There should be a fucking warning on these to not ride a bike to test one out unless you are completely ready to make the purchase.

I headed to Calhoun Cycle after work today to try out a bike with some drop handlebars. Every bike in my life has always had the normal straight handlebars and I'm about ready for a change to see if it helps my riding style and helps with my biking 14 miles to work, which I have yet to do. So the bike they set me up with happened to have a Brooks B17, which I was also interested in trying out since I hear people giving them thumbs up all the time, but I was there for the drops and the price of the Brooks stuff has kept me just a little afraid of the purchase.

I jump on this thing and take two pedals and have the biggest epiphany in my recent memory: "Why the fuck am I still riding on my padded seat that came with my bike when this quality of a product is out there? This is the biking equivalent of sex."

I biked around for a few minutes testing out the bars, which I wasn't really sold on. I think I would like to try out the Woodchipper since it's a bit wider, but the narrow feeling of those drops wasn't speaking to me.

Anyways, I walk back inside grab a B17 off the shelf and now I'm ridin' in style and comfort

Initial score on a 1-10 scale? 12





Beers are in order I believe.


Done.

Just make sure the drops of the drops are no more than 1-2 inches lower than your seat. I didn't with my woodchippers and my wrist paid the price. Got a riser stem and it's way better.

My first Brooks B17 came on a Schwinn SuperSport I bought in 1970. I've been riding Brooks ever since. If they work for you, they just get better as they break in and form to your butt.
Get some Proofhide and treat it as needed.
Bill.

Yep, Brookses are awesome.
I don't agree with this. I had the tops of my Woodchippers level with the saddle which put the drops at a perfect height. I tried a stem with more rise after I had some numbness in my fingers after a long ride but that only made the handling feel weird. Turns out the numbness was from not changing up my hand position for more than 30 miles.

Good info from both of you. I still have some homework to do but I think I'm well on my way. My decision to find some solution stemmed from hand numbness from a short 5-6 mile ride on my straight bars I have now. I'm sure my underinflated tires didn't help.

Are there any shops
around town that have a bike with some chippers that I could take for a test spin?




Done

I have some woodchippers for you. NIB.

fell off a truck?

i would be interested in these if he is not, depending on price...

Drew

Woodchippers are like hanggliding.

Bought them new for a project but then fell out of love with the bike before I got to this. I would sell them at cost or slightly below, but like I said, they are unused, so not interested in mega-discounting these.

go for it sser, I'm still doing my homework.

Perhaps I'm the only one, but after 1000s of miles and many different configurations on different bikes, I am going to sell both of my b17s and switch to something different. I just can't seem to find that sweet spot and it always feels like I am either over extended, resting on the metal bar in back or on the nose.

My dad gave me a Team Pro that I used for almost 3000 miles. Swapped it out for a Specialized Avatar Team. The Spec is more comfortable and now I don't have to worry about rain. Everyone's ass is different.

If you can't find a woodchipper on a store bike I might let you try mine out. It might not give an accurate representation of how your bike would feel though.

All the stock Salsa Fargo builds use Woodchippers. Freewheel West Bank has Fargos in stock.

You're not the only one. I sold a bike and left the B17 on it to sweeten it up for the buyer. It was alright, but I prefer the old, beat up Fizik saddle that Dangheim gave me a while back. I'd buy another just like it if they still made it- no idea how the new ones compare. Also it's significantly lighter than the Brooks, I don't have to worry about water on it, and it's less attractive to thieves. That said, I might give a different Brooks model a try some day.

Threadjack: any shops around here stock a selection of Fizik saddles?