Spring, Or A Mouse’s Death Throes?
Today looked like spring, so what better weather for riding could there be? Not too hot, not too cold, but just right. So I visited two clients on Siegfried, and on the trip to the second one (just after lunch time) it was warm enough to put my nice red woolen jumper in my case, and ride with just a shirt.
I was also wearing trousers and underwear and shoes, obviously. But no jumper - this felt like spring had finally sprung.
I could have ridden along without a care in the world, except that the Brooks B33 saddle on Siegfried has developed a whole bunch of annoying squeaks from its springs. It’s like I’ve got a whole family of mice trapped in there, and as I pedal they get squashed, letting out tiny squeaks of pain.
The thing is, I don’t know if this is ‘normal’. If it is, then ‘bloody annoying’ must also be ‘normal’. Is this the symptom that I should take as my cue to adjust the saddle’s tension?
I mean, I’ve read the manual for the saddle, and it’s hardly informative:
Correct leather tension will ensure your saddle retains its shape and comfort. To tension, turn the nose bolt nut 90deg at a time, checking the tension. You can use a tension spanner or allen key to do this. Over-tensioning a saddle will overstretch the leather fibres and may destroy their structure. Little and not very often is the key.
Lots of words, but so what? How do I know when it needs tensioning? Anyone know?
Anyone?
No idea.
Totally unrelated - can we put fairy lights on Daisy?
http://www.nuttycyclist.co.uk/rides/dun-run-2.htm
Fairy lights will be pretty much essential. Ideally flashing ones. I wonder if I could rig up those blue flashing ones we have as Christmas decorations for battery operation . . . ?
Excellent. You can always just wrap them around me as well if there are too many for the bike.
My Pashley Sovereign Roadster has never had a peep of a squeak from the saddle. From the photo, the saddle is identical to yours. I’m a big guy. Two metres and a little over 100 kg.
I suspect that there is a problem with your saddle. Why not take it back to the dealer to complain?
I’ve had problems with the 5-speed shifter. The tension was incorrect, so it wouldn’t stay in first gear. The dealer is on the way to the grocery store, so I’ve dropped in twice for adjustment, and it still isn’t right.
I had one Brooks that squeaked a bit, a touch of white lithium grease between the spring coils made it go away.
Aaron