I figure I would ask here as there seems to be a bunch of brooks riders. I have a newish Swift and have about 6 hours on it. The first 4 hours were very hot rides and I did sweat a lot on it. Now it seems to have sagged some and doesn't seem as tensioned as new. I know they break in to your sit bones but this seems more than that. It hasn't collapsed, just it doesn't seem to be supporting my sit bones enough.

When would you try tensioning? How much? FWIW, this hasn't seen rain or water...just my sweat.

Thanks!

Never?

In all the years and miles we have ridden Brooks I have never retensioned one. OTOH after a few years I do drill some holes in the skirt and pull them in a bit with shoelaces.

One thing is for sure, if you do retension it be very cautious-no more than a quarter turn at a time.

I de-tensioned my Swift (perhaps 1/4 turn) during break-in last fall. Now it seems slightly slack (and I feel pressure points) and so I might put that 1/4 turn back on again. Or I might not since replacing the saddle with a Team Pro.

I got the Team Pro a month or so ago and it's *very stiff* (rigid) straight out of the box. Hoped to de-tension it for break-in, but alas the bolt is already at its low limit. The shape seems better suited for longer rides such as centuries (compared to the Swift). I expect to do a 2nd Proofide treatment at the sit points just to encourage a little "give", but can't imagine the leather would slacken much during the next few years to ever turn the bolt. That said, I weigh 150# wet, and so a heavier rider might find my experience does not apply.

Odd that the result of either too little tension (broken in Swift) or too much tension (new in box T'Pro) both have the same perceived affect of pressure on my sit bones...

I have a newish Swift and have about 6 hours on it.

I'd say 6 hours is way too premature. I have a sprung Brooks thats about 3 years old and *maybe* showing signs that it could be tensioned. I have a newer B17 with 20+ hours and its still hard as a rock (but a comfy rock :) )

I'd say 6 hours is way too premature. I have a sprung Brooks thats about 3 years old and *maybe* showing signs that it could be tensioned. I have a newer B17 with 20+ hours and its still hard as a rock (but a comfy rock :) )


From what i have heard 6 hours seems too soon as well, but it does have a defined edge around the back frame where it has sagged and doesn't seem to be as supportive from the sit bones....more pressure now down the middle ridge.

Anyone ever kill one with sweat? the sit bone parts of it were pretty soft during those rides.

It's not terrible mind you...but it was more comfy at first. I'll have to mess with adjustment for sure. FWIW, it got one coat of topside proof hide and a light under coat per Brooks instructions, two months before riding it even. Or maybe it's just not for me.....It's on my mtn bike and I'm in and out of the saddle. If this was on the road bike, where I was in one spot longer, I think it would be much more of a problem.

I say NEVER also. At least never for the first 15-20 years. Then after that maybe a 1/4 turn.

Ok....so I fiddled with angle adjustment a bit (than you Thomson) and its A-OK again...or it seems to be fine after a 2hr ride. Nose up a bit more than previous....doh.

The brooks grips though....those are still hard on my hands, even with good gloves. Patiently waiting for them to "break in."

Thanks everyone, for talking me out of tensioning it....

I figure I would ask here as there seems to be a bunch of brooks riders. I have a newish Swift and have about 6 hours on it. The first 4 hours were very hot rides and I did sweat a lot on it. Now it seems to have sagged some and doesn't seem as tensioned as new. I know they break in to your sit bones but this seems more than that. It hasn't collapsed, just it doesn't seem to be supporting my sit bones enough.

When would you try tensioning? How much? FWIW, this hasn't seen rain or water...just my sweat.

Thanks!

I'm with the Never camp. I have something over 1,000 hours on my Swift and have never adjusted it. Just Proofide from time to time and all is well.