Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Butchered my Brooks

This summer I bought a Brooks B17 Honey. Hotter than your grandma's '85 Crown Vic. Got it from Nashbar during one of their frequent sales for less than $50. It sat in my closet until a couple of weeks ago.

Sadly, I didn't take before pics, but here is what it looked like:
http://www.yorkcycleworks.com/smsimg/news/20b17.jpg
The objective: make it look like the svelte Brooks Swallow, "Antique Brown", cost ~$300 (?)
http://www.cyclesense.co.uk/smsimg/141/1813brooksswallow.jpg
I read the FGG page on modifying Brooks saddles (linky: http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/articles/brooks.htm)and searched the forum archives. That guy used an angle grinder, but I used a Dremel as my weapon of choice. I used some tape to mask off what I wanted to cut, and then started rocking out. Unfortunately my dremel has taken some abuse over the years, and now only has two speeds - off, and Kamikaze!! It burned through cutting wheels like nobody's business. I ended up using three or four cutting wheels doing the first side. The wheels didn't wear down, they just got really smooth and stopped cutting. My apartment smelled like burning dead cow for quite a while. I imagine there is some sort of tool that is made for cutting leather that would be well suited for this purpose. I imagine such a tool would be called a "leather cutter".

After I cut the first side, I used the piece I cut off as a template for the second side. Rinse, lather, repeat. I didn't cut quite enough off - there is still a little bit of the stamped label visible. I need to trim it a bit more, but that isn't too easy with just sandpaper and wood files. I will try the dremel sanding drum next. Still, it looks presentable.

My saddle wasn't completely broken in when I chopped it. I had it on my bike for about a week, so it probably had 100 miles or so on it. It has about another 100 miles on it now, and so far, so good. I only weigh 150 lbs. so hopefully it will last for quite a while. The saddle is definitely less stiff that it was before, but I doubt it will be a problem. We'll see in a couple of years. If it doesn't last, well, that is the cost of good science.

Another note: the saddle is darkening nicely. It is nowhere near as dark as "Antique Brown", but it'll probably get there some day. The original color was just like the top pic. Ingredients: Proofide and ass sweat.

http://web.umr.edu/~brm5xd/pista/brooks_chop.jpg
http://web.umr.edu/~brm5xd/pista/brooks_angle.jpg
http://web.umr.edu/~brm5xd/pista/brooks_side.jpg
This pic makes the side look uneven, but I think it is just from shadows. I'm going to sand it some more later. The bike is an '05 Bianchi Pista, a replacement for my poor conversion Raleigh with a bent frame that was cannibalized for another bike. If it was a dog I would have shot it.

http://web.umr.edu/~brm5xd/pista/brooks_bottom.jpg
http://web.umr.edu/~brm5xd/pista/pista_side.jpg

That's right, it's a kangaroo bike. You know you want to be just like me when I grow up.

http://web.umr.edu/~brm5xd/pista/kangaroo.jpg


Stick a fork in me, I'm done.

nice work on the saddle. I did my first chop job about a month ago and am very pleased. You can now get heavy-duty disks for dremels and I was able to use one disk for both cuts and both saddlebag tabs (they're super-beefy!) The smell was so bad (I think I was actually doing a high-precision burn rather than a cut on the leather) that I had to use an organics respirator even in my well-ventilated shop with 3 fans on.

On another note, I think that from looking at your pictures that I don't like up-sloping top tubes...just doesn't look balanced, especially with those big-ol' track drops...but to each their own.

That guy used an angle grinder, but I used a Dremel as my weapon of choice.

It is nowhere near as dark as "Antique Brown", but it'll probably get there some day.

I've been using a Dremel with a diamond cutting disc since my first couple of butcher jobs using that Makita grinder.

The butchered Pro pictured below used to be honey. I used some Miss Clairol permanent hair dye to 'antique brown' it. :)

good job on the saddle. i'll be doing mine sometime soon.

on a sidenote: i believe that sloping top tube effect is an optical illusion

I just measured it, and it does slope a little bit, but I think the camera angle and the tilt of the bike is making it look greatly exaggerated. It normally looks pretty much level.

Nice.

Nice job. The Brooks looks good. Next time Nashbar has a sale, I'm going to have to pick one up.

On a side note what kind of lever do you have set up there? It looks pretty decent on drops.

Can't remember where I saw this but I do remember seeing a butchered Brooks with the sides stiched together underneath. I imagine this would make it feel a bit stiffer... I intend to try it one day but probably not anytime soon.

Can't remember where I saw this but I do remember seeing a butchered Brooks with the sides stiched together underneath. I imagine this would make it feel a bit stiffer.

One of my coworkers does that. He leaves a little more leather when he does the cutoff, makes small holes in the leather and laces it up corset style. It's pretty hot, but rather time-consuming.

Looks good. Rehab Circus and myself chopped both of ours a few months ago...I know what exactly what you mean about the "burning dead cow" smell...Although we did laugh our asses off when we thought about his female roomate coming home drunk only to find a cloud of smoke from burning cow hide.

I can't remember where exactly we saw the original post about chopping Brooks, but we both agree that there should be a dumbass disclaimer. You know, one that basically says "don't be a dumbass, do this outside."

Anyhow, nice chop job.

i butchered a brooks using a ginsu knife, you know those giant serrated knives. it took about 5 minutes and looks exactly the same.

if you're coming to chicago you'll see the beautiful piece of work that resulted.

If you want a different colour, try dying the honey brown darker with leather dye.

See this: http://flickr.com/photos/cricketcam2000/40638334/

Looks like this, nice eh?

http://static.flickr.com/30/40638334_9dfe77d2c5.jpg

i am baffled at the fact that nobody has mentioned his kangaroo cranks. so i will take this opportunity to formally denounce benm in his foolish ways, scoff at the sheer ridiculousness of his ride, and emphasize that he is no longer my friend.

i am baffled at the fact that nobody has mentioned his kangaroo cranks. so i will take this opportunity to formally denounce benm in his foolish ways, scoff at the sheer ridiculousness of his ride, and emphasize that he is no longer my friend.
Woah! Didn't notice that. Wha's up wit dat?

whaa??

That's just strange.

Well, I guess I know what the new bike trend will be.

The Fixer - nice saddle. The dye worked well. I'm gonna stick with Proofide and ass sweat for now. I might dye it someday.
------

On a side note what kind of lever do you have set up there?
nightfly - it's a Tektro something or other brake lever. I think it's from nashbar. I got it from rwan.

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i am baffled at the fact that nobody has mentioned his kangaroo cranks. so i will take this opportunity to formally denounce benm in his foolish ways, scoff at the sheer ridiculousness of his ride, and emphasize that he is no longer my friend.

rwan - General insult. Questioning of parentage. Rebuttal of inferior crank setup.

For a guy who tried to put SPD cleats on Converse Allstars, you seem surprisingly recalcitrant to kangaroo cranks. Maybe I'll just start up my own bike company, and sell my kangaroo bikes. With gambling and hookers.

To anybody who has never seen kangaroo cranks in their unabashed glory, I'll give you a mental picture. Imagine a frog riding a bicycle. Then imagine the frog being a person. The awesome. Try it.

You can also put the cranks at a 90 degree angle - horse cranks. It looks like you're galloping.

i butchered a brooks using a ginsu knife, you know those giant serrated knives. it took about 5 minutes and looks exactly the same.

Did you slice cleanly through a tomato afterward?

Did you slice cleanly through a tomato afterward?

she did! and the only tears she cried were tears of joy!

those knives are fabulous. i should be their spokesman/woman. I used it to cut some small pipes once. and it can cut tomatos really well. basically it's the only knife i use. wonderful for bread as well.

doink

I got second place in a kangaroo race about 2 years ago...

...never tried it fixed, though

stop press: just butchered mine with an xacto. easy as pie

pics/process?

pics/process?


very simple. masked a line with tape, cut gently along it with a sharp xacto. kept cutting along that line, deeper each time but not forcing it. about five passes did it.

used a grip to put the cut piece against the other side and cut along that to get the line, then same process.

xacto blade is good because you can also use it to put a slight bevel on the edges, as i did.

then shoe polish to blacken the exposed edge.

very, very easy. maybe 10 mins tops start to finish

very, very easy. maybe 10 mins tops start to finish

:beer:

stop press: just butchered mine with an xacto. easy as pie


Just did the same thing. Really easy and fast. Good idea Eddie.

Hmm, oh well, here's goes nothing in a few days

Just rocked the patented eddiebrannan xacto-chop and it worked like a charm. Pics to come next week. Thanks for the peer pressure, you sick bastards.

If you want a different colour, try dying the honey brown darker with leather dye.

See this: http://flickr.com/photos/cricketcam2000/40638334/

Looks like this, nice eh?

http://static.flickr.com/30/40638334_9dfe77d2c5.jpg

That's a guy from the FGGF right? Given the luck I've had with dying (dye-ing?) actual shoes with shoe dye, I would imagine that he will have some sweet, sweet red stains on his pants for some time to come. Probably until the time that the saddle fades back to its original colour. But damn, damn, damn does that saddle ever look hottt.

Also, re: corset tied, chopped Brookses - does anyone have a photo of this? I'm curious what it looks like.

m.

check this out for the "tied" look

http://www.wallbike.com/content/butchering.html

Here's my hacked Pro. I used a carpet razor and it cut right through with no prob, then sanded the edges. Also used a bench grinder to remove about 1/4" of the frame on either end near the last rivets.

So hey, all you that have done this... would you not suggest doing it if you're a heaver rider? I'm in the mid 220's down from 260 at the beginning of June, and still going (so don't laugh) but I don't think that I'd be doing myself any favors trying to get down below 175. That said, if I can find a good deal on a B-17, I buy one and try this, but not if I'll break it.

BTW - to the OP'er, nice cracks about the burning dead cow smell and opining that a specific tool made to vut leather well might be called a leather cutter.

i wouldn't do it if i were heavier. there's really nothing to be gained other than from an aesthetic perspective. i feel that the risk of ruining the saddle would be higher for a heavier rider, and without good reason then why would you?

I think at your weight you might be able to get away with it on a Pro/Team Pro because it's narrower than a B17, but with a B17 it might end up with too much 'give' in the center. Maybe you could trim a B17 if you left enough of the skirting to be able to lace it through the middle and pull it taut. (?)

I weigh 220 and I have butchered a B17 and a Pro with no problems whatsoever. Admitedly I don't ride all day every day, but they both have a good few miles on them and they're not sagging any more than they should. And if they do just tighten them up, that's what the bolt's for.

And there is definately good reason to do it other than asthetics; when I first got my Pro I rode it stock for a while and my thighs rubbed on the skirts. So I cut them off and now it's comfy as heck.

And there is definately good reason to do it other than asthetics; when I first got my Pro I rode it stock for a while and my thighs rubbed on the skirts. So I cut them off and now it's comfy as heck.

Righto. I must have gotten a pretty thick piece of leather on my Pro just by sheer luck. When I trimmed it, it actually helped the thing not to be so hard, and gave it just enough 'give' to make the tension just about right for me (200 lbs. +/-). It only needed about 1/4 of a turn and it was perfect.

buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurn


http://img173.imageshack.us/img173/6697/dscn28720sg.jpg

...they're at it again, those crazy Brooks fans...

:D

kinda a highjack but as long as we're discussin' brooks and all, how long it take to break one in so my ass don't hurt? i love the look but how many miles before i feel no mo' pain? i knew goin' in there'd be a breakin period--just curious is all. don't worry, i'm puttin' some serious ass-sweat on mine.

I just started using my brooks on my bike with drop bars, not sure if i have the balls to do this but i am having problems with chafing. Did i just say balls and chafing in the same sentance?

OMG.

wake & bake...

b17 & $.99 box cutter-

and a couple mins was all it took

I too, have joined the Brooks Butchering Club. I marked where I wanted to cut using electrical tape and then went to town using my handy dandy Xacto knife! Very easy to do!
Before:
http://static.flickr.com/29/65950657_d8ada28d1e.jpg

After:
http://static.flickr.com/25/65950656_ff0214534a.jpg

this post makes me want a brooks to butcher!

kinda a highjack but as long as we're discussin' brooks and all, how long it take to break one in so my ass don't hurt? i love the look but how many miles before i feel no mo' pain? i knew goin' in there'd be a breakin period--just curious is all. don't worry, i'm puttin' some serious ass-sweat on mine.

It's hard to say how long, because everyone's weight, model, and time in the saddle is different. The ass-sweat is good tho', you just gotta hold on for awhile more until it gets copacetic with the leather.

Keep on keepin' on brutha. It'll pay off. :)

I need to do this....I also need to oil my saddle... quick question: after I've oiled my saddle, will it stain my pants forever?

I just started using my brooks on my bike with drop bars, not sure if i have the balls to do this but i am having problems with chafing. Did i just say balls and chafing in the same sentance?

OMG.

LOL! Which model are you on, and where is chafing you? You could do a hack job like the pics above show. That often helps get rid of some excess Brookage and stops the chafing.

I need to do this....I also need to oil my saddle... quick question: after I've oiled my saddle, will it stain my pants forever?

If it's Black it'll come off a little more than Honey or Ant. Brown. Just wear a dark pair for a couple of rides, then later wear whatever color you want.

Cool, thanks.

aebike has the swallow for like $170

edit: oops...the swift is $160.99, but the swallow is still way cheaper than the ushe at $233

http://aebike.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=30&SKU=SA1271

Totally forgot about the pics sorry all. Did it with an Xacto knife and masking tape. Took 10 minutes, sanded it down with med grit paper. Easy easy and no burning leather smell. The pics are from before sanding.