Breaking in Brooks B17 Imperial

[Arunas Jocius]

I have bought Brooks B17 Imperial for my Fuji touring bike and would like to break in before taking it on a trip. Have read recommendations to reach 1000 km to make it fully fit. Right now it is winter in Norway, so I do cycle home using my road bike on Tacx trainer. Would it make sense for me to put B17 on my road bike and try to break in inside? Or is it bad idea since touring bike has likely different geometry?

[Jesper]

(01-01-2022, 04:43 PM)Arunas Jocius Wrote:  I have bought Brooks B17 Imperial for my Fuji touring bike and would like to break in before taking it on a trip. Have read recommendations to reach 1000 km to make it fully fit. Right now it is winter in Norway, so I do cycle home using my road bike on Tacx trainer. Would it make sense for me to put B17 on my road bike and try to break in inside? Or is it bad idea since touring bike has likely different geometry?

Hello Arunas!

If you set up your trainer so that you are maintaining a similar position in the saddle as you would on the Fuji it will be just fine to break it in that way. Your sit bones have to be in the same position as they normally would be if road cycling, as well as your posture regarding your back position and angle since that also affects how your butt is angled on the saddle. If you have some "Proofide" or other leather conditioner it may help speed up the process a bit; especially if you are lighter in weight such as myself (140lbs/65Kg). Do not use too much, but re-apply a little on a regular basis. I generally use my ancient wind trainer to break in saddles offseason since I can use the same frame and set-up as I would on the road. Any trainer that you can put your actual bike on and ride as normal will be best of course.

[JR Namida]

I use rollers for my indoor bicycle training, so tis easy to use a new saddle on a bicycle to put some hours inside the warmth of your training area...

Jesper has great advice, I weight about 210 pounds (15 stone)...[img][/img]

[Jesper]

(01-15-2022, 02:28 PM)JR Namida Wrote:  I use rollers for my indoor bicycle training, so tis easy to use a new saddle on a bicycle to put some hours inside the warmth of your training area...

Jesper has great advice, I weight about 210 pounds (15 stone)...[img][/img]

Nice jersey JR! By the way; how's your hip?