Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Ride on a Brooks B67



I took advantage of empty streets for a little Christmas afternoon ride to test out a new Brooks B67 Aged saddle that I have just gifted to my beloved General Purpose Bike.  I first heard about Brooks saddles many years ago from a co-worker who has been riding for 40 years.  Once he tried to pawn off an old black B17 but being caught up in the mountain bike racing scene I laughed it off and have been making fun of the old leather saddles ever since.  

Well I've gotten older and with age comes wisdom.  One of my favorite bike bloggers BikeSnobNYC has been riding brooks saddles and I have to give him credit for convincing me to finally give the British saddle maker a try.  Because the recent handlebar change to the Bosco bar resulted in a much more upright riding position I knew I needed a wider saddle for better support. 
  

On the Brooks website I was amazed at the huge line of saddles offered by the company.  After perusing through the Brooks lineup I easily determined the B67 saddle would be the way to go.  
  

I went with the "Aged" saddle mainly because I love the look of the natural cured leather without any added dyes or coloring.  Brooks says the Aged saddles are comfortable from day one and I have to agree. After fine tuning the tilt of the seat I am amazed at how comfortable it really is.  


After an hour or so on a regular narrow racing style saddle I always notice a sting that causes me to have to constantly shift my position to relieve the discomfort.  Today I spent an hour on the B67 and I noticed no sting at all. 


The saddle does pivot a bit on the big springs but I'm quickly getting used to the feeling and don't find it offensive at all.  I've purposely hit some of the bumpy streets around town that I normally avoid and the saddle makes a huge difference. 


With the handlebar change and new saddle I've made quite a change to the bicycle and it's going to take some more riding to fully realize the effect.  It looks like the weather is going to hold out so with temperatures climbing into the upper 40's I plan to head to the bike trail for a longer ride tomorrow.  Just as the comfort factor of the bike has increased substantially I think the looks have improved as well. The bike has really taken on a classic look.  Modern components make the braking and shifting flawless and now the improved human-bike interface provide by the new bar and saddle have made the Ti GP bike into one sweet ride.



9 comments:

  1. Gifting one's bike - a GREAT idea! Btw, why did you pick one with springs?

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  2. Hello Steve -Thanks! I got the sprung saddle because many of the streets in my town haven't seen fresh pavement for a long time. After just a few rides I'm sold. The springs really work. I think they look cool so that played a part in my decision also.

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  3. Good for you, Theorist! Came back to your blog altering seeing one of your comments, where else, but BSNYC, the blog that ate bicycling.

    I love all your photographs! Take more! Comment on your camera(s), film, etc.

    BTW, you may want to correct this little typo:

    "The saddle does pivot a bit on the big springs but I'm quickly getting use to the feeling and don't find it offensive at all. I've purposely hit some of the bumpy streets around town that I normally avoid and the saddle makes a huge difference."

    You mean "getting useD".

    Best wishes for a great new year.

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  4. Entry above, I don't understand, damn spellcheck changed my intended "after" to "altering".

    What the hell is up with that, Spellcheck?

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  5. Right on -Thanks David! Happy New Year to you and yours as well. Hope you have a prosperous and safe one.

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  6. No one is safe from the grammar police.

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  7. And no one expects the Spanish Influenza, I mean Spanish Inquisition, either! BTW, RCT, what and where is the interesting locale for your photos. I really do love good thoughtful building & crafting, whether it's guns, or bicycles or buildings.

    I really do thank you for doing your little part, as I do my little part, of keeping the thinking human's thoughts alive. Here's to thinking, and seeing, and doing, :-)

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  8. I was wondering if someone might comment of the local I used for a backdrop for this post. It's a cool place I pass on my ride to work every day. They say the place even has its own ghost!

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  9. Nice machine. I'm in two minds about buying one of those saddles. Friends have complained of riding with them for months without feeling they'd warn in.

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