told me that I needed a narrow, but soft seat. The Bontrager is a narrow hard seat. Just wondering what your opinion is of this.<BR/><BR/>Thanks<BR/><BR/>RickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-53244068595875497012007-03-15T17:06:00.000-04:002007-03-15T17:06:00.000-04:00I had a Brooks saddle when I was young and I'm still wondering if the saddle formed to my ass or if it was the other way around. I just know that now it would be too hard for me. That sounds like a great adventure you're having right now. I wish I was with you. Be careful out there, ride safe and Godspeed.<BR/><BR/>GerryGerry Lauzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895691996292579014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-64889836648478178572007-03-13T03:33:00.000-04:002007-03-13T03:33:00.000-04:00Actually, Gerry, I am a long distance rider...I've done 150+ mile days in Europe (and since I'm carrying panniers, we're talking 15+ hours or so of riding) and am currently on a ride through Eastern Europe. I can tell you that for this kind of riding I've yet to find a good gel seat that will not cut off the flow...even after an hour, even with that channel in the middle. I've heard from others that the Brooks saddle (which is a hard leather - brookssaddles.com) is the best/most comfortable for long distance rides, though I've yet to spend the money or the time looking, since I simply stand up when I notice the lack of blood flow, and wait for it to return.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-1155848914450540532006-08-17T17:08:00.000-04:002006-08-17T17:08:00.000-04:00I've riden at least 5 different set ups of pedal placement bikes from recumbents, to cruisers, to customs for thousands of miles in the past 15 years with no problems to my knees. That's my reference and I'm sticking with it.Gerry Lauzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895691996292579014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-1155834218189149782006-08-17T13:03:00.000-04:002006-08-17T13:03:00.000-04:00Your knee should be directly over the pedal when the pedal is in it's most forward position.<BR/><BR/>The Townie design is just begging for knee damage. What you call "comfort" in the short term will have you in physio in the long term.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-1155408503135259062006-08-12T14:48:00.000-04:002006-08-12T14:48:00.000-04:00That's a great link, thanks.Gerry Lauzonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06895691996292579014noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31040015.post-1155403666034675772006-08-12T13:27:00.000-04:002006-08-12T13:27:00.000-04:00Bike company listing, more up to date than most:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://home.comcast.net/~plutarch/bike.html" REL="nofollow">Link</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com